Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1842-07-28
From the Richmond Compiler.
TEE LUCAS FAMILY.
A SHOCKING HISTORY.

A SHOCKING HISTORY.
gentleman of veracity and responsibility in
Montgomery county, Communicates the following
unvarnished account Of the Lucas family; one
Of the most wicked and abandoned that ever lived.
II Is necessary 10 say this, the account would
be discrediied iii came from any other than un-
doubted authority, so shocking its details.
! CHRisrIANsBUna, July 4th, 1919.
To the Editors IF TIE Compiler.
! Gentlemen-Myself as well as MANY others
(no doubt feel some interest Tin consequence OF
our knowledge of the man and the facts) in the
notice in your last paper, headed "The Peniten-
iary.' allude to Lucas. His family and their
crimes are well known to us all. They are noto-
rously worthy to be grouped with the Harpes,
The Murrels, or any other desperadoes that have
tlourished for the last century. You say in your
notice of Lucas, that his case IL a strong argu-
ment, that crime runs in the blood. How far this
rule will carry out, taking the human family en-
'nasse is not for me to say but how far il has
been illustrated in this family of Lucas, stands
conspicuous in our Criminal record, and marked
with blood! will give you an cpitome of this
family and their crimes, which, if made out by a
competent historian, would make small volume.
VIII begin by correcting small error you make
In your statement; you locate the Lucases in
Erayson county; that county is spared the dis
grace OF nurtufing such monsters. The scene
oil their lives and dePredatisns is in the County
OF Giles, on Doe Creek, small branch Of New
River, which heads in the celebrated Salt Pond
Mountain, and from its obscuriiy and loneliness.
| and the character off inhah;,,n,. L..
been avoided by civilized man. But to the tale
The father Of the Lucases, is now abou, 90 wears
OF age, and Is no doubt hoary old villain
aithough he has during his long life been adroit
enough TO commit no crime OF which the law
could take cognizance. will give one trait in
the character of this old sinner, which will suf.
nee to shew what kind of man he is. On the
iecehl ira! OF his son "DAvE," when his life was
In jeopardy. this old man on being asked what
was tile character of his son David, responded that
ne believed "Dare you'd Kill aap man for ft,sn-
iy-fue cents 20
The hrst In this family Of blood, perhaps un-
Paraiieied In civil society,was the first son of.Old
| han' as he is universally called. (His name
perhaps. is Randolph, but presume he has never
seen or heard OF the baptismai fount) Well:
this first born of "Od RAM NAMED ..JERRy. as
long ago as the late war, became criminalIy con-
nected with a mans wife, who was in the service
OF MS country at Norfolk militia man, and
] . q.
having encountered all the dangers of the war.
Jerry Lucas, at the earnest solicitation of The
henoish woman, pretended much friendship for
the husband, invited him home with him from tina
muster ground, and the man was found afterwards
murdered behind log, with about 200 weight IF
stone upon his body. Lucas confessed tliat the
evening they left the muster ground, he beat his
victim over the head with club until he sumo
sed he was dead, and went to his house and s,ait
all night with his wife: TO make assurance
doubly sure, he returned in the morning to see if
the man vas dead. He found him sitting. lean
ing against a tree and covered with gore The
poor fellow begged for his life, told lucas to take
his wife and he would leave the country as soon
as he was able, and would never saw any ,hipg
about what he had done to him. The SAVAGE ,u.
cas- was memorable, murdered him outright and
concealed him as have stated. For this m,,rder
ne was aPprehanded, tried, convicted aud hung At
Diles Court House in the fall Of the wear IsIa'-
Old Han his father, sat under the ralIows
"neh he was hanging, and amused himself by
eating gingerbread.
lie wonian, or wife Of the murdered man, es-
capped punismehtfor want of TESTIMONY to con.
vict her, and what has become of her is 10 me-
unknown.
Next IN the list of this family Of criminals is
| 'OdVe, or David, the second son of ..Old Ran -
ana me sIion OF the family, IL exceeding all the
resi- 10 me number and magnitude Of his crimes
VIII make villain lion. s.Dave'' commenced
his career of crime about twenty wears ago. when
ne was about nineteen years Of age, by stealing a
hoIse' ior which he was convicted and sent to the
PehiIentiaTy for five years, during which time. he
ana another convict contrived TO make their es-
cape. Dave came on home, was captured, taken
back, and served out his term.
But not long after his return home from this.
ms frst probation, The incorngible Dave contri-
we'd TO rob small dealing pedIar Of nearly all his
stock IN trade, for which crime he was aGaip sent
TO the Penltettsafy for three years. At The time
! OF this last conviction, cousin Of Dawes lad
sixteen or seventeen years Of age, was convicted
Tor some crime; and also sent TO the penitentiarv
Tor three years; of course they were discharged
at the same time, and left the Peniteniary to-
gether. The boy has never been heard of since !;
and Lucas, in some Of his drunken frolics has
boosted that as they came on home, fic killed the
boy, and threw his body into the rivet; and he
told the boys father, that when ne ran his knife
INTO him he bawlcd like a calf. If Dave tells the
rum IN t.ns matter, he must have murdered the
poor BOY Tor the wrcfchcd pit:ancc that was given
MIN "heD ne let the feritntia'y, 10 defisy his