Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1848-05-10

The following Letter, giving an account of the
horrible murder of Hurt and PECK, OF the Angus
ia Volunteers, at Parras the 18th of March last
was received by gentleman Of this place and kind
!y furnished us for publication:
PARaAs, (Mexico, March 25, 1913
Dear -: In my last letter spoke of the
assassination of PECK and HURT of our Company,
but was unable II give the circumstances attend
ing it. Within the past week every thing con-
necied with the murder and its perpetrators has
been clearly developed. On Thursday the 23d
instant, Edwardo Perales, one of the assassns, was
executed, by hanging, and Monday next the
other, Antonio Hernandez, will be. The crcum-
stances of the murder, as clearly proven and con-
fessed by Edwardo Pera!es and Antonio Herman
DEE, as follow On Friday the Eth instant
Peck and Hurt obtained leave to 90 on q hunting
excursion. About o'clock in the afternoon they
were returning TO the city and had gotten within
about three CT four miles of it, when Hurt shot a
dove. Two MeXicans who We're near approached
them, and he OlurD asked one of them to loan him
his knife to take out the eniras of the bird which
he did. The Mexican then asked him 10 let him
look at his musket and after examining it and find
ing 1t had not been charged, returned it to him.
The two soldiers then turned from the MeXicans
and Hurt leaped small stream and started off fol-
lowed by the Mexican Hernandez. Peck was in
the act of leapng the brook when the other Next
can (Perales) threw his arms about him, and they
both fell Whilst scuifling i'll the water Peck drop
ping his gun, the Mexican (Perales) who had a
knife in his hand, stabbed him several times in the
throat and breast. Hurt hearing the noise return
ed-here there is discrepancy in the statements
! OF the two Mexicans, Perales saving he shot at
him and then struck him over the head with his
rnusket, whilst Hernandez says no shot was fired
but that Hurt struck his comrade in the water over
the head with his musket--at any rate the blow
Inflicted had no other effect than TO knock off the
41exlcans hat, and infict rifling wound upon his
head-the shot, if one fired, not taking effect
! Whist Hurt was thus attempting TO rescue his
companion, the Mexican, Antonio Hernandez.
who was behind him, ran up and stabbed him in
/ the neck and breast. The soldiers being wholly
disabled by their wounds, then dispatched by
the two Mexicans.
Edwardo Perales confessed previous to his exc
cution the facts as have given them, in the pre-
sence Of the Interpreter of this command. the Sub
Project of the city and several respectable citizens
Antonio Hernandez has confessed that he was
present at the murder, and cOrroborates the above
statement, except that he says he was not the man
who killed Hurt We have in custody another
Mexican who came TO knowledge of the murder
after its commissions and he will probably be tried
by "CommlssiOn' as an accessory after the fact
The arocity of this assassination taken in con
necton with the fact OF another soldier of this com
mand having disappeared most mysierously rem
dered 1t absolutely necessary for the Captain Com
manding TO make an immediate example of its base
perpetrators, not only for the preservation Of the
lives OF his own men, but those Of the unofIendnp
citizens OF Parras. The respectable Mexicans
themselves acknowledge the Justice Of his course
and say it is the only one which can put stop to
such occurrences being committed by the bands of
robbers and assassins which infest their city,
Words are Inadequate to express the excitement
OF the soldiers of the command and particularly our
company, upon the announcement that the man
gled bodies Of their comrades had been found. and
nothing but theceTtan knowledge the Captain Com
handing would inflict Just punishment upon the
cold b!ooded assssslns as soon as they were dscoy.
cred, prevented immediate retaliation.
Most sincerely am thankful to an All wise Pro
violence that these treacherous mudcrers have been
discovered, and that the punishment they 50 rich
~ deserved has been meted out to them
! Upon looking over what have written, I per
ceve ! omitted TO say the testimony was ampIv
sufficient TO convict the accused without their own
confessions.
{ The cool, clear-sghed and decided course Of
Capt. Harper, our commanding officer at this Post
in this matter meets with universal APPRECIATION.
on the part Of the officers Of the command. and.
may add Of all the respectable citizens of the CITY
The character of the two poor fellows who have
been thus untmely cut off, was without reproacb
Peck was youth of about IL years. and his fine
military bearing, added to bis many excellent dual
tiles, had endeared him to US all-ofcers and mon.