Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1840-12-24
MOST ArRoCIous MURDERS.

A most Stacking case of the deliberate murder Of
five nersons cotRmiited it would seem, for the sole
ournose of preventing the discovery OF a contefn
plnied robbery is related in the Portsmouth, Va
Times Of the !6th instant, as follows:
From the Portsmouth Fa.) Times, Dec. l6.
We learn that series OF most atrocious murders
was perpetrated by mscreant in Southampton
county on monday night. An aged Z iaSer al the
sane of Scott residing not far from Jerusalem, his
sister, also aged, little girl, about nine years DID,
named Pretlow, a negro woman and her child, were
successyely butchered 10 further the design OF rob-
berry, entertained by their destroyer. Six pei sons
were on thu premises at the time-and but one e'-
caped This was young negro eirl She relates,
we understand, tha man residing In the neiSh oof-
hood visited The house lite after sunset and spent
The evening by the Preside OF Mr. Scott in conversa
ton with the family. As he was ahous 10 quit he
asked Mr. to walk with him to the gate, as he
had ord to say 20 him IN private 10 th's 'he
unfortunate man consented.
The girl saw no more OF him. violent struggle
was nrxt heard IN The ktchen. The murderer arm
ed with short heavy d'gwood pestle, had seized
The neprO woman, and was beating out her brains
when The aged sister of Mr. Scott. attracted by the
noise, appeared and begged him to'iesst. lrfeVo
cably bent on his design, he instantly despatched
tie POOR negro, and SEEING the old lady, 'eAed her
to the foot with a blow of the pesie. neg1o boy
about nine wears old, was then killed in the same
manner. Tie next proceeded in search OF the l'tie
White girl and the young negroes The latter MADE
her escape unohsrrved. The other child was not
80 fortunate. She was caught in the room and
murdered as summariiy the rest.
Not seeing the negro girl, and resolved to leave
no clue to his fearful secret, the monster made
careful search in the rooms turning over tho beas
and scanning every corner Narrowly CohNwceh
dat one of the family had escaped, he seems 10
h,y, eao, off without communicating the robbery.
The girl fled Immediately to The nearest neishbofs'
and communicated what had occurred IN her sight
and hearing. They repaired TO the premises forth
with. aud found the melancholy confirmation OF her
story The murderer had fed, aad the house was
burning slowly. The fire eX'ingui'hed before
il had defaoei The bodies or done much injury to
the building. In tie morning, among The srecta-
tors Of the nights bloody fruit, was the individual
spoken OF by the eul as the actor in the scene'-
He gave an instant contradiction to her story, and
referred to the absence Of blood rom his clothing
as prnef of his Innocence. lie denied also, we
learn, having been on the premises for fortnight
Traces of blood however II is said, were found
among his whlskers, and he detained I'LL search
was made at ts house. his resulted, we learn
in the discovery OF a salt of his cohng excessively
besmeated with blood. He forthwith aoPre
hended
No Scott was an old and esteemed resident OF
the Couaty, aud reputed TO be wealthy. The
hone of securing his money led 10 a scheme OF muir
der. as boldly conceived and deliberately executed
as any furnished by the annals Of crime. he es-
cane OF Tie gir alone prevented the full execution
of tie alan If she had fallen all exDsnation &c
the mystery would have hsen imrossble.-The
house and bodies Of nc slain would have been con-
sumed together. and the murderer would have pos
sessed IN security lar poor reward of his atrocities
beyond the fear OF detection.