Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-01-12
AZ IyCARNATL FIEND.


We had believed that the foul deed OF murder recent
v pcrpctraied in Southampton of which we have pub
sed an account, could have no parallel, and yet wc
are already stunned with the recital OF one equally re-
voting and denonacal, perpetrat'd III fhis.!Sania
county on the sd uIt., the particulars Of winch we
have from gentleman who was IN Danvi!lr when Y
occurred and to whom they related BY the Ioro
ner:
James II Lanier man of respectable family con-
nexions but of dssoute lie and unbrdled passions,
had become the father Of children both boys, from
an Illicit connection with female oi the name o LIZA
Elceman: and refusing to MAINTAIN them, ther mother
made application TO the Court IN the usual manner,
and he was ordered to provide for their support ms
=. er,snerated The wretch that he resolved the hell
isb prec; Of cyadinp the obligation ct the court ny
murdcrinr The whole family, including his own on
spr,nr. Taking with hn, therefore, one oil ms Ia
| Tiers nero men, and and gun, he proceed
I'd 10 the house Of the woman flccman. Va "nier-
inr The room in which she sitting. with her mo-
thcr Betsy Flreman) and the two chldren lac nsien-
ed the door, and commenced his diaboica work Win
savage feroclty, striking the mother OF his children
senseess nj his feet with single blo~ OF the aA'-
The eldest OF his little boys seeing this uttered
scream, and clasping his inhuman parent round 'hc
knees, implered him IN the accents of innocence not
10 hurt his mother But the Inhuman monster, whose
heart steeled t. pity seIzed Inc niue nnoceh ny
The feet and dashed his brains out on tie hearth Hor-
rorsruck at the bloody scene, the negro UNASSIGNED
the door and ran from the house. but he was closely
pursued bv Lanier, who lcveed his gun, and threat
him ii he did not come DicK ana
HAVING completed the buichery Of both the women and
The children he struck of the heads Of the latter with
his axe: and png the bodies together in the middle OF
The floor SET the house fire BY OF bundle Of
straw which he had ordered the negro 10 BRING with
him. The bodies however, were not entirely consunl-
ed and their remains carefully collected and m
TERED with every demonstration OF sympathy BY hcIT
neighbours whose sensibtes were powerfully excited
| by their fate Lanier has since absconded.
These particulars learn are stated by the negro,
and of course would weigh nothing evidence to con-
yict Lanicr should he he taken. The inquest, how
ever after careful investigation of the facts and OF
other evidence before them, have found verdict
AGAINST him as the perpctator Of this most oul and u
natural nurder.-.Sortok Heraid
1Thc Governor has issued his Proclamation, offering
4 reward of $500 for the apprehension Of LanieFl
| DtsrGrsslxG AcclpESr.-We regret tha, It has c..
Waived on us 10 state another instance OF the fatal ei
pcs of handling fire carelessly, by winch pro-
misinr Young gentleman, Dir. Richard Drnminonr,
now lies at the point of DEATH and an amlab!e family
are plunged in the deepest distress. The ACCIDENT oc
CURED at the Ghent farm, (the residence OF ms iay
on Tuesday afternoon. Mr. Drumnond having dned,
was about to proceed shooting excursion, when
stopping to observe laborcrs al work. he rested
tine butt of his gun against the frame oil grindsione, and
,lcs.ly pressed hrs right side against the bore, when
tc nn went of, and lodged the contents in hrs body
inst above the hip satterng his watch TO pieces, and
!, il feared may have forced some Of the fragments
into the wound He is still alive, but his recovery is
believed TO be exceedingly doubtful.
T.Nortoik Herald, Jan Z.