Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1838-09-19
VOLUME XXXIX, NO. so.


on with her, up short distance from
tho gate route different from that
which they had usually returned from
school. They met with Andrew and
Lucinda Andrew leaning against the
fence On the side next the road, and
Lucinda standing near him. The wit
ness then asked Andrew where the
blackberry patch was---he made no re-
! ply, but seized Mary, and Lucinda
coming up, took hold of Mary by the
head. and stood behind her, Wills; An
drew stood on one side and cut her
throat with new looking shoc-knifei
The poor girl staggered around and
! fell dowp--whereupo the other little
girl, Margaret, started to run, but An
drew soon caught her, and brought her
back--and Lucinda held her, whilst
Andrew cut her throat Ia ike manner.
Alter the murders lheprisoners got over
the fence into the bushes while the
witness ran towards the house but be-
coming exhausted, she was compelled
to stop, and Andrew passed her, with his
shirt sleeves rolled eps and went on TO
the well on the opposite side of the yard
and washed his hands and arms. The
witness declared TINT she was prevented
by her fears OF being murdered herself,
from disclosing the event to her mis-
tress Immediately upon getting 20 the
house. Lucinda is her mother, and
told her she would be hung If she told
any thing about 1t.
Miss Mary Jane Ptomey, another
witness in behalfoflhe Commonwealth,
stated that the little girls we're let out
of school at her fathers house, about 5
o'clock on the evening Of the 10Th of
August--lhat upon taking long walk
soon after, and returning to her fathers
yard, she saw Lucinda and a black boy
together, approaching in the direction
oil her fathers house--Lucinda enqui-
red If tho little girls were there, and
stated that they had not got homo and
that her mistress had become uneasy
about them. The witness then with
others went in search of the children
and Lucinda suggested that they might
have been drowned in crossing the
run. Tho witness replied that it was
not deep onough--Lucinda insisted
that il was, and that Miss p's. brother
should go down TO see. On going a.
long the road, they discovered the
tracks Of tho children, towards tho
gate--and Caroline led the way, say.
ing that they might BIO at the blackber-
ry patch. Caroline went on, until she
got TO the gate, and began 10 look a.
boat, and soon pointed out the children
lying on the road side, a little beyond
the gaie--and exclaimed, "Theret they
lie dead"
Warwick piomey confirmed his sis
ter's statements.
Miss Sarah McElvee who took the
usual road the children went in search
Of them, also gave in her testimony,
which was not very relevant.
Mrs. Eleanor Ptomey joined the
hunt for the children, and made similar
statements.
Mrs. Sarah Mayse, mother of the
children, also gave in her testimony.
She stated that Mary was in her 9Th
year, and Margaret in her 18th. Ear
~ in the day Lucinda asked leave of
her to 90 Tor blackberries. Some
time in the afternoon she asked Lucin-
da if she intended TO go; but Lucinda
said she would wait until the Children
returned from school, and she would
take them along with her; and the
witness refused to let them go for tear
of accidents. In the course of the
evening she was struck with the singu-
lar countenance of the woman, as she
held her pan Of blackberrics, and en-
auired what was the matter with her.
The woman gave no immediate an
swcr, but turned towards the door,
where she stopped and remarked she
was Whiting for the pan. Mrs. mayso
paye other statements Of facts, which
Il is unnecessary 10 recapitulatc. (lt
appears, that during The Preparation
oil The murder the girl Caroline had an
infant child of Mr.. Mayse in her arms.
She { Mrs. Mayse) stated, in the course
OF her examination, that the prisoners
were both much incensed against their
master, aud both of them had made
threats. Lucinda declared that neither
her master nor any other man should
ever whip her--lfthey did, there would
be murder committed, for she would as
soon die one death as another. "A few
DAYS before the murder, Lucinda's mas
ter had attempted to whip her, but she
rot away from him.--Andrew had al
SO made threats, and said he would do
something to make his master sell him,
for he would not live with him---Mr.
Mayse had a few days before the MUIR
der, bought him new cowhlde, and
placed il so that they might see II. IN