Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1838-09-13

the blood showed that she must have fallen III that
position, ms large quantity had flowed from '"o
wound and was found Immediately under tue nec"'
The traces OF blood were also distinctly visible, shew-
ing that she had staggered forward aud described
semi crele IN her progress, as stated by Inc witness
The wounds too corresponded with her descr'n''oh
Tor whilst the cash in the throat OF the e'd"siwas
smooth. aud not than two or three inches III
length, that Of tho youngest was ragged hnu uhe-
VEN and OF much greater depth aud extent.
Words cannot describe the feeling winch was pro
dueed upon the bystandc,s rs this dreadful naira-
ton progressed, particularly as the father ana 'ne
mother OF the murdered children were both
obliged to be present. The deepest emotion
pctsaded tho whole audience. The counsel were
50 much affected 10 be compelled from timo to
time 10 suspend the examination. and the poor
mother was convulscd with agony, that she was
obliged 10 be supported half lanng, and sobbhs rs
II her heart would break. from the Court house.
\ numberoi other witnesses were examined, ana
amongst them the mother OF tho children. She sta
ted that on the evening OF the the murder Inc female
prisoner, Lucinda applied TO her for permission 10 so
and gather blackbcrries. This was granted, and
she left the house about O'clock and was absent
until asho,t time before sun down. She then re-
turned br,ngiuga bowl Of blackberies, which she
handed 10 her mistress, who ate n few oil them
Whilst she was thus engaged, she ohscNed Lucinda
with her eyes very ntcn,ly fixed upon he,. and she
asked her what WAS her reason Tor looking nj her IN
that manner Lucinda made some evasive reply aud
went towards the window, but soon returned and
remarked to her mistress, that the was almost
down aud that the children hal returned from
school. Mrs. Maysc replied that she supposed that
they would soon be al home. Soon afterwards Lu-
ciuda again made some remarks about the delay oi
the children. Mrs Maysc then directed Caroline
to go aud meet the Children but she made some ex-
cuse. Mrs. NJ. told Lucinda to 20 and meet them,
and bring them home. Lucinda accordingly went
of very leisurcy, to the house oil Mr. Ptomoy.
where the school was kept and enquitcd for the
ch"ldren stating that they had no. got home. Mrs,
Plomcy said that the children had beeo dismissed
long time and expressed some apprehension that
they might have gone IN search Of blaokberies, aud
got lost IN the woods or bushes, and she and her
daughter and sIstern law immediately pat on thelr
bonhets 10 90 IN puisut OF them. As they went to
wards MIR. Mayscs house, Lucinda expressed her
fears that the children had fallen into the and
been washed away; but Mrs. Ptomey rdieulcd the
idea because the run was not At any place moro than
hoenouth deep. Lucinda however persisted in
the expression OF thai apprehension. When they
had got half way TO Nh, Mayses house, near the
po'ot where the road forks, leading to the house
OF Mr.. Mayse, aud the other To the scene ol the muir
der thoy SAW Mrs. Mn,sc with Caroline and some
others OF the family, coming out TO Meet them
Caroline aud Miss Piomey ayoung lady, and War
wick Tomey an intelligent lad OF about II years OF
avg, without waiting for Mrs. Mayso aud the of
the party TO come mp, then wen, up the road leading
to the scene OF the murder. Lucinda told them
that was useless to go up that wayas Mrs, Maysc
had forbidden the children from going in that dlrec
I
however persisted IN gong some distance IN that di-
recIion, until at last Miss Pomey proposed that they
should return. But Caroline urged them To 70 u
little further, that she almost certain they must
be up there. They accordingly wen, a little further.
and when they got within 10 steps OF The place where
the bodies lay, Caroline exclaimed "thcre they lie
dcad!' Miss Piomey feeling very much alarmed,
insisted upon their running back to The rest OF the
narty TO inform them OF their discovery, which they
dld Mrs. Mayse appeared incxpressbly shocked,
/ I.nn, th, yh,,n sllp
Stood. As as she recovered her consciousness
she directed Lucinda TO 20 and bring the dear little
children TO her, de nd OF alive Lucinda went as di
rccted, but returned in few minutes as all the wit
stated before she could possibly have gone 10
the place where the bodies Of the children lay and de-
clared thai they were lying there with their Threats
cut, aud big man was standing by them IN his shirt
sleeves, with club in his hand and great dog sit
| ting near. This story alarmed the females so much
that they afraid To 90 any nearer Whilst they
were in this state Of apprehension aud uncertainty
Mn. Ptomey, who had just returned home, and
learned that his family were out in search OF the ch-
dren, came up to lend his aid and hearing The story
Of Lucinda, told her TO show HIM where tliey were,
aud ifthe Devil WAS there, hewould go and see what
was The matter with the children. lie accordingly
went up and found the children lying their faces,
aud IN such position that IT was impossible 10 DIS
cover Their wounds until The bodies were turned
| over lie then turned to Lucinda, and demanded TO
know where the man and dog and club were. She
/
were there. The bodies were tien removed 10 the
house, and several Of the Witnesses stated hit whilst
Mrs Mayse almost frantic with grief, was shiiekiug
and screamn like beside herself, they saw Luz
cinda looking nentIy upon her aud smiling with ap-
parent satisfaction.
A great many more circumstances as to the con-
duo of the prisoners before and after the murder,
were proved, which, though of a minute character,
tended to strengthen the cham Of evidence.
There was one other piece Of testimony introdu-
nd hIfI nj iISP1l itI.I
guilt Of the accused The clothes Of the prisoners
were Produced, stained with blood. The woman
did pretend to deny that the stains produced
by blood but endeavored account for il, by say
she had dawn one of her teeth IA short time be-
FORE and that in splitting out the blood which flowed
from the cavity, she had got some of il on her
clothes +! and she appealed TO negro woman OF
Mr.. Mayse 10 verify the statement. The woman was
accordingly examined on that point and although
she stated that she the tooth extracted, she
equally positive that blood came from the cavity,
as he tooth very loose, aud extracted with the
fingers Off the prisoner.
! The specks OF blood upon the shirt of the man
being small, lie accounted for them in ways
la the first place, he said they caused by flea
bites. But unfortunately Tor this statement the STAINS
were on the out side OF the shirt and none the in
side. The story was then changed, andihey were
said To have proceeded from cut in his finger, but
the position and size OF The spots and the date OF
the cut IN the finger, all conliadctcd with equa
certainty this explanation ollhc - foul spots"
ltnow only remains o eXpllnt notveswh HIGH lee
to the preparation of these dlbocal deeds. In refer
euce to the 1t IN evidence that her mas
a shoIt time before. had lntcrercd O prevent hc