The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-07-21
From the Richmond Times Of yesterday.
Horrible Tragedy. IL

From the Richmond Times Of yesterday.
Horrible Tragedy.
We were nexpressibly shocked yesterday morn.
ing upon learning that the dwelling house OF MIR.
Joseph p. Winston had been entered at an early
hour that morning and bimsclf wife, and help.
less little infant butchered in their chamber.
Trusting that ruInor had exaggerated the nature
US well as the extent Of the injuries inficted' we
street. adjoining the City Spring lot for the pur-
pose Of learning the whole truth. Upon entering
the house, learned, alas that rumor had in tins
CHASTITY corpse Of Mrs. Winston. By her eide lay
her husband, apparently in the agonies OF death;
and in crib, near the bed OF Ito parents, reposed
sweet little infant. whose placid face showed that
il had yielded up it's innocent spirit without even
q struggle. .,.. d, s........... $780,. .
The horrible spectacle presented in that cham
man even the niost rigid stole. Whilst heavenly
sleep rested upon lite inmates band Of vile assas-
sins bad stealhy crept in, butchered the innocent
| and unanointed before their God.
| The horrible deed, 1t ia supposed, was committed
between the hours Of four and five o'clock yester-
day morning: About half past four O'Clock the
| chambermaid, "a middle aged mulatto wonan.>
ia reported to have gone into the kitchen and re-
mar ked to the cook that she believed they were all
dead up stairs, che had endeavored to arouse Mr.
Winston and the baby, and had not succeeded.
The cook instantly weht to the chamber. found her
master and mistress weltering in blood, and at
| once screamed for help. The neighbors hocked to
the house-messengersw were despatched Tor meai-
col aid-the friends and relatives Of the family
were summoned, and every effort made to afford
relief to the sufferers. When some OF the neigh
bors reached the house, Mrs. Winston and her in
FAINT were both breathing. but neither survived
many minutes. Mr.. Winston, though insen slble,
was also found to be alive, and, during the morn
ing, his condition seemed to improve slightly un-
der the careful treatment Of Drs Beale and Dean,
though at no period was he fully restored to con-
sciousness. =. .... 49,
The murderous assault was evidently made with
| a hatchet-the murderers literally chopping the
heads and faces Of their victims into pieces Mr..
| Winston has two deep wounds on the back OF MS
head; over the left eye; one near the lett ear;
and one or two bruises about the jaws. Mrs. VIM
ston's forehead was crushed bya blow from some
blunt instrument; che has also deep wound on
the left side Of the head. and two wounds on the
right side, from of which her brains Protrude
The infant has severe bruise on the lett side OF
the head-thc foul assassins contenting themselves
with simply depriving it OF life.
As soon as the police reached the residence OF
Mr.. Winston, they arrested all the servants on the
premises-fiye in number-and confined them in
different apartments in the cage and jail. SEARCH
was then instituted for the INSTRUMENTS OF death
used in despatching the family, and IN room over
the Kitchen occupied by Jane, (the hambermaid,)
a Ratchet, stained with blood, was found secreted
behind a chest. An effort had evidently been mace
to remove all traces OF blood from the hachet' oul
particles of human gore were easily detected on
the blade and handle. In an unoccupied room adj
Joining the kitchen a bunch Of rags was discover.
ed saturated with blood; il is supposed that they
were used for the purpose OF removing the olotd
from the Ratchet Upon examining the dress worn
by Jane, blood was discovered upon both sleeves.
She stated, however, in explanation OF this clrcum
stance that upon going into the chamber OF her
master she attempted TO raise him up, and thus
received the stains. She had changed the dress
before tho blood was discovered, and alleged, as
reason for doing 80, that 1t was rugged: me roo,
marked, was over the kitchen; entrance to 1t by
| staircase on the outside Of the building Upon
carefully examining the staircase. traces o. oaooa
| came there, she did not venture to explain When
her husband was taken into custody, he confessed
to officer Tyler that he owned a Ratchet similar TO
| the one found in his room; but afterwards oenlen
| that he knew any thing aboutlt
| MIR. Winston contemplated leaving Tor the North
on the morning of the TRACED and had given d.
rections Sunday evening to the servants to turn
out early Monday morning, as he desired to be at
! the cars before seven O'Clock The cbambermaid'
(Jane) after The family had retired, ked up The
house usual, and took the key OF ihe pack door
She thus had access to the house, and to her mas
ter's chamber, all hours of the night. She says
that when she entered the house yesterday morn
ing she found the blinds TO one Of the 'front.' VIM
| dows forced open; but careful examination OIL all
the fastenings to the window blinds dsproved the
| assertion.
Plumber could not have been the motive which
led to The commission of this diabolical deed; for,
| had such been the case, all the money-amounting
to about $l5O-in Mr.. Winston's pockets would
| have been Ia ken. As il was, not cent was ao-
! etTaCted.
and we think it scarcely possible that the murder
have taken it As il was customary always 10
leave bracket burning in Mr. WIS amber, the
to- bv he er
cumstance with which they were surrounded, the
| conclusion is inevitable that plumber was no part
| of their object.
Mr.. Winston is a young man, in the prime OF
| life; is q member of the house OF Mace and Win
ston merchants Of this city; and was surrounded,
| prior to the commssion Of this horrible tragedy,
| AL. Late to
sirabie. He married Mics Pankey. Of buckingham.
We learn; had only two children lving-one OF
whom, the eldest was fortunately absent from the
| city, and thus escaped the hand Of the ASSASSIN
| the other, infant, persisted with its mother
| Coroner Wicker hel an inquest over the remains
| of Mrs. Winston a ID her babe yesterday. Asearch.
ing investigation was instituted, which occupied
the whole day. We trust to be able to add in a
| postscript the result of the labors Of the jury
p. S.-The inquest adjourned late. last evening
until the morning, when the examination Will DO
gain resumed. We learn that no evidence ola posl-
tive character elected, though all tho circum-
stances detailed above were more than July cor
! roborated.
Winston s condition. up to late hour last evening,
| bad undergone no change for the worse-on the
contrary, his physicians considered him somewhat
better, and faint hopes are now entertained OF hiS
| surviving his wounds.
THE MArrIT CHANNEL IN CHARLESTON HAR.
! BoR-The Charleston Is. c. Mercury of the 10th
instant says:
"we a,e gratifed to learn that Commander
Mafft, Of the coast survey, is again stationed in
our harbor. and is pursuing his Investigations with
that interchangeable zeal and industry which has
marked his course since he has been charged with
its examina ton His first business was to deter
mine the character and depth OF the superficial
deposits that form the Instructions i'll what Is now,
by general consent, called the Matf, channel This
work he commenced yesterday, and prosecuted
with great success. He penetrated quite through
the bed Of sand and shels and at the depth OF elk
teen feet struck a stratum OF marsh mud, torrc
spondipg with that which, within the Charleston
basin, generally overlies the mari beds. The M