Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1841-10-05
From the Boston Morning Post, Erfra, Sepf 20.
AWFUL MURDER OF A YOUNG WOMAN

Yesterday forenoon most fendish murder. was
committed in the Cambridge Aims House, Cam
bridgeport on the person OF yonng woman named
Sarah Stevenson. 0y a man named " iiam IL Brit
ton. lie plunged a huge carving knife IN between
her right ioreshoulde7 aud breast. clear through
her heart and lungs, and under her left shoulder
blade.
Briton as pauper became the inmlte oofthes
Aims House. september. Isle. being aged and
somewhat iniifm. lie possessed some literary ac-
quirements. and employed Is a teacher the
children IN the establishment. In June last. Miss
Stevenson then laborng under painful disease.
became inmate ofthe House. and after she had
improved in health in some degree. she undertook
10 learn 10 write under the instructions Of Brition.
In consequence of the familiar intercourse naturally
arising thus. Brtton conceived violent passion
for her, aud proposed 20 marry her
She declined on account; OF his age and inability
10 support "a family. lie pressed his suit. and she
laid the subject before Mr. Valentine the excellent
superintendent. who at once advised her TO avoid
Brittoh A. much she could. and told ler. when
ever he entered her room, 10 leave H. and come IN
10 h. private apartment. She acted upon this ad
vice for some weeks. Tn Sunday morning, he en-
tered her room. and she then left II, and sent into
occupied By two other women
lie DID not immediately follow her, and she began
30 read Ia her companions from a new testament,
winch Mr. Valentine had presented To her. While
thus engaged Briton entered and said TO the other
two Women Is this your room - Before they
knlte from under his shirt bosom. advanced towards
the deceased, seized her rognd the body. and flung
her on 10 n bed. One oi the women caught hold of
him. but ne turned upon her with the upiitted knife.
like tiger. and she quailed before him. ine other
woman then grasped ham round the body but was
driven oil IN the same manner a. tine first one. The
deceased IN ths meantime was eNciaimng-'' Dosi
kiH me! D0At klN ne >" lie first made a violent
pass at her throat. but shc partly stopped the knife
with her rigat hand IN winch 1t cut horrible cash,
four inches long. but only barely scratched her
throat. lie then struck AT her above stated, and
drove the knife clear through the body
In the spasmodic agony of the moment, she sprang
from the bed, advanced towards the door. and fell
dead on the threshold Mr.. Naient.n" had rushed
up To her assistance. and she fell. bent her
to RAISE her, but Britton also struck at her. aud
forced her To keep back. =. Murder" was cried IN
every quarter Of the bui!ing. and reached the ear
of James Forritsr, tcam~ter. IN the yard. WIN ran
up stars, and seized BFIiton while the act OF
bending over hIs murdered victim. When seized.
he dropped The kniie se child
cOroner'- lngucs. WAS immediately held. aud a
verdict OF wiliul murder returned. After a short
eXomlnatlon before Justice Ch1mberi an n which
he confessed the deed. ne conveyed u IA: al
at East Cambridge, kept by Mr. Watson.
The deceased Was native OF Ireland about
twenty years OF age-quite handsome. aud very intel
ligent, ana exceedingly des rous OF mental Improve
ment. >he vas very much respected, on account
oi her excellent condUct ithsi and NJ her pow
eTtv.
Briiton - tiliy-seyen years of age-a native of
Halifax y. =. ofwhicn port he has sailed many
years master OF a vessel. During the las; war
ne taNen by m american prirateer command-
by capt CroMnlnsh.c cid. and carried IN a prisoner
nj salem. lie Is "A wldowcr. his wife having been
dead nine years, and during ihs period he mas also
buried two women grown daughters
Half an hour before he committed the awful deed
he led the religious services in the sabbath School
Dt III SIN
cerity and devotion. and oined the children n sing
ing with marked tervor, the hymn, from tine Sab
bath School Harp beginning with
GLOW shall the young their hearts
And guard their lives from sin
Thy wo.d the choicest rules imparts,
To keep their conscience clean"