Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1851-03-11
THgilSSarRE IN KRsF CoUSfT.


gedy which occurred 10 that county on the
9Th ult.. and Of which several versions
have been already published:
tits our painful duty TO record the foul
EST and bloodiest murders that have stain
ed the black annals of crime. and which
are rendered the more keinous aud sppal-
ling by their commitial. in the midst OF
peaceful, quiet and moral community.
On Thursday night last. the 9Th inst,
the family Of Mr.. VIM. Cosden. consisting
chiefly Of himself bis wife; Miss Co.'S
den. bis sister. on visit. aged IL years;
Miss Webster, his wife's sister; two small
children, Tone an infant. the other few
years old and capable Of talking j awhile
lad ; colored boy; and negro woman.
a kitchen servant, were living in peace
and quiet, unsuspecting harm from any
one. The white family were at tea, be.
tween six and seven o'clock. Mr.. Cosden
having finished, turned his chair TO the
FIRE, when he was deliberately shot down
by some one from the yard through the win
dow, an ounce ball having penetrated bis
body. The wretches, three in number,
Immediately beat down the panels Of the
door with the butts Of their guns. and en-
tered the room. when they shot Mrs. Co.'S
den, but she made an effort and run into
the yard, and was found dead. having .
ball through or Gear the heart, and two
stabs upon her person. They then shot
dead Miss Cosden, on whose person there
are also two stabs. One ofthe 6ends went
up stairs, and found Miss Webster. sister
Of Mrs. Cosdeb. 10 bed. where she had
been confined BY sickness for two weeks,
she implored him TO spare her life-.old
him if money was his object oil she had
was in her trunk, 10 take il. but spare her
life !; but the monster deliberately raised
his gun and presented il. when she 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-
posing the large arteries and forcing itself
through her body; four slugs were also
found in her bed, which was set on FIRE by
the discharge Of the gun, or by this de-
mon.
Another Of these villains repaired 10 the
kitchen, and shot down the negro woman.
The ball passing through her body. The
white and co!oTed lads made their escape,
and run 10 the George Town - Roads.
distance Of two and half miles, and gave
the alarm. when the citizens Immediately
repaired 10 the place. and secured the
neighborhood, but could get no clue TO the
murderers. Mrs. Cosden and Miss Cos
den were killed. Mr.. Cosden lived ill
near ten o'clock. between two and three
hours. He talked freely to the neighbors
did NOT know either of the monsters--,o
him they were strangers. He stated that
he did not know that he had an enemy in
the world, and that he had no feelings Of
enmiiy to human being, and could not
divine the motive to the deed.
Miss Webster, who il 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.
Her clothes and money remained un-
touched, and plumber does not seem to
have been the motive 10 The deed. On
Friday the Jury Of Inquest met. That
whole section Of the county is Of course
deeply excited. and turned out in large
numbers TO examine the scene and lend
their aid, il possible. TO detect The frlons.
The scene is represented as sgonizing 10
those who witnessed il. Father, mother,
sister, weltering in blood. lay side by side
while the little tender child would call
mother and lis father in vain. The very
stones would seem TO cry fog vengeance,
upon the atrocious murderers, who had
less feeling than the wild savage, and less
of human sympathy than the tiger.
Who can conceive Of the radically de-
PRAYED and thoroughly induraied heart Of
a human being who could invade the de-
nestle hearth, and shoot down innocent
and helpless women, who had wronged no
one--in the bloom Of life and buoysncy Of
health and spirits, and usher them-hus
band. wife. sisier--in moment, into the
presence Of God, and upon the untried of
The spirit landi To Us, the whole 10 in
vested in deep and impenetrable mystery.
But there is providence ABOVE US, whose
fixed law is, that, "he who sheddeth mans
blood, by man shall his blood be she'd
That kind and wise Providence, which has
unravelled so many crooked ways Of the
murderer, and brought him topunishmeni,
will not let these human monsters. stain
ed, with triple, perhaps five fold murder,
escape. The blood Of the father--of in
nocent and helpless women-rise up from
the ground. and borne along on the very
wind. cry out for their discovery and pun
ishment.
Later accounts than the above state the
death Of Miss Webster and the servant
woman.
There have been four persons arrested
on the charge Of being concerned in these
murders. The first was William w. Web.
ster. an uncle Of Mrs. Cosden. who proved
an alibi. The second is James Roberts,
clock member. Miss Webster seeing him
before her death. stated that be shot her.
Roberts however also proved that be was
at Fredericktown at the time Of the MUIR
der. Having been al Cosden's he knew
of Miss Webster being up stairs. and this
is one Of the reasons Of suspicion against
him. The third arrest is William Shelton,
a mill hand in the neighborhood. He has
had in secret possession variety Of YEA
pons. Other circumstances excite suspi.