The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1839-09-17
From The Louisville City Gazette.
SHOCKING MURDER.

From, The Louisville City Ga.ctte
SHOCKING MURDER.
On Friday last, some persons from the neigh
borhood OF upper Main street waited on MIR Spu-
rier, the Coroner, and informed him that ne
gro man, named Jem belonging TO Abyer or
Anger Mcclure, on the corner of Main and
Clay streets, had been barbarously murdered on
Wednesday; and that hasty and secret inter
ment OF the body had been made on Thursday
morning before daylight. Mr. Spurrer instant
~ proceeded to the place of intrement and had
The body raised. 1t presented Il horid specta-
Gle OF unhuman treatment; the shoulders, breast,
back, and lower parts being horribly scored and
The head and face bruised and mashed so that
The brains oozed through broken part of the
skull just above the nose. Mr. Spurrer summon
ell jury; upon view of the body. and from
what testimony could be procured, it appears
that Abyer Mcclure owned the slave, and for
some reason, not in evidence, on Wednesday
last, about noon, ordered Jem into the stable to
he logged. When there hessried the negro,s
hands together and proceeded TO fog him. AZ
ter some time he was seen beating the slave in
humanity with leather strap then with II halter
rope, knotted I'D the end and finally with bar
rel stave nfliciing blows Of the hardest and
severest kind upon his head, face, shoulders
breast back Ioins, ETC. continuing without in
PERMISSION this Inhuman treatment-some of the
byslauders leaving the place in horror. At
length 1t appeared that Mcclure used his clcnch.
ed Inst TO beat the negro about the head and
face ill he Knocked him down when the DIES.
pairing creature being tied and helpless from
the savage treatment, implored for mercy IN the
most piteous supplicalions -bnt for him there
WINS no mercy in this world Mcclure, in reply
to his suplcations, Jumped upon the PROSTATE
wretch buryng the h cells of his boots shoes
in the negro's face, and brusing in his skull be.
tween the eyes so that the brains ooZed out; and
he then jumped on his breast when the unforu-
nate victim became senseess, Jem died early
that evening; and Mcclure proceeded to have Il
grave prepared, and next morning before day,
conveyed the body to the gray and inferred it,
Immediately after which he rode off.
The Cononcr's Jury found IL verde of 'mur.
der against Mcclure, warrant for his appre-
hension; but he has not been taken. He is
tall spare man, OF thin visage, sandy complexion
grey eyes, and dark hair, probably from thirty
five to thirty eight years of age, native of The
Green River country, in this state; born within
nine or ter miles ofBowlng Green, where his
family resided for several year.
Upon enquring in the neighborhood of Clay
street, we learn that Mcclure had come to live
on the corner of Main ST. about year since
lie had purchased the slave, Jem, some months
ago tor $1,000, and could have had 81 $500 for
him, had he offered him for sale, as he was
very fine negro The rumor Of the neigh
borhood is, that Mcclure was Jealous of the
Negroes attention TO black woman whom Nc
CURE had lately bought, with whom he himself
the evening before Jem had asked leave to walk
out with this black woman, which was granted
but he did not return until the next morning,
when Mcclure told him he would pay him af-
ter break fast. 1t is further aledged that Nc
CURE took white man, named Murphy, whom
he had lately hired, into the stable, and with
his help nailed up all the loose boards so as to
prevent the view from the outside, and having
made arrangements for the intended whipping,
Mcclure went back to the house of Jen, and
brought him to the stable where he aud MUIR
ply tied his hands behind his back, to cross
stick, rs TO render him utterly helpless 1t
is also asserted that Mcclure then took wag.
goners cow hide and hogged the negro with 1t
till the cow hide was completely worn out, and
then he snached the belly band off set of liar
ness, and beat the unfortunate slave with the
buckle end oft on the shoulders, back and breast
when the leather belt gave way he took a barrel
save and beat him with it severely on the head,
shoulders and breast; and concluded the tragedy
as described on the nquisition.
AS this is one Of the most appalling cases of
inhumanity to a slave, OH record in this State,
we hope for the honor of our city, that no ex-
pense will be spared for The apprehension of the
murderer. Ills perhaps the duty of the city
authorities TO offer large reward for the appre-
henson of both Mcclure and his accomplice,
Murphy.