Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1845-06-05
'HORRID MURDER.

most terrible murders which has ever
occurred in this country. ON Sunday
morning last about half past ten o.
clock, man named James Boyd, went
to the farmhouse Of James Patton, a
very respectable farmer, living about
mile out Of the borough, and while
there committed a deed at the thought
Of which the blood runs cold. Mr..
and Mrs. Patton had gone to church,
and left in the house young servant
girl, their son Wesley Patton, youth
some fifteen years of age, and an in
FAINT lying inthe cradle.
They had been gone bat short
time, before the young man Boyd en-
tered, and, after locking the door care
fully, placed his. hand upon the boys
head, said, how are you getting, Wes-
ley"-the lad had been sick for some
time. He had scarcely time to an
swer his question, ere Boyd seized the
.ngs, and with violent blow levelled
En o:he floor, fracturing his skull IN
SEe most horrible manner. The girl ia
iarmed, flew tothe cradle, seized the
infant, hoisted the window, jumped out,
and run 10 alarm the neighboSs. AS
she reached the window, She declared
afterwards, before the Alderman, that
she cistlntly heard the boy scream,
Jim, don't kill mel then a bIow.a fall,
and all was still.
When the neighbors reached the
house, they found~every door fastened,
and were compelled to enter at win
dow. A sight presented itself to their
horror-struck senses, which revealed
cruelty unparalleled. The monster
after having beaten out the boys brains,
threw him into the fire; and when dis
covered, from all appearances, itseems
he had been thrown in before life was
entirely extinct, as he gave evidence
ofhavlng struggled, severely, and part
y succeeded in working himself out of
the fire. The flesh upon his face, and
indeed the whole upper part of his bo-
dy, was burnt entirely off, and presen-
ted a most dreadful and heart rending
sight.
Immediate search was made for the
murdepas throughout the house, and
persons sent in every direction to
search. He was arrested about two
hours afterward at the house Of his ia
Their, an honest laborIng man, living III
the neighborhood. When arrested he
stoutly denied the charge, and said he
had not been at James Patton's house
for two weeks Upon examination,
however, marks Of blood were discov-
cred upon his pantaloons, and also up
on his boots. He was committed to
answer the charge of murder. While
in this Office, he manifested the most
perfect Indifference, and laughed and
joked with his acquaintance as though
nothing had happened. He is about
twenty-five years of age, and brick
layer by trade. He resided in West
chester some time ago, but having
committed some offence, he was put in
prison, broke Jail, and had not been
afterwards heard of until within about
three or four weeks back, when he sud-
denly made bis appearance in the bor-
ough. He is a young man Of rather
dissolute habits, and bore very bad
character.
Money was unquestionahly the OBJ
iect Of the murderer, asst was discover
ed that the place where sum was
KEEP; had been forced, and the conteats
taken away. 1t is stated that some
week or so since, Mr.. Patton had miss
ed a small sum of money, and as he
had discovered Boyd prowling about
the house, suspicion fell upon him
and desire ofreyenge, added to the
hope Of further plumber, undoubtedly
prompted the deed. 1t is generally
supposed-as the facts in the case war
rant-that the intention of the murder
er was to kill the whole three, and burn
the house 10 conceal his crime. The
presence OF mind of the girl cannot oe
too highly praised-for it saved their
own life and that Off infant in her
charge.
The greatest evaporation prevailed
in the borough during the day; and
earnest expostulation of some of the
elder citizens alone prevented the sum-
mary hanging of the murderer upon
the spot. The people-as, indeed, it
could hardly otherwise be-remain in
state Of great excitement Saturday
Post.
Redressing wrongs.-Tbe Picayune
states that the young man who ran off
from Troy with another mans wife,
the day he became Of age, had been
arrested in that city, upon writ issued
h.r Tho anont af th1, dnSarfad huShand