Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-05-26
Murder Eth Augusta County, and Es-
cape OF the Malrderer.


About the LIST of April last there occurred in the
Immediate vicinity Of Waynesborough, Augusta
County, Virginia, one of the most revolving and
cold blooded murders. which has ever appeared
in the annals of crime, within the County And
yet from the obscurty of the parties, tie apathy
of the guardians of the public veal. or from some
other cause the affair has been suffered 10 sleep
quietly, and the fiendis'. perpetYator has eluded
condign punishment. At the time above named
three lr;shmcn, named Cornelius Barry, John
Nonap and Wm O'Brion, (son of McD O'Bri-
ca, contractor) went bird hunting on one afternoon
aud after spending social evening in sport in the
fields around the village, returned to their quarters
Barry was the proprietor of shanty and a man Of
family Nonan and O'Bren were yonng men
the former about 20 years DID, the latter near l6
On returning home, Barry entered his shanty
whilst the young men remained without. amuse-
INC themselves by charging their guns with pow
der, merely, aud firing off for sport Barry an
noyed at their mcrry-making, came out of his
shaniy with loaded gun, approached the lads.
and when within five PAGES or less, deliberately
raised his gun to level with the breast of young
Nonan, and discharged the whole contents. con
sisting of bird shot into his bosom The wad pen
erated his vest the shot scattering slightly lodged
in various parts of his BODY many fthem doubtless
penetrating between the ribs and into the very seat
of life, His moffending victim fell TO rise no more
true he did not expire on the spot had he done So
many long nights and days Of agony would have
been spared he fingered for one month"; his suffer
ings the meanwhile being such as few are called
to endure He died, but his last hours were sur
rounded with circumstances Of melancholy inter
est which seem to give finishing touch to the
tragedy.
About the LIST May, one month after the fatal
shot had been fired, Nonan desired to be removed
to the Augusta County Poor-house. The Over
seer was sent for, and arrangements made for his
removal. He set out in a suitable conveyance, and
in the care Of humane and sympathizing conduct
ors but ere he had reached Stamton, the wretch
ed sufferer was released from his agony by the hand
of death. He died in the wagon on the highway
hot relative near to grant or receive parting
adieu-a irendless boy, in a strange country, shot
down by aruthless william and dying in most pit
liable condition.
And yet his murderer stalking abroad, roaming
where he pleases, unsought for, uncared for-li-
ceased as it were TO perpetrate new deeds of name
less yillainy upon moffending victims ia other por-
tons of the State! When last heard from, he was
reposing in blssful security about the Capital OF
this Commonwealth he may now be upon the
public works within striking distance of the thea
tire Of his bloody enactment, yet undismayed-see-
iRg the crime is wiRked at by the conservators Of
the peace, by executors of the Statute Code of the
land, as well as by the tribunal of moral power
and public sentiment, which, when statute law is
imperative or uncxecuted, sometimes interposes to
arrest the progress of crime. Barry should be
hunted down as would be wild beast preyng
upon the innocent of the land He should be adj
vertsed, sought for found, if within the limits Of
the Union, and held to answer for thus, without
provocati0n, without cause cutting off in the morn
ing .. lite, and hurrying into eternity, fellow
Mortal, fellow-countryman, homeless. friend
less. harmless lad. w. w.
Waynesboro', May II, 1852