Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1840-06-25

49, N-aoAtNtAetNih hulR contains the
following account OF The late hoIrible murder Of
family OF si1 persons IN Huntingdon ouniy,
Pennsylvania. IL Is one Of the most horrible
affairs OF the kind on record
TERRIBLE TRAGEDY.
One Of the most shocking murders-or
rather massacre Of an almost entire family
that ever cast stain npon civilization,
was Perpetrated in Cromwell town
ship, Huntington county, on Saturday
the 25th ult.-The prominent particulars,
as gathered from an Individual present al
the examination, are these William
Brown is the father Of the murdered fam
lily, which consisted Of the parents and
six chIldreni the eldiSt daughter was mar.
red to Rob't McConahy, who lived on
his iather-in-law's premises as a tenant
Brown, Ii seems, is rough man, addict.
ed TO intempersnce. and when in this
condition was in the habit Of threatening
10 kill some Of bis family. though never
known 10 have attempiedany thing Of the
kind. lie was in the habit Of working in
the neighborhood at carpen.ering, whilst
McConahy conducted the farming opera
tions.--On Saturday morning the old
man and his eldast son, aged about 81,
lett home for their places Of employment
shortly after which, McConahy proposed
| to the next oldest son and a Younger one
to go hunting" at the same time di.
recting the daughter and another of the
boys 10 do some work in a cornfeld.-
mcConshy's wife having the day previ.
Gus been conveyed to friends house a:
some distance, by her husband. After the
above disPosiiion had been gone into the
whole family was dispersed, except Mrs.
brown, who remained in the house. Me.
CoDahy and the two boys, on the bunting
excursion, had not proceeded much be.
yond half mile from lhe house when the
reports OF guns were heard, and when the
bodies OF the two boys were afterwards
found, IL appeared that the oldest, a Stout
boy, had not been mortality wounded by
the shot,, that he made desperate battle
until overcome by bis merciless assailant.
who finally cut his throat; -wbilst this
scene was enacting the smaller boy ran
some distance. bot was pursued, shot and
beaten TO death, and with bis brother, b1.
red beneath leaves aud other rubbish
Shortly after this, the girl and her brother
engaged IN the corn field were attacked
the giTl was shot, but there was anaple
and painful evidence 10 show that The
hrst wound was not fatal. and that she
resisted the murderer with extraordinary
| power, which ceased only when both hen
arms tceye broken and her throat cut from
ear to ear The boy here, az in the
other case, appeared to have been frs
shot and then beaten and stabbed until
life was extinct. The bodies were then
covered up. The next object Of the fend
incarnate was the mother Of those muir.
dered children.--She was found IN the
house, and was despatched with a com.
mon butcher knife. with which her head
was nearly severed from her body
though not without Manifestations Of hav-
ing resisted her destroyer TO the extent al
her pouet.-Sbe vas buried in her bed
add the blood carefully wiped of he floor.
The murderer then Stationed himself IN
he barn, with two loaded rifles, at point
commanding view Of the door Of the
dwelling house, and awaited she approach
Of the next victims. The 6rsi was the
7 eldest son, who when upon the Threshold
Of the door, received q fatal shot and fell
dead upon the spot-He was dragged
inside the house and The door closed -
Next came the father, ADD upon putting
hiss hand 10 the door, found II fastened
upon which he made some exclama.
Z ton Of dissatisfaction, add 81 The same
moment heard the report 81 gun and
leit that a ball had passed so Close 10 lbs
eyes as 10 cause comfortable pain ia a
moment after. another discharge 81 70.
de tent ball so ssto cot part Of bii ear
I grszs his wbiskers and psss through BIZ.
bat ~ s thea rsst his eyes towaFds ihs
barn, and discovered peTson hastily turn
around The corner directing bis course &
TIE woods
Upon ofeciing az entrance into ths
house, Mr. Brown fouad his eldest sol
upon the noor. dead, aud upon iuriher
examination. discovered his uife conceal
ed BY The bed-elolhes. life also extinct -
He then communicated the dresdful Cur
cumstanco 10 the nsigb5oss, who imHe
dis,ely Instituted a search for the oihe
members ofthe family, uho were foun,
ss already desrubed the searohers beini
Jed 10 The right dreciion by reports o
The guns previously hsaFd.--The mex
question vas. VIC l. a. .MurdyY I'd,
character and habiif Of Brown II osce CAV
color 10 The sutpicioa shat be had returned
home maddehed. ss thousands have bssl