Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-03-08
COLD-BLOODED MURDER.

The Charlestown, Md, News of Saturday has the
following authentic particulars OF the horrible three fold
murder recently perpetrated in that vicinity The
wreches who committed this fearful crime cannot pos
sibly escape discovery:
On Thursday night last, the 9th ult, the family of
Mr. William Cosden, cons sting chiefly of himself his
wife, M ss Cosden, his sister, s aged about II
years; Miss Webster, his wifes sisters two small chill
dfen Zone inaul the other few years old and capa
bic OF talklng) white lad, coored boy and nero
woman, kitchen servant, were living in peace and quiet
unsuspectihg harm from any one. The white family
were at tea between SIX and seven o'clock. Mr. Cos.
den having ni shed tu ned his chair to the fire. whan
he was deliberately shot down by some one from the
yard, through the window ounce ball having pene-
trated his body-the wretches, three in number i'm
medately beat down the panels OF the door with
the butts ct their guns and entered the loom when
they shot Mrs Cosden, but she made an effort and ran
INTO the yard and was found dead, having ball
son. They then shot dead Miss Cosden, on whose
person there also two stabs
One OF the fiends went up stairs and found Miss
Webster, sister of Mrs. Cosden, in bed where she
had been confined by sickness for two Weeks-sbe i'm
plored HIM to spare her letod him if money was his
object all she had in her trunk, TO take it, but spare her
life the monster deliberately IA sed his gun and nre
scented II, when she raised her feeble to protect
her person from the mercess savage; the ball in its
course tore OFT the greater portion of her ARM exposing
the larger arteries and forcing efthrough her body
four su2s were also found in her bed which was set on
me ny ine uisciatSe Oh the gun, or by this Demon
Another OF these Williams repaired the kitchen and
shot down the negro woman, the ball passing tlrouuh
her body The white and colored lads made their e.
cape to Georgetown X Roads, distance two and a
halt miles and gave the alarm, when the citizens i'm.
medatey repaired to the place. and secured the nejpb
borhood but could get no clue 10 the murderers Mrs
Cosden and Miss Cosden were killed Mr.. Cosden
lived until near ten O'Clock, between two and three
hours. He talked freely to the neighbors-dd not
know either OF the monsters-te him they were sran
gers. He stated that he did not know that he had an
enemy in the world and that he had no ceilings of en-
nifty TO human being, and could not divine the mo.
tive of the deed.
Miss Webster, who, it is feared is shot through the
lungs and supposed MORALLY, did not know the man who
shot her-she described him as having black whiskers
Her clothes and money remained untouched and plum
der does not seem 10 have been the motive for the deed
The servant woman yet lngers-it is feared NOR
tally wounded-and she and Miss W. and the lads
think they would know these murderers if thew could
see them Suspicion has fallen upon no one in our
county.
The Baltimore Clipper says:
We heard report, yesterday that three men had
peen arrested IN Kent county suspicion being the
murderers We trust that they may be identified.
Governor Lowe has offered reward Of 81 900 for the
arrest OF the murderers of the Cosden family in Kent
county, Maryland, on Thursday night last A fourth
party has been arrested suspicion OF having been
preparing place of shelter. On searching him. bloc.
dy KNIFE ard dagger found his possession and
stains OF blood found on his CLOTHING fla was
taken to Chesertown, and committed for further exam
nation. The black woman, the last of the five who
was wounded by the assaants, has died; so that the
entire household there is but one ying-a small
boy who made his escape by running.