The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1853-10-14
From the nrownsvllle tPu.l Chime

We have taken some pains 70 ascer-
tain The particulars Of most horrible.
murder, followed BY robbery and arson,
which occurred abou, 8 o'clock, on ,he
night Of Thursday, the S,h inst, in South
Huntington township, Westmoreland
county, three miles from Peryopolis, in
this county.
Two men Eamed Geo. Ward and Nal.
comb Gibson, each aged about 25, who
reside in the immediate vicinity Of the
murder, came 10 the store of Cook and
Swei'zer, at the "Reliance Save Works."
about half mile from their respective res.
idsnces, and, after hanging about for an
hour or two, purchased phial Of cinna-
mon drops. for the purpose, as they al
legged, Of relieving bad cold with which
they we're troubled They left the store
at abou, 5 o'clock in the evening, saying
that they ware goiOg 10 Robbslown, and
proceeded in that direction. About half
an hour after they called u, The house Of
II. Smith, mile or so from the "Stave
Works." and who, having lately moved
into the nnighborhood, did not know them.
they took supper, and said they were
Methodist preachers, on their way to
Robbs,own; invited Smith TO drink Of tho
cinnamon drops, bul he declined. They
did not leave Smiths ill near s O'clock.
About 9 o'clock the same evvn-
ing, man named Scctist and his
his wife who resided alone in one
roomed house, short distance from
Smiths were alarmed by a violent ra'.
ling and pounding o. the door accompa- d
MED by demands Of admiI'ance, and
threats OF vengeance in case Of refusal.
Secrisl desired TO know what they wnnted.
They replied, soater He directed them
to pump or well near by, and sald they
might 60 and help themselves. This
seemed to increase their rage, and se,z-
ing pck.axe or ma,lock, lying by the
house, they commenced to batter in the
door, stopping occasionally 10 beat off
Watchdog, tina, appeared TO have attacked
them. A, this stage Of The outrage, So,
crist sprang from his bed, cauRh, up
large billie, Of wood, and proceed to op.
pose their entrance, ist as the door fell
in, when the two ruffiinns rushed upon
him, one Of them dscha'eng Two barrels
of revolver ct him, the balls from both,
wouuding him dangerously in thu head,
while the oher knocked him down With
the mot,ock, stamped violently upon HIS
hsnd breast, and lel, him fer dead. Mrs.
Secrisl s.eing thu siln nion Of her hus-
band sprang TO the fireplace, and Selling
poker commenced q vigorous attack
uopn the villains, when mu:derous blow
from the maltock felled her TO the fl,ar,
npon which the finds beat aud Stamped
her un,il she was dead! .
One of them asked tho other il hs,
,hogh, tho old man was dead, and belng
answered in The Affirmative, they lighted
O candle ,and pying open bureau drawer
with the ma,,ock, took ,horefrom about
$500 in specie and notes, and afcr se.-
| ing fire to the house in several places,
and nking another look a, Secrist 10 sat.
isfy themselves that he WIS dead, deI
camped with their booty. During these
proceedings, Notwithstanding his excru-
,iating torture, from HIS frighlful wounds,
and from seeing his wife murdered before
his eyes wi,hou, the possibility Of Swing
her, and with the certainty Of losing his
own lifs also, had he attempted IL, Mr..
Secrist had the wonderful fortilude an
presence Of mind TO fein he was dead, by
lying perfectly mo,onless ill the murder
ers had left; when, climbing out q, a
back window md proce ecding fow rods
from The burning house, he fell and faint
ed. lie remained for some time in
state Of insensiblity, us the as the dwell
ing was nearly consumed on coningt' -
his spnses. IIe was however so weak
from the loss Of blood, and the heel
OF oas foot having been horribly cleft
by stroke from the inat,ock, he found
himself entirely unable to stand or walk.
Still by an a!mns, supcrluman effort, hs
continued 10 drag himself along upon his
hands and knees, over nm exceedingly
rough and uneven surface, distance Of
hree quarters of a mile, until he reached
the house Of Cook g. Swei'zar, at the
"Slave Works." where he arrived in his
nigh: clothes only, and completely ex-
haused abou, 9 o'clock in the morning.
Having given the alarm, and received ev.
cry possible attention thal his dreadful
condition demanded, company was i'm
modia,ely collected, and repaired 10 the
scene of,he outrage, but only in time TO
see the snouldering embers OF the DWELL
ing and the bones Of the murdered WON.
an.
Finding phal Of cinnamon drops in
the yard Of the burnt building, suspicion
at once fell upon the two young men who
had purchased the one at the store OF
Cook e. Swiizer, on Thursday afternoon,
and the company Immediately proceeded
10 their residences and arrested them
both. Blood was found upon the clothes
Of one of the culpri,s, and about $50,
which been secreted in the garden ct
Wards residence, were discovered by
those who made the arrest, and q portion
r., L,, haan idaptifed by Secyist as n