The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1851-03-13
WHOLE NO. 1929
rAs Maryland rras.dy-pur.hsr p.rlsu-


On Thursday night last, the 9th inst.
the family Of Mr.. VIM. Cosden, consist.
lng chiefly ofhmsell; his wife; Miss Cos.
den, his sister. on visit. aged about IT.
year.; Miss Webster, bis wife's sister;
two small children, (ono an infant the
other few years old. and capable Of talk.
ing;) white lad; a colored boy, and
negro woman, kitchen servant, were
living in peace and quiek unsuspecting
harm from any one. The white family
were at tea between six and seven o..
clock. Mr. Cosden having finished turn.
ed his chair to the fire. when he was de-.
lliberately shot down by some one from
the yard, through The window. an ounce
hall having penetrated bis body--.the
wretches, three 10 number, Immediately
beat down the panels ofIhe door with the
butts Of their guns aud entered the room,
when they shot Mrs. Cosden. bot she
made an effort and run into the yard and
was found dead. having ball through or
near the heart. and two s,abs upon her
person. They then shot dead Miss Cos.
den, on whose person there are also Two
s;abs One IF the fiends went up stairs,
aud found Miss Webster. sister of Mrs.
Cosden. 10 bed. where she had been con-
| fined by 5icknes for two weeks; she i'm.
plored him to spare her life-told him if
money was his object, all she had was in
her trpnk, To take it, but spare her life.
The monster deliberately raised bis gun
and presented it, when sue raised her
feeble arm to protect her person from the
merciless savage, the ball, in its course,
tore off the greater portion Of her arm, ex-
lp0sIng he larger arteries. and forcing
itself through her body; four slugs were
also found in heI bed which was set on
fire by the dacharge ofrhe gun, or by the
demon Another Of these villains repair
ed to the kitchen. and shot down the me-
gro woman, the ball passing through her
body.-The white and colOred lads made
their escape, and run to Georgetown
Cross Roads. distance Of two aud half
miles aud gave the alarm. when the citi-
zens Immediately repaired to the place.
and secured the nelghborhood, but could
get no clue 10 the murderers. Mrs, Cos.
den and Miss Cosden were killed Mr..
C0sden lived till near ten O'Clock, be-
tween two and three hours He talked
freely to the neighbors did not know Ell
ther Of the monsters-to him they were
strangers. He stated that he did not
know that he had an enemy in the world,
aud that he had no feelings of enmity TO
! human being, and could not divine the
: motive 10 the deed.
Miss Webster. who. it is feared. is shot
through the lungs and supposed mortally.
did not know the man who shot her. she
} described him as having black whiskers.
i. On yesterday the jury of inquest met.
That whole section OF the country is deep
ly excited. and turned out in large mum
ber TO examine the scene aud lend their
aid, if possible, to detect the felnns. The
scene is represented as agonising to those
t who witnessed it. Father, mother, els
b. ter. welteriug in blood, laid side by side
while the little iendei child would call
It for its mother aud its father in vain. The
very stones would seem To cry for venge-
ance- upon the atrocious murderers, who
had less feeling than the wild savage,
f" and less Of human sympathy than the ii
y. ger.
10 The servant woman yet lingers-it is
Ia feared morisly wounded-and she and
10 Miss W., and the lads. think they would
- know these murderers, if they could see
70 them. Suspicion has fallen upon no one
:. in our county. and we canLot believe that
,s human being exists in Kent county who
, is capable Of the deed. Rumor says they
n came from Delaware, but all is yet con-
lecture. Mr.. CopJeD was young man
represented To be a most excellent eiti-
= zen, harmless and noffensve. and good
a farmer. He resided on the Moody Farm,
II lying on the main road from Chestertown
to Philadelphia. about midway between
Q Georgetown Cross Roads and the Head
of Sassafras, and the dwelling is about a
- quarter of mile from the main road. ng-
d Three persons have been arrested. w
Il W. Webster an uncle Of Mrs. Cosden
with whom there had been some difficult
e ty about snme lard, aud who had m,de
some threats few years since. James
q Roberts, travelling clock mender, who
had been at the house the day previous
n These two proved an alib. William
3 Shelton, miller near by, who had pur-
chased some wepons day or two previ.
Gus. The Governor has offered reward
of $1,000, which the citizens of Kent
" county will increase to $4,000 or $4,000.
IN CHARGE AGAINST WEBSTER The
10 B ston Journal says it is authorized to
to deny, on the most unquestionable authort
a ity. the charge against Mr. Greedy the
ID collector of Boston. apd Mr.. Havens. the
subiIeasurer in reference 10 the Hon.
Daniel Webster writing letter to Mr..
IN H. calling for pecuuary assistance. .toien.