Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1851-03-07
THE Massacre IN KENT COUNTY.
FULL PARTICULARS

The Kent, Md, News Of Saturday, gives the
following particulars Of the terrible tragedy which
occurred ia that county ON the 9Th ult and of
which several ersionshave been already published:
{. Il is our painful duty 10 record The oulest and
btoodiest murders that have stained the black an.
nals OF crime, and which are rendered the more
heinous and appalling. by their commitial in Inc
midst OF a peaceful, quiet and moral community.
On THURSDAY night last, the 9th instant, The
iamily OF Mr.. VIM. Cosden, consisting chiefly OF
himself; his wife Miss Cosaen his Sister I'm I
Visit, aged " years; Miss Webster His vlifr,s
sister; TWO small children Zone all infant. III I,hrr
q lew yeas Old and cafatie OF talking ~ a white
ladt coloFed boy; and negro woman 4 kitchen
servant wereiving in peace and quiet.unsuspecting
BARN from any one. Theiwhiie family were Al
tea Il between six aud seven o'clock Mr. Cos5en
having finished, turned his chair 10 the fire when
be was deliberately shot down BY some one from
the yard through the window. an ounce ball having
penetrated his body. The w1eiehes three in num-
Der. Immediately beat down the panels Of The door
with The butts Of their guns and entered the room
when they shot Mrs Cosden but She made an IT.
fort and run into the yard, and was found dead
haFing ball through or. near The heart and two
stahs upon her person. Thry then shot dead Miss
Cosden ON whose person there are also two slabs
One OF the fiends went up stairs, and fonn Miss
Webster, sister of rs. Co<den in hei where
she had been confined bY-sickness for two weeks
she mplored him to spare her life--told him if
money was his object all she had was in her trunk
tcftake it, bu spare herljie but The monster deib
eraiely raised his gun and presented it, when she
raised her feeble arm 70 project her person from the
merciless savage; the ball in its course tore or
the greater portion of her arm exposing the larger
Arteries and forcing itself through her body -four
slugs were also found in her bed which was set on
FIRE ythe discharge of The gun or BY this demon.
Another of these vilIainSsepaired to The kitchen
and shot down The negro woman the ball passing
Though her body. The white and culored lads
nh hair and No
Roads a distance of two and hall miles land gave
The alarm, when The citizens immediately TepaiFed
TO the place. and secured The neighborh9odE but
could get no clue 10 the mIrderers. Mrs Cusden
and Miss Cosden were killed Mr Cosden lived
till near ten o'clock, between two and three hours
He talked freely 10 the neighbors-did not know
either of the monstsrs-to him they were strangers
He staed that he did not know that he had an enc
my in the world and that he had no feelings oil en-
( NIFTY to human being, and could not divine the
m0tire to the deed.
Miss Webster, who il is feared is shot through
ihs lungs, and supposed MORALLY did not know The
man whoshot hef-she described him as barring
black whiskeTs. !. Her clothes and money remained
untouched and plumber doeSnot seem 10 have Been
The motive to The deed On Friday The Jury ot In
quest met That whole section Of the county Is of
course deeply excited and turned out in large
befs to examine the scene ane lend their aid. If
possible, 10 detect the Ielons. The scene is repre-
senied as agonizing 10 those mIlp witnessed it,
Father, mother, sister weieFing in blood lay side
by sice-whie The liltle tender child would call
mother and IFS father in vain The very stones
would seem TO cry for vengence upon the atTocions
murderers. who had less feeling Than the Tsid
savage, and less Of human sympathy than tbe Tiger
Who can conceive d. the radically Gepraved ana
thoroughly iRdufated heart OF hnn1ar. being. who
could invade the domestic hearth, md shoot down
innocent ard helpless women w,f,I,ad ,rronetjd no
one--in the bloom OF life ard t,novancv IN health
ana spirits, and usher ihers--hnsband wife sister
lin moment, into the oresence OF God and upon
the unirled o. the spitil land Tons the whole is
invested y deep and ilnpensifahlc mystery Bot
meg 4 + g siQence above is whose liked law Is.
tnah he VINO sheddeih mans blood hy man shall
his blood be shed. That kind ard wiSes Pfosi
de1ce which has unrarellesi 4 many efuobed WAYS
Of the murderer. and hruueht him 10 punishment
WIN POI let inese human mDusieFs stained, With
triple perhaps I'VE fold murder. escape. The
olopa q me iaiher--of innocent and helpless wo-
mepr-fise q from the ground and borne along on
ihssFery wind, cry o.. for their discovery and pun
ikh}nenf.
The servant woman vel 1;poers-it Is feared nor
tally Wcunded-and she and Miss w and ihe lads
max .hey would know these murdefers IL they
eoMr see mem Suspicion has fallen upon no one
y eaf epSn,y. and we eannu. believe thai human
s. sts u hent county whn iscspable Of The
All IS yet conjecture M cas3sn was ronne
man represented 70 h 1lsst excellent cifi1en
harmless ard lnotfensire and good farmer He
resided On the MOODY Farm: lying on tie Main
5o s sEetn Snesler Town 70 Pkiladep hia- slont
. 2 nssNeen George T0nh X Roads and The
fAeF4 g nAssaIas. and The dwelling IS abonf 4
quarter q mile from lie min road Ii Is hcoea
1aaA n9 means will r spared 10 ferret opt the MUIR
dereFs f1ey went viii guns II they came from I
NE e@eiaEare ksiFest lhty must hare been on he
to14 pelofe dafsne8 sci ii. and some one must
nssE sssn armed men. 4s,the Forest b srPlofeds