The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-04-23


| CoNrEssIoN.-We take the following particulars OF
the recent Harrisburg tragedy from the Philadelphia
Times ct yesterday. 1t was one OF the most brutal
and horrible murders record;-
| ANOTHER MURDERER CAUeHr.-tis our duty to re-
cord OF the individual no perpetrated on the
inst the murder Of MIR and Mrs Parthemere an old
couple who resided about three miles from Harrisburg
Pa As their has been arrested suspicion of
committed the deed the discovery Of the real culprit
becomes douby fortunate II will be that on
the day after the murder suspicious character
rested. He taken before Justice Weiss and after
examination discharged for lack of evidence On
peared TO have been blood, washed out Still the proofs
too weak and after giving in his name as John
Mason ne was released subsequently, he obtained from
this Justice certificate Of his discharge upon ground
that lie might be again arrested suspicion for the
offence This person left Harrisburg Monday and
rived Reading Pa late in the afternoon He there put
up at the White Horse Tavern. About 6 o'clock, p NJ
one OF the workmen employ the railroad depot
ca Robert McWhirer who boarded at the White Horse
going home TO supper found Mason sitting the bar-room
behind the stove and struck it'll his excited and
easy manner and appearance He got into conversation
with him. All of sudden in the Of
Mason asked New fhe had heard OF the murder
fhose old people at Harrisburg" He replied that he
MAD heard It from young man who had come from the
for the offence7' inquired NJ. The reply in the at.
irmatve. al am the man." said Mason and then his
countenance in its changes beray the workings OF his
feelings OF apprehension.
After little more conversation Mason told New. that
he was in great deal of trouble begged him to sleep in
tired he would break his mind" to him When they
got up in the room, and they went there without light
to read 1t the certificate of his previous discharge
New. turned to go down stairs but in descending heard
aiootsep behind him. He turned and behed close at his
heels, Mason, pale death, ard trembling all
Why do you not remain till get lghtf' Oh" said
he am so ightened cannot stay in the alone I"
At the earnest solicitation of Mason, New slept with
him. the former Sverrng that he laborg under such
dreadful feelings that he dare not sleep alone In bed, he
told New. rst that he had committed great crime
M W COne fv in
great trouble apprehensve of and
to get out Of the country as soon possible He after
never commit another crime-and told him that if he
would pledge himself not betray him. and would get
Tess ALL McWhirer gave the required pledge aud Mason
then made the following
CONFESSION OF THE MvRDEn.-He was after work. He
arrived at Philadelphia fran Ireland July last and had
been wandering about the countryjever since. When in
Harrisburg he heard that this old couple had laid up
from their sales of marketing quite large sum of money
support them and that they had it in the house in spe
Gle He was in state Of utter restitution, and having
nothing to Co. and prospect he conceived the
plan OF numbering the couple alluded to- in order to Oh
tain their wealth He began by lurking about the prem
ascertain when the old people alone. On the
morning OF Friday he watched until he the leave
for market when he sneaked up cautiously towards the
house As he looked in the door he the aged couple
sitting at table upon which were spread number of
small pieces OF money The old lady sitting
end sewing, with her spectacles her The old
gentleman sitting at the other end. apparently
gagged in examining and counting the CON- Fired by the
exhibition of this money which brought into vivid dis.
tnctness the picture of his beggary he rereaed to
adjacent wood pile and selecting from oak stick
about yard long, and knotty at the end returned stealth
lily to the house. He first struck the old lady tremen
dous blow upon the head Fl ON behind
IN her SKULL and exposing the BRAIN The sudden blow
paralyzed with fear and establishment her husband be-
fore recovering from which he received from Mason,
blow also that him awful cash upon the forehead
from out OF which gushed torrent ofblood This would
seem to have finished the dreadful deed but the old
athletic, and though blinded by his own gore and
agonized with the pain he attempted to grapple with his
asselant. Another aud lanother blow followed some OF
which struck the table and broke the oft off The
old lady here made an oncry her death and
the murderer alarmed aimed another blow at her. which
missed her head but dashed the spectaces from her face
and broke them when with gurgling groan, she dropped
ment of returning CONSEQUENCES by the leg Another
blow with the bludgeon which by this time covered
with blood and brains and the hairs ohe murdered
couple, completed the fendsh work, and all quiet.
