The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1849-01-03
MURDER OF THE O'NEAL FAMILY IN OvERroN

MURDER OF THE O'NEAL FAMILY IN OvERToN
CoUNTY.-One of the most extraordinary cases of
murder was tried in our Supreme Court a few days
since, that has ever been brought under legal in
phens and VIM. E. Upton, were indicted and con-
victed in Overton county for the murder of the
ONeal family, consisting of the father and mother,
and five children, embracing the whole family ex-
cept Patsey A. Troxdale, who was daughter of
O'Neal. The three defendants were all found
guilty of murder in the first degree and sentenced
to be hung. Upon appeal to the Supreme Court, a
new trial was granted, mainly upon the ground
that one of the nrors had formed and expressed an
opinion as to the guilt of tie parties before he was
chosen as juror.
1t appears from the record that the murder was
committed in Overton county, about LIST of Sep
TENDER, 1916. The defendants We're implicated
solely upon circumstantial evidence. Edward
O'Neal, the head of the family, man of vio-
lence, and addicted to intemperance. He was lv-
ing in the mountains with his wife and children
they were poor people, and no suspicion exists as
to the murder having been committed for money
The proof shows that Patsey A. Troxdale was liv
ing with her father at the time; that she was
girl OF easy yrtue and that the family did not live
In the utmost harmony but no very serious ami
mostly is shown to have existed between the daughter
and her father, and none whatever between her
and the other members Of the family. 1t seems that
the defendants, Stephens and Upton, were on the
premises in company with Patsey, in an clubhouse,
vi Tic HiSHt vi FFIudy, anu HOtnlIlB is sHOWn 10
have occurred afterwards, throwing light upon the
transaction, until Sunday morning, when it was
discovered that the house in which O'Neal lived
was burned down. When this discovery was made,
the fire was still burning, and upon examination
the bodies of O'Neal and his wife and their five
children, were found piled upon each other under
the floor, the body of the youngest child about two
years old, being at the bottom, and that of the
father on the top The head and legs of the old
man were burned of-the other bodies We're much
burnt-the skulls Of the children We're broken and
mashed, as if with an In the yard an axe was
found with blood and hair upon it. Patsev was
present when the house was discovered to be burnt,
and in conversation with some of the witnesses she
told where her father, and mother, and brothers
and sisters were, and that they lay in the hole.
Her account was found TO be correct. Several
articles of clothing and other chattes were found
in an clubhouse, having been apparently removed
from the dwelling before it was burnt.
These some of the leading facts in the case.
Such a murder seldom occurs. A father and
mother, with five children, are murdered in cold
blood deposited in hole under the floor, and fire
set to the building daughter is charged and
convicted of this horrible crime, aided by Stephens
and Upton. The Supreme Court have granted
new trial, and we hope that more light may yet be
thrown upon the horrid transaction. Judge Turley
delivered the opinion of the Court in the case, and
we have seldom heard so eloquent an opinion de-
livered in our courts.--NdshUiUe Union.