Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1845-04-24

derer.-We learn from the Hillsborough (bIe.) Re-
corder of the 10Th ulmo that at the Superior Court
held at that place the preceding week. most extra
ordinary tried before Judge Caldwell, which
is perhaps as singular as any heretofore recorded
A little girl, exactly twelve years of age, and de-
scribed really beautiful in features form and figure
was arraigned for the murder Of her father There
was present at the time the decd was done
cept two small children-not competent evidence
and consequently there was no evidence against her
but her confession and the fact of her father be-
ing found dead IN his own house, and therebut
herself and it could not be proved, although exeron
made to do 50, that any person else had been
there on the night of the murder The father was
drunken wretch, and the mother was known TO have
paramour, to whom suspicion attached, but he
proved clearly that he was somewhere else on the
night of the murder:
1t proved that the father was at a grog-shcp on
the evening of the MURDER that he became noxi-
Gated that the keeper of the groggey had to put him
on horse and send him home. On the morning af-
ter the murder, the of the house happened to
pass near the door, and discovered the corpse living
there. The man was lying on pallet before the fire
with one under his head, In sleeping position.
The head was severed as with one blow of an axe,
and the severed part had rolled down, exposing the
brains and whole interior of the SKULL the axe having
gone through the head, through three tcknesses of
the quilt, and half an inch into the floor The own
er of the house above mentioned Immediately
moned the neighbors, and held an inquest over the
body the girl and the two children being there all the
time. The mother of the girl, and son, 10 years of
age, had left home the evening BEFORE and Stad all
night at neighboring house.
The girl Immediately confessed first that she had
killed him. Her first confession was that her father
came home drunk, and beat her with stick. and told
her to get knife; he going kill himself; but
she could not find knife On being asked TO show
the stick with which he beat her, after looking about
she pointed out which one of the neighbors had
brought; and, on examining her body, no bruises
were found which showed that that part of her story
was untrue. She then said that he came home and
laid down. and told her to kill him, and her refus
ing, he swore he would kill her if she did not that
she and got the axe, and he laid down. but she
still refused kill him, and he swore he would kill
her, at the time raising himself up as if to get
on his feet and as he raised up she said she struck
him the lick but the evidence proves that the blow
must have been given when the head was on the floor
thus proving more untruth on her part. The yaria-
tons in her evidence are singular and excited much
speculation They are the effect of disturbed and
excited state of mind produced either by fright or an
over anxiety possibly to the real murderer if
she did not commit the deed herself.
She further stated, that having committed the act
the sight made her sick, and to avoid fainting she
threw part of the quilt over the corpse and went TO
bed,-6rst however, telling her younger sister that
she had killed her daddy, and the child Immediately
started up and went and laid in her dead fathers arms
all night The murderer slept
The evidence of the medical gentlemen was, that
girl of her age and size had not strength to strike
such blow This leads many to believe that the real
murderer is yet undiscovered
While one can scarcely realize that child would
or could commit such Decd it is seen on the other
hand, that she confessed from the first moment that
she did It, and no entreates could make her alter her
statement; not even the oathsome solitude of dun
geon, through night and through day. or tie persua
sion of her counsel to disclose the rut if She had
not done it, and their solemn admop;sions that the
gibbet awaited her unless she recanted. NOTHING
could move her.
The jury retired but few minutes. and returned
win a verdict oil mot guilty" The case has pro-
duced much excitement and sneenl.t;Sn Sha fr.s
released immediately The heartless mother went
home after the trial was over and before she heard
the verdict of the jury 80