The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1852-1855, 1853-08-11

SHOCKING MURDER IN Missouri 7%s
Murderer Burnt at As Stake.-The negro
man, says the BoonviIle Observer, belong
ing to II. France, of Heath's creek, Pettis
county, Missouri, who murdered the wife Of
John Rains, living in the same neighbor-
hood, was burned at the stake, in or near
Georgetown, on the 18th instant. The
circumstances attending this murder, so far
as we can learn, were as follows:
The negro man, aged nineteen or twenty,
visited Mr.. Rains house on Sunday morn
ing. the Sd of July, while Rains was absent
at meeting, for the diabolieal purpose-ac-
cording to his confession-of committing n
rape upon the person of Mrs. Rains. The
consequence was that this lady, within
few weeks Of CONTINENT, was brutally mur.
dered with club; the negro attempted to
kill her Oldest boy, and fancied he had kill
ed him, fearing as he said, he would tellon
him-and two younger children were sadly
bruised, and thrown in fence corner, be-
cause, as the negro said, they annoyed him
"by crying about their mother"
When Rains returned home he found his
wife dead, aud his eldest boy SO badly bruis-
ell that it was thought he could not recover;
but he distinctly told his father who it was
had committed the outrage. This demon
in human shape was Immediately, appre-
henJed for trial, but the citizens took pos
session oS him to burn him Immediately,
aud delay the execution only to ascertain
the nstives of such villanous outrage.
| The negro at first said, as we understand,
that it was not him who committed the mur-
der, but his brother; and next admitting
his guilt, said he was instigated to the act
| by his young master. His young master
was Immediately taken into custody, but
was released because the negro exculpated
him from the charge, admitting that it grew
out of his intention to commit rape.
The only excuse which can be offered for
the awful retribution Of burning this negro,
| is the nature of the offence, and the fire.
quent attempts of late years, of negroes to
rape white women-several instances OF
which have occurred in this country-and
the impression among The community that
it required such an example to protect
them from the repetition of similar outrag-
es. The negro's crime was horrid indeed
but his punishment will be regarded by
many as cruel, if not barbarous,
] Iluu IL DCGu u WilltO IldHJ lunlGuu vi Il hC
gro, there is no doubt but what he would
have shared a similar fate.
The Negroes Master ordered out of tit
State.-The citizens OF Petts county having
suspicion that the negro was instigatcd tc
the perpetration of the deed by his mas
ter, or that he knew more of the murder
than had been disclosed, and in considera
ton OF past offences, held a meeting on the
9Th inst, and passed the following rcsolu
tions:
RSo'usd, That Henry France and fam
lily be Motif ed to leave Pettis county within
ten days, aud that VIM. France be noti-
fed to leave it at the same time.
Resolued, That Henry France be notified
to leave the state within thirty days from
this date.
Resolued, That we. the committee, guar
antee safely to himself and property fol
ten days-provided he behaves himself as {
following white man should-and for tht
reasons, viz:
lst. For aiding and abetting, as we be
lieve, OF the murder of Elizabeth Rains, OF
the Sd day in July, 1853.
: ID. For various and divers depreciation
committed on the live stock-of this neigh
bors,
Sd. For various threats to commit depre
dations and injuries upon the neighbors.
, 4th. For bad example set before slave
: by conversing with them in relation to tn
virtue and chastity of white woman, and il
: defamation OF their character, thereby inau
e encing them to commit deeds of crime an
!. rapine.
. 9TH. And in view of these reasons, we d
i not feel that our families and interests ar
safe whilst they remain in the neighbol
: hood.