Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1853-08-25

This comnuniiy vas shocked On Sunday morn-
ing last fs1ys the Staunion Specfaforl " The an
nonncemsni thar William Coleman, long known
- one d he most inofensive ciizens Of Siaunicn
had bees murdered N his own house. A Jury Il
Inquest Beniahin Crawford. Esq, Corsner, ascer-
tanned The following infur nation al that ear yet
bs had Of he fsol deed.
The deceased ercapied house, g his dwelling
and csbiHst-making sheps near the divergsncs Of
The two streets Leading into Town from The lunetien
II the Plank road and tbe Waynesbnrongh Turn
pife and near the residence 81 Mr.. W. Craig; 4
spot in close view of which people constantly
Il work Cd passing and rspassing Ga Thursday
Afternoon he was last observed about his honse-
on Friday mornine, enc OF TWO persons called, %
business, and knocked but did n0t see or hes. MIC:
nothing unusual however, was snrmissa Is he
lived secluded life frequently retpslug for DAYS
70 see any one. But on The Suads.y morning sue
eeeding. some Of his neighbors Observing his door
had been 30 long closet, entered the house and
found him lying il b:s blood on the floor. dead
His body wasrapie.y undergoing decay, and i was
1 evident he had eeen dead for several days. Seme
four or 1--WE xoands were visible on his head, in
hieied vith . common "clav-hammer whoa
i vas still In the room clotted with blood and ths
| gray hairs Of the old man.
He was in his usual dress, and when the muir
| derer approached was probably reading or sewing
| paper and his spectacles wese on the table, ant
some thread and buttons scattered over the floor
On his Are was 4 potcontaining chicken which
chests and drawers were open or unlocked, as Il :
robbery had alss been accomplished BY the murder
eF. Some loose coins amounting TO near hye dol
/ lars were found BY the jurors in searching III
house. At q subsequent search SIS wetp iopHs
buried under his we..kk -hc-Ssss
IT, n ,..arr was committed doubtless on Thurs
day evening. About sunset OF that day, some e
mates living near heard NOISE as oT . seritis =
his house, and both arose 10 see what was the ma
ter. One went outside where she saw nothing N
the ether ran up stairs 10 a widow where aithoug
Inc noise had ceased she saw q man approach u
open door 10 Coleman's house, and after lookin
her boldly 10 the face for mement, closed The doc
again freml the inside. Nothing was thought .
said OF this circumstance until the hoIrid deco va
Afterwards disclosed The man, no doubt the yer
murderer. was not recognised as an acquainianc
by the person whe saw him, although her recolle'
lion of his appearance may lead TO his identlhci
tiou hereafter. reward for his detection has bee
offered BY the Common Council IL IS all imPe
tant that the psrpeirator Of such an lnnumaa ~
! defiant outrage upon society and law snouio
punished surely and promptly.
Money was doubtless the only object VI the mu
, der. Twas generally understood that BY MS indu
try al his tfade the deceased was accumniatir
lsinonev which he kept about his person or
. | houseI but lille OF which could be found by q
|, iurygof inquest. He probably had no enemies
i the1werld; living, eccentric old bachelor, e
tirely to himself honestly laboring al bis trade,
. could offend pc enc. lie len curious assortme
.. of books andEpapers. Ofnewspapers he was pro
abIy fond. as many were carefully slowed ava
and scraps cut from others, OF moral and didacl
| character, were strewn about his house: 3
Spsctatoy Of last week was lying open on his tao
as ii he had Just been reading little did ne So
J nose ihat the next number would announce his os
! cruel murder