The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1850-11-07
From the Albany State Register, Oct. 18Th.
DiabOiical Murders.

Aif. David Lester, highly respectable
Ctizea of Westerio, IN this county, had
udnptsd two nepews, David L. and Stephen
Lester, who were. at the time of their
death, ten and eight years of age. His fam
SIS consisted of a second wife, her son, and
Ms wife and these two children. On Saturday
last ne children were missed. Search was
instituted for them, and during the four fol-
lowing days hundreds of The neighbors join
eel aud searched. the country round Tor
andes Wednesday afternoon the body Of
the youngest was found in ray:ne some
thirty rods from The house Of Mr.. Lester,
tue upper part covered with stones, and the
tower with leaves. Near by, under log,
was subsequently, found the swinge to
fail, with which the murder had evidently
been committed, as there was blood and hair
still adheriDg 10 il, although il had appa-
renlly been washed. The skull of the child
vas fractured, his nose broken, and one eye
las out upon the cheek. After this the MUIR
,lercr had cast upon the body rock, TWEEN
gy-fire pounds in weight, which had broken
81 the ribs and chest, and crushed the lungs.
After this discovery the search was con-
fiuucI foi the other boy till Thursday after
noon. when attention was attracted to a tree
about 60 rods from the house, by the crows
ihe Oldest boy was found suspended by a
rope around the neck, among the BRANCHES,
some Is or 90 feet from the ground Ap-
Dearances Indicate that Ire mad been frs,
killed, and then suspended there. His face
was scratched as if by coming in contact
wilh the bark of the tree in drawing up, and
there were prints Of the grip Of mans
hand on his throat.
We copy from the Atlas the subsequent,
prsceeedings anu arrest Of the suppose
murder.
Coroner Winno held an inquest upon
fhe bodies Yesterday. The verdict of the
;sry was, that David l.. Lester and Stephen
=. Lester came TO their deaths from inju-
Yscs received at the hands Of, and violence
Inflicted by Reuben Dunbar and some other
persons or person unknown 10 the jury
Dunbar was Immediately arrested on the
coroner's warrant, and committed to prison
10 await his trial.
L he circumstances which directed suspi-
cions against Dunbar are, that he is the son
of Mrs. Lester by former husband, and
all the other children having been pro divided
for, ne and his mother both supposed tina,
tho property of about SO 900 would go to
aia, ON the death Of. Mr.. L. When the
two oephews were brought into the family
son, Dunbar, was last seen with the boys
and is proved to have taken them success.
sGliy from the kouse. When the search
was made he did ali he could to divert the
searchers from the ravine-te!ling them te
go Up the creek, and guiding them past ths
raviae; and on a subsequent day telling
them that the rayine had been searched
his iemeanor on the discovery of the body
was suspicious. The fail with which the
6law was struck at the younger was takef
ffoEa the barn, aud was found hid under
log. The rope by which the elder wa
burg was taken from the barn.
he evidence showed that The elder boy
had been s,rangied by the hands OF man,
sssing suspended to the tree. There was M
such discoloration OF the face as follow,
hanging, aud from the marks on the bari
If the tree, it was clear that booted mar
had climbed Up and attached the rope
j vas evident that the murderer had de
sigaed 10 have itthought that the elder no,
isad killed the younger, and then hung him
salt. But the blows were such as nQ boy o