Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1845-04-12
An Extraordinary Case.

n mURDERER NO MURDERER.-Ne learn
from the llillsborough (Me.) Recorder of the
Goth utimo, that at the Superior Court held at
that place the preceding week, a most extraor.
dinary case was tried before Judge Caldwell,
which is perhaps as singular in its details as any
that have yet been recorded
little girl, exactly twelve years Of age, and
described as really beautiful in features, form
and figure, was arragncd for the murder of her
father. There was no one present at the time
the deed was done, except two small children
not competent evidence-and consequently
there was no evidence against her but her own
confession, and the fact of her father being found
dead in his own house, and no one there but
herself; aud it could not be proved, although
exerion was made To do so, that any person
else had been there on the night Of the murder.
The father was drunken wretch, and the mo.
ther was known to have paramount to whom
suspicion was attached, but he proved clearly
that he was somewhere else on the night Of the
murder.
1t was proved that the father was alta grog.
came so intoxicated that the keeper OF the grog-
gerry had to put him on horse, and send him
home On the morning after the murder, the
! owner of the house happened to pass near the
door, and discovered the corpse lying there.
The man vas lying on pallet before the fire,
with one arm under his head, in a sleeping po-
sitlon. 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 thicknesses OF the quilt, and halt
an inch into the floor! The owner of the house
above mentioned Immediately summoned the
neighbors, and held an inquest over the body, the
| girl and two children being there all the time.
/ The mother of the girl, and a son, 10 years OF
age, had lett home the evening before, and slaid
all night at a neighborng house.
The girl Immediately confessed that she had
| killed him. Her first confession was, that her
father came home drunk, and beat her with a
sick, and told her to get knife he was going
to kill himself; but she could not find a knife
On being asked to show the stick with which
he beat her, after looking about she pointed out
one which one of the neighbors had brought
! and on examining her body. no bruises were
found, which showed that that part of her story
and laid down, and told her to kill him, and or
her refusing, he swore he would kill her if she
did not TINT she went and got the axe, and he
laid down. but she still refused to Kill him, and
raising himself up. as if TO get on his feet, au(
as he raised up she struck him the hex bu
the evidence proves that the blow must have
been given when the head was on the noer, thu
growing more untruth on her part. The varia
tions in her evidence are singular, and excited
much speculation. They are the effect OF
disturbed and excited state of mind, producc'
either by fright, or an over anxiety, possibly, t
excuse the real murderer, if she did not COMM
the deed herself
She further stated, that having committed tn,
oct, the sight made her sick. and to avoid faint
ing, she threw part ofthe quilt over the corps
and went to bcd,-hrst, however, telling he
Younger sister that she had killed her daddy
and the child Immediately started up and wen
nd laid in her dead fathers arms all night
The murderer slept!
The evidence Of medical gentlemen was, tha
girl of her age aud size had not strength Il
strike such bow. This leads many to tn
belief that the real murderer is yet undlscover
ed.
While one can scarcely realize that a chill
would or could commit such deed, it is seen
on the other hand, that she confessed from th
first moment that she did it, and no entrea,ie
could make her alter her statement not cvei
the loathsome solitude of dungeon, through
nghr and through day, or The persuasion Of he
counsel to disclose the truth, j: she had not dom
II, and their solemn admontlons that the gibbr
awaited her unless she recauted. Nothing coul
move her.
The jury retired but few minutes, and re
turned a verdict of"not guilty" The case ha
produced great excitement and speculation
d She was released Immediately. The hear
> less mother left town and went home after III
J trial was over, and before she heard the verdic
J of the jury!
: PoMPEiI GOING TO Rus,-Aecounts fior