Mason hastily snatched up the money from the table,
and proceeded to rifle the drawers He drawer
open with key in it-probnby the one from which the
coin upon the table had been taken. From this drawer
he took some relief notes and silver Just he
about to close this drawer he discovered little box in
it. He broke open and found it u of gold He seized
gold piece, but just at that moment the old man.
ing over in his blood began to groan The murderer be-
approaching footstepspossibly the returning home
A panic seized him there lay the gold before him-he
wanted it-he could readily clutch -but his fingers
seemed paraly zed-his brain bewidereJ-and giving
to instructive Of safety he rushed OF the back
and made will all possible speed for the woods He
went to the river and there washed the stains of blood
from his clothes. That night he slept in barn. On
aiming the money he had TAKEN he found that the whole
sum did not exceed twenty dollars The next day he
was arrested and discharged above satedproceedng
to Readng-where narrative finds him.
The CArrURE.-Mcwhirte astounded at this hor.
rbe narration and regretted that he had promised not to
beray him, and to aid in his escape When that pro.
referred to was the awful one Of murder, and
his first impulse was to have Mason arrested. But
the word of an Irshman he thought should be held
cred and much against his better feelings he reluctantly
made arrangemeatste get him out of neading"-the
extent Of his promise On Tuesday morning, he accom-.
panied Mason to he Philadelphia and saw him off,
He then went to his work. In about half hour he
commenced and told his fellow workmen the whole affair
He told also to the foreman of the Depot the agent Of
the Railroad Company, and one of the contractors
These three gentlemen informed the police On the oath
of New warrant was issued and Mr. stilwel depu
ted bv the Justice to pursue the murderer.
On Wednesday evening S. and New arrived in rhila.
delpha in pursuit. They went before Recorder Vaux
Inc recorder issued warrant fer the arrest OF Mason
sent for Col j. X. Murphy-and was the whole of that
night and the hext day, Thursday, engaged in hunting
upthe offender. On Thursday afternoon. Murphy traced
Mason to the cket ship Monongahela, Walnut
street wharf which vessel leaves for Liverpool Mon
day. Mason arrived here Tuesday, and the same
evening made application to the master of the Mononga
hea for passage TO Europe He had not enough money
pay his passage and the captain did not like his appear
ance or conduct and sent him away The second mate
thinks he recoecs that Mason called again board the
ship on Wednesday, and again Thursday On that af
ternoon Mason returned TO the ship and manifested the
mate five dollar gold piece and two dollars in silver
him away in the hold and keep him concealed until
Monday when the vessel would sail. According to
agreement the mate promised to conceal him. took his
money and then went to seek for officer Murphy. He
went to the Mayors and told his story This about
dusk Fearful that Mason might escape, and not know
ing where to find Murphy Honor despatched Captain
Young oil the Night Police, and two other officers
to the ship. Mason brought TO the City Lookup
Yesterday morning he brought before the Recorder
who heard the evidence of Swell and McWhirter, had
Mason put in irons and placed in the charge Of Mr. Still
well to be conveyed to Harrisburg for trial.
Mason appears be about 80 or 3s years of age He is
OF small stature, with Ordinary rather feeble express
sion OF conntenance wild, Manufacturing eye, and is
evidently man accustomed only to the lowest associa
lions His Clothing was very coarse and poor and his
whole appearance common and dirty. The stains upon
his clothes were pronounced by McWhirter, who has
been bleeder in England for IS years. have been
occasoned by blood About $40 have been traced to his
possession We may as well remark here, that he now
denies having made confession His whole demeanor
his unsasness &C. all betrayed before the Recorder his
guilt. He calls himself now William Mason.
FROM PoRT AU PLATT.-We are indebted TO
IL. .. Il