Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1853-08-06
SHOCKING MURDER IN MIssoURI-THE
MURDERER BURNED AT THE STAKE.


MURDERER BURNED AT THE STAKE.
The negro man, says the Boonville Obser-
yer, belonging to n. France Of Hes,h's creek,
Pet'is county, Missouri, who murdered the
wife Of John Rains, living in the same
heishborhood, was burned at the stake, in
or near Georgetown, on the 18th ul,. The
attending this murder, 80 far
as we can learn, were as follows:
The negro man, aged nineteen or twenty,
visited Mr.. Rains house on Sunday morning,
the sd Of Jolly, while Rains was absent al
mseting, for the disbolical purpose--aceord-
Ing to his confession-o Of committing a rape
upon the person Of Mrs. Rains. The conse.
quencs was that this lady, within few
weeks Of a confinement, was brutally mur-
dsrsd with a club; the negro attempted 10
kill her oldes, boy, and fancied he had killed
him, fearing, as he said, that he would tell
on hin-and two younger children were
sadly bruised and thrown in fence corner,
because, as the negro said, they annoyed
him "by crying about their mother" When
Rains returned home, he found his wife dead
and his eldes, boy so badly bruised that il
was thought he could no, recover; but he
distinctly told his father who it was had
committed the outrage. This demon in hu
man shape was Immediately apprehendec
for trial, bu, the citizens took possession o
him to burn him Immediately, and delayed
the execution only to ascertain the motives
such vilanous outrage.
The negro at first said, as We understand
that j, was not him who committed the mur
der, but his brother; and next admitting hi
guilt, said he was ins,iga,ed 10 the act b.
his young master. His voung master wa
Immediately taken into custody, but was re
leased because the negro excnlpaed hin
from the charge, admitting that il grew ou
Of his intention 10 commit rape. The onl!
excuse which can be offered for the awfp
retgibuticr OF burnng this negro is the nature
OF the offence, ard the frequen, attempts
late wears OF neEross to rape white women-
several insancer OF which have occurred il
this country--and the mpession among 'h'
community that il required such an example
TO project them from the repetition of slmla
ou,rages. The negro's crime was horrit
indeed but his punishment will be regarded
by many as cruel, if not barbaTous Had
been white man instead OF a negro, Their
is no doub, but what he would have sharet
a similar fate.
TIVE NEGRo's MASTER ORDERED Our o,
THE STATE.-The citizens Of Pettis county
having some suspicion that the negro wa
ins,igated to the perpretation Of the deed B.
his master, or that he knew more OF IN
murder than had been disclosed and in con
sderaiion of past offences, held meetin
on the l4,h instant, and passed the folowin
resolutions:
Resolved, That Henry France and famil
be notified to leave Pe,iis county, within lie
days, and ,ha, William France be notified
leave it at the same time.
Resolved, That Henry France be noife
to leave the State within thirty days fro.
this date.
Resolved, That we, the committee qua
an,ee safety to himself and property for ,e
days-provided he behaves himself as
white man should-and for the followin
reasons, viz
lat. For aiding and abeting, as we bt
lievs, in the murder of Elizabeth Rains, O
the Sd day Of July, 1853.
I'd. For various and divers depreciation
committed on the live stock Of his neighbor
ID. For various threats 10 commit deprs
dations and injuries upon the neiehbors.
4,h. For bad example set before slave
by conversing with them in relation 10 tn
virtue and chastity Of white women, and
defamation Of their character, thereby infir
encing them to sommit deeds Of crime an
rapine.
5th. And in view of these reasons, we d
not feel that our families and interests Al
safe whilst they remain in the neighborhoot