Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1839-08-22
From The arkansas Gazette, Julyl7
WASHING TON COUNTY MURDER

We gather the following particulars of
this alirucio us HON ic ide, from letter from
Washington county, published in the Bates,
vile News, Of The 4Ih inst
"The most horrible murder ever perpe.
'rated IN Christian country, was commit
ted last Saturday night, at Cane Hill on
hr. VIM. Wright aud four OF his children.
Mrs Wright states that soon after retiring
10 bed she heard the sound OF horsemen ap-
preaching the house. Her limidty suggest
ell the apprehension that they might be hos
tile Indians. She awoke her husband and
communicated her fears, and both arose.
MIS- w through crack by the door, dis
covered three men walk up TO The door. One
asked II they could stay all night? Sir
w right answered yes, and opened The door.
he robbers at that moment seized ard stab.
bed HIM 10 death Mrs Wright fled ONT of
the back door y daughter, (pe.haps The
"!dest,) rushed out by the assass.ns, While
yet bulchering her father Mr.. Wrigb. he
nag despatched the tiendscOmmenceI slaush
teFIng his dcfenceless children. They stru,..
out The brains Of little infant, on The floor.
a"d run their bowie knives through the teo,
der n"dies OF three other children, as HEY
rep"scd IN The embraces of a sweet sleep.
The fourth, a little boy, of some ten Or
demons, al blow separated The crown from
The mass OF his head, strik ing him into in,
sensibHily, but nor inio deaih as they sup,
posed '-F"itunateiy, two ether children,
sleeping IN an outer apartment, we're no!
discovered. Also, little Morris escaped their
observation. This little child, OF the tender
aye OF six or seven years only, had been
placed al Tie back side of a trundle bed thus
hiding him from the eyes oil The murdeyers.
Lille horTIs was awake, and with the wis
dom oil mdinrcf years, lay in breathIess still.
ness, eyelng from beneath life folds of liza
bed furniture, the strange deeds OF IN urder.
robbery and arson.
From this intelligent child we learned
that alter every eye beneath this i'll Gatei
r"of, as they supposed, had been closed in
'eaih, and every tongue silenced forever, The
foobcfs proceeded 10 plumber The house OF all
me money, SET II on fire, and gallopad IF.
hh'te MOTIFS, after satisfying bimself that
me murdeTerS were gone, moved from h,s
hihInS place, and commenced with astonish-
ing intelligence 10 rescue all from the ruins
OF The rapidly advancing flames. He ran
and awoke his little sisters, aud hurried
them out % the burning DIV eIing-returncd
and found his wounded brother restored To
consciousness. His feeble strength being
unequal to his weight, Morris threw his
az h'S pioubu VIC eHphiuefS ~ DIS almost mUI-
dered LrOiher, and tenderly drew him be-
You'd the influence Of The increasing fire
returned, caught up The infant, but finding il
iIleiess, gently laid it down few PAGES from
Tho door, on the breast of tue father. He
'hen esSayed 10 return for the lIfeless bodies
OF The others, but the ire now having WRAP,
ped The door IN flames, forbid his entrance.
Seeing his angel like purpose thwarted, he.
"Iih his little sisters and brother, sought
such resting place as houseIess farm and
clear sky afforded. The daughter that es.
capped al the outset, took refuge in rye
field. Mrs. Wright made her way some
mile and holt, or two miles, barefooted.
and IN her night dress, TO her friends"