Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1838-09-06


When the witness reached the point de-
signated she found the prisoners Lucinda and
Andrew, waiting for them, the latter leaning
on the fence, with his shirt sleeves roll
ell up to his shoulders. Almost imme.
dia,c!y upon their reaching the spot. Lu.
cinda seized the eldest chiid, who finding
herself so roughly handled, begged Lu
cinds not 10 hurt her, as she had never
done her any harm. Lucinda made no re
ply TO this prayer for mercy, but catching
hold OF the head OF her victim she drew il
violently back SO as TO leave the throat fully
exposed, and standing behind her held her
firmly in this p0sition until Andrew with
single stroke Of a shoemaker's knife cut her
throat almost from ear 10 ear. Lucinda then
relinquished her hold, and the poor little in
noccnt with its eyes rolled upw ards in ago.
ny, and with uplifted hands, staggered ior-
ward describing in her course half circle.
with the blood spouting from every vein and
artery, until she fell PROSTATE upon her face
and expired without groan. The other lit
tie victim, terrified beyond expression, at the
horrible scene which she had just witnessed,
fled into corner of the fence, and with out
stretched arms implored for mercy. But
she might as well have appealed to hungry
tigers.-Andrew rushed upon her, dragged
her forth from her place of refuge and hand.
ed her over to Lucinda. who held her in the
same position in which her sister had met
her horrible fate, and Andrew, w it'll the same
instrument OF death, TO use the language OF
the witness, "sawed nj her neck for some
time" until the head was almost severed
from the body, and she Tell dead without a
struggle.
The witness stated that she then -an away
to the house, and did not know what the pri.
haro tka,, l.
afterwards.
This dreadful narrative Of the witness was
sustained by all the circumstanial evidence
in the case, and by the testimony Of all the
other witnesses as 10 the collateral facts
Upon an examination of the position of the
bodies oi the children, and the wounds, and
tho appearance OF The ground, il was found
that every thing correspondent with the stale
ment of the witness. The body Of the ell
desi, lay upon its face, aud the blood she " ed
that she must have fallen in that position.
as large quantity had flowed from the wound
and was found Immediately under the neck
The traces of blood were also distinctly yis-
ible hewing ,ha, she had staggered forward
and described a semi-cisclc IN her progress;
as stated by the witness. The wounds Ton
correspondent with her desc' ip,inn, for whilst
the cash in the throat of the eldest was
ches in length, that of the youngest was rag :
ged and uneven, and OF much greater depth
and extent.
Words cannot describe the feeling which
was produced upon the bystanders as this
dreadful narration progressed, particularly
az the father and The mother OF the murdered
children were obliged 10 bs present The
deepest emotion pervaded the whole audience
The counsel were so much affected as 10 be
compelled from tino to Time 10 susperd tho
examination, and the poor mother was 60
convu!sed with agony, that she was obliged
to be supported, half iainting, and sobbing
as il her heart would break, from the Court
house.
A number OF other witnesses were exam
ined, and amongst them the mother of the
children. She stated that on the evening of
The murder the female prisoner, Lucinda, ap-
piled TO her for permission TO go and gather
blackberres. This was granted and she left
the house about O'Clock and was absent until
a short time before sun down. She then re.
turned bringing bowl of black berries, which
she handed to her mistress, who ate few Of
them-whilst she was thus engaged, she ob :.
served Lucinda with her eyes very intently
fixed upon her, and she asked her what was
her reason for looking al her in that manner.
Lucinda made some evasive reply and went
towards the window, but soon returned and
remarked to her mistress, that the sun was
almost down and that the children had not
returned from school. Mrs. Mayse replied
that she supposed that they would soon be al
home. Soon aiterward Lucinda again made
some remarks about Inc delay of the children
Mrs Mayse then directed Caroline to 90 and
meet the children, but she made some excuse.
Mrs. M. told Lucinda TO go and meet them,
h,-,,x n
went off very esuiely, TO the house OF Mr.
Ptomey, where the school was kept, and
enquired for the children, stating that they
had moi got home. MIS-. Ptomey SAID that
the children had been dismissed long time
and expressed some apprehension thai they
might have gone in search OF blackberrics,
and got lost in the woods or bushes and she
and her daughter and sister in law immedi-
aleiY put OIL their bonnets 10 90 in pursuit of
them. As they went tow aids MIR. Msyse's
house, Lucinda expressed her fears that the
children had fallen into The run and been
washed away but Mrs. Ptomey ridiculed
the idea, because the run was not Al any place
more than shoe mouth deep. Lucinda how>
ever persisted in the expr ession of that ap>
prehension. When they had got hall way
TO MIR. Mayse's house, near the point where
the road forks, one leading 10 the house OF
Mr.. Mayse, and the other 10 the scene Of the
murder, they saw Mrs. Mayse with Caro-
line and some others Of The family, coming
oui 10 meet them. Caroline end nj ISIS Pto.
mey young lady, and Warwick Tomey
an intelligent lad of about II years OF age,
without waiting for Mrs. Mayss and The rest
OF The party 10 come up, then went up the
road leading TO the scene of the murder. Lu-
cinda tUld them that il was useless 10 20 Dp
that way as Mrs Mayse had forbidden The
children from going in that direction. Miss