The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1841-01-05
MOST ATROCIOUs MURDERS.

moS ~ hOCiOOo
A most shockong case the Do libe rate murder
of Eve persons committed, il would seem, for the
sole purpose Of preventing The discovery of con-
lempated robbery, is related in the Portsmouth,
Va Times of The 10Th inst, as follows.
From the Portsmouth (Va) Times.
We learn that series Of most atrocious murders
was Perpetrated by miscreant in Southampton
County, on Monday night. An aged Quaker by
the name OF Scott residing not Ear from Jerusalem,
his sister, also aged, little girl about wars old
named Pretlow, negro woman and her child.
were successfully butchered to further the design
of robbery, entertained by their destroyer Six
persons were the premises at the lime--apd but
one escaped. This was young negro girl She
relates, we understand, that man residing in the
neighborhood visited the house little after sanset
and spent the evening by The fresidc of Mr. Scott,
TO quit, he asked Mr. =. to walk with him to the
gnte as he had word TO say 10 him in private.
To this the unfortunate consented
The girl saw no more Of him. A vioient strug.
gle was next head in the kitchen The murderer
armed with short heavy dogwood pestle had seiz
ed the negro woman, and was beating out her
brains, when the aged sister of Mr. Scott, attracted
by the noise, appeared and begged him to dssisi,
lrrevocabiy bent his design he instantly depa,ch
ed the poor negro, and seized the old lady, felled
her TO the floor with Low of ihe pestle. negro
boy about nine years old then killed in the
same manner. He next proceeded in search of the
little white girl and the young negress The lat
ter made her escape unobserved.-The other child
not so fortunate. She was caught in the room
and murdered as summnry the rest.
Not seeing the negro girl, aud resolved 10 leave
no clue to his fearful secret, the monster made q
careful search in The rooms, turning over the beds
and scanning every coner narrowly. Convinced
that one OF the family had escaped, he seems 10
have gone off without concentrating the robbery
The girl fed Immediately to the nearest neghbors
and communicated WIN; had ACQUIRED in her sight
and hearing. They repaired to the premises forth
with, land found tho melancholy confirmation OF
her story The murderer had fled and Tho house
was burning slowly. The fire was extingushed be-
fore it had defaced the bodies, done Suchinjury
to the building. In the morning among the spects
tors OF the nights bloody fruit, the individ
spoken FLY the girl the actor IN the scene.
lie guvo Instant ea,u,.~de.ic,, hs- s,ery, ~oA
referred TO the absence Of blood from his colhiaS
as proof of his innocence. He denied also, we
learn, having been the premises for fortnight.
Traces Of blood however, it is said, found
among his whskers, and he was detained ill
search made at his house. Tins resulted, we
learn, in tie discovery OF suit of his clothing
cessiveiy besmearcd with blood. He forth.
with apprehended.
Mr. Scott was an old andsesteemed resident oftts
c"udy, and was reputed to be wealthy. The hope
of securing his money led to scheme Of murder,
as boldly conceived and executed any furnished
by the annals of crime. Fhe escape of the girl, a.
lone prevented tho full execution Of the plan. If
she had fallen, all explanation of the mystery
would have been impossible. The honse and bod
les of tho sais would have been consumed togetb
err, and the murderer would have possessed in So
cnriy, tho poor reward Of his atrocities, beyond
the ear ofSetection.