Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1853-10-05
The Terrible Robbery Murder and Are
son at PerryOpolis, Pa.

We stated a few days ago. that the house
of VIM. Secrist. at Perryopolis, ten miles
from Brownsville, Pa, was entered by
robbers on the night of the 9th inst, and
his wife murdered, himself so badly woun-
ded as to leave but little hopes of his recov-
cry, and the house plundered and burned
with his wife. We now learn from the
Brownsville Clipper that two young men
named Geo. Ward and Malcon Gibson.
charged with the terrible crime, have been
arrested. and committed to Jail. A phial
of cinnamon drops. which. it is said they
purchased in the vicinity the day before
the murder, was found in the yard of the
house before they were arrested, besides
which. blood was discovered on one of their
shirts. and $50 in money. found secreted
in the Garden of Ward, which Mr.. Secrist
has identified as portion of $500 which
was taken from his house on the night of
the murder.
1tappears that when they were breaking
into Mr.. SIS house he sprang from his
bed. caught up large billet OF wood. and
proceeded to oppose their entrance. Just
as the door fell in, when the two ruffiaus
rushed Upon him, one of them discharging
two barrels of a revolver at him, the balls
both wounding him dangerously In the
head, while the other knocked him doTE
with the mattock. stamped him violently
upon his head and breast and left him for
dead. Mrs. Secrist. seeing the situation of
her husband. sprang to the FIRE place and
selzing poker, commenced a vigorous
attack upon the Williams, when murderous
blow from the mattock felled her to the
floor, upon which the 6ends beat and
stamped her until she was dead.
They then proceeded to rob the house,
after which they set it on fire in several
places and decamped. During these ter
rible proceedings, notwithstanding his ex-
circulating torture from his frightful wounds
and from seeing his wife murdered before
his eyes, without the possibility of saving
her, and with the certainty of losing his
own, also. had he attempted it. Mr.. Secriss
had :he wonderful iortitude and presence
OF mind as to feigu he was dead, by lying
perfectly motionless till the murderers had
left when climbing out at back window
and proceeding few rods from the burn
ing mouse, he fell and tainted He remained
for some time in a state of insensibilitv
and the dwelling was nearly consumed on
his coming to his senses. He was. how
ever. SO weak from the loss of blood, and
the heel of one foot having been horribly
cleft from the stroke of mattock, he found
himself entirely unable to stand or walk !
still, by an almost superhuman effort he
continued to drag himself along upon his
nands and knees, over an exceedingly
rough and uneven surface. distance of
three quarters of a mile. until he reached
the house of Cook d Sweitzer. at tn.
' Slave Works." where he arrived in his
night clothes only, and completely exhaus-
ted. about two o'clock in the morning
Having given the alarm. and received eve
~ possible attention that his dreadful condi-
lion demanded. company was immedi-
atelY collected, and repaired to the scene
Of the outrage. but only in time to see the
;mouldering embers of the dwelling and
he bones of the murdered woman.