Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1840-12-26
MOST ATROCIOUs MURDERS.
Sunbury, Dec. %.

MOST ATROCIOUS MURDERS.
A most shocking case of the deliberate murder of
five persons, committed, it would seem, for the sue
purpose of preventing the discovery Of confirm
plated robbery, is related in the Portsmouth, Va.
Times Of the 10th instant as follows:
From the Portsmouth Va) Times, Dec, l6.
We learn that series of most a,rocous murders
was perpetratcd by miscreant in SOUTHAMPTON |
County, on Monday night. An aged Quaker of
the name of Scott, residing not far from Jerusalem.
MS ssie, also aged, lit lie 6 RI, about nine Yeas
Old named Pietlow, negro woman and her child,
were successfully bu,chered to further the design
OF robbery, entertained by their d. s'royer. Six
persons were OIL the premises at the timc-anJ but
one escaped. This was young negro rrl. She
relates, understand that man residing in the
neighborhood visited the house a little after sunset
and sp mt the evening by the iireside of Mr. Scott,
in conversation with the amiy.-As he was abou,
to quit, he asked MIR. s. 10 walk with him to the
gate, as be had word to say TO him in private TO
this The unfortunate man consented.
The gis saw no more Of him. A violent strug.
gle was next heard in the kitchen. The murderer
arincd with a short heavy dogwood pcs,e, had sci.
zed the negro woman and beating o. her
trains, when the aged sister rf Mr. Scott, attracted
by the noise, appeared AMI begged him to desst.
IrTvoca,ly bent on his design, he ins antly des
patched the poor negro, aud scizing the old lady
itlled hu 10 the floor with blow of the pestc. A
negro hoy about nine years old was then killed in
the sane manner. He next proceeded in search of
the llc white girl aud the young regrcss The
Ia ter made her escape unobserved. The other child
was not SO fortunate. She was caught in the roam
and m,irsSss5 as summarily as the rest.
Not sceir The negro girl, and resolved To leave
ec'c'uc 10 his fearful secret, the monster made a
careful search in the rooms, turning over the beds
and scanning every corner narrowly. Convinced
that one of the family had escaped, he seems to
have gone OIL without consummating the robbery.
The girl fed immediately to the n,ighbors
und communicated what had occurred ia her sight
ard hearing They repaired to the premises forth
with, and found The melancholy confirmation Of her
story. The murderer had 1td, and the house was
burning slowly. The fire was extinguished before
IL had defaced the bodies, or done much injury TO
the building In the morning. among the spccta.
tors Of the nights bloody fruit, was the individual
spoken ofby the girl az the actor 10 the scene. He
gave instant contradiction to ler story, and re-
fened to the absence of blood from his clohng as
proof Of his innocence. He denied also, we learn,
having been on the pr, misses for a forinight-Tra.
Of blood, however, il is said were found among
his whiskers and he was detained til search was
made at his house. This resulted, we learn, in the
discovery of suit of his clothing exc' ssivey he'
smearcd with blood He was forthwith aPPrehen.
ded.
Mr.. Scott was an old and esteemed residen, o.
shc county, and was reputd TO lie wealthy. The
hope Of securing his money led to scheme Of mut
der as boldly conceived and deliberately c1ecatc
as any furnished by the annals Of crime. The es
cape Of the girl alone prevented tho full execution
Of the plan lf she had fall,n, all explanation o
the mystery would have been impossble-Th
hou.e and bodes of the ain would have b, zen con
sumed together, and the murderer would have pos
sessed in security, the poor reward of his atochie'
Beyond the fear of detection.
The same mail also brings the account of anc
tn,r murder, committed under the lnfurnce Of jra
ousy;
From the Virginia Star, Dee l6
murder of most arocions charscter, we ur
'derstand, was committed in the county Of Dinw
die, on Sunday morning last, Ivy jeremiah Conwa,
on the person n Edward Lewis, young man, OF
ly about ls year VI age, who, at the time when Il
murder WIS committed resided with Conveys {
miiy. Itappesrs that Lewis had dressed hims,
With the intention OF going 10 Church. and was
the act Of stopping out Of the portico, having b
back turned towards Conveys chamber door, VIII,
g. advanced wiihin few steps Of him, (ha,ing
sun heavily charged with buck shoi,) and fire
when Lewis fell, havirg the entire contents Of {
sun IN the neck and back part # the head L