Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1854-07-10

"
! letter detailing the incidents Of the murder OF
Mr. Moore and his wife and sister-in-law, and the
! subsequent burning Of the murderer in Jefferson
county
DASpRinar. June 2l.-The dcplorable scenes
Of horror which have occurred in this country
within the last week, are peculiarly thrilling, ana
strike every heart with "a sting Of poignant re-
gret. which bcggnrs description. On last We'd
nesday night, whilst Elijah Moore, his wife and
sister in.aw were enjoying at home that joy and
pleasure which could alone be realized IN calm
rcpose in their own domieil, a servant Of said
Moore stole quietly into the room in which they
were sleeping, and without provoeation. muir
dcrcd Moore most hrutally with M axe
Mrs Moore, being awakened by the blows up
on her husband, entreatod him TO desist, and for
this kind entrenty. from an inddlgent mistress.hc
fclled her 10 the floor and murdered her with the
same axe. The scenes thus perpetrated aroused
Miss I.otspeeeh. the sister Of Mrs. Moore,a young
lady of fine family and nnexceptionable chnrac-
ter, wEo ran TO the bed whore her sister and
brother law were being immersed in murder
and their own blood but the horror Of the pic
ture before her. oyerawed her, and she sPrang
back 10 her own bed.
The fend with hellish purposes approached
her, and utter violent struggles between them in
which he broke her left arm, bruised her let
shoulder. throat and chin, very SEX erely, he final
" accomplished his hell born purposes, and took
also her innocent life. Thus, by the hand of
furious slave, who had never been wronged, but
too kindly treated three valuable lives, of our
most respectable and highly esteemed citizens
have been taken and rushed, without previous
notice, into the presence Of the Great Ruler of
the Universe. / learn that they were exemplary
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
The Indignation of our people was intense and
knew no bounds. A large number assembled and
began II yigilnnt and thorough search for the har-
dcncd wretch, aud on last Sabbath, about II
o'clock. he was arrested. On the day following
lie suffered at the stake by the torch that penal
" which his infany deserved, and was burned to
death nj one O'Clock, within few hundred yards
OF the plaee where the murders were committed.
About one thousand cit'zens were present,and the
execution was performed coolly and deliberately;
and in the large assembly there was not a dissen-
ting voice to the execution.
This violent measure was adopted in this coun-
ty rs "A means of absolute necessary self-deience
which could not be secured by ah ordinary re-
sort to the laws. Two executions on the gaows
have occurred in this county within year or two
past, and the example has been unayailing. -Four
executions by hanging have taken place hereto
fore in Jeferson,of slaves guilty of similar often
ccs, and Is has produced no radical terror or ex-
ample for the others designing the same crimes,
aud hence. any example less horrible and terry
flying would have awaited nothing here.
A correspondent of the Nashville Union, mar
rating the particulars of the murders says that
the negro had conceived strong and irresistible
passion for Miss Lotspeech, and made several
proposals, which were always rejected with
indignation; that he told her if she ever informed
on him TINT he would kill her and thus prevented
her from tellig his MASTER but ON last Monday he
made another attempt, WHEN she immediately told
her brother=in law, MIR. Moore who talked to him
about it, aud threatened 10 whip him; he then
determined 10 enter the house, kill Mr.. Moore,
and carry Miss l.. nway, while another negro was
to take Mrs. Moore; but in killing Moore, Mrs.
Moore, walked up and caught the axe, which he
wrcsted from her aud struck her u violent blow on
the head mashing her skull, and thus rendering
her incapable of further resstusce, but not caus-
ing Immediate death
In the meantime Miss l.. awohc, aud struggled
TO prevent his killing her; he coolly informed her
of his purpose; She begged him to kill her. he
struck her with an axe, and broke one of her
arms ut the Fist blow, ut tbt second lie stunned
her, 10 make her entirely iu~ensible, be then
accomplished his holsh purpose Mrs Moore
in the meantime, moved IN the bed, and he went
to her aud split her skull open with the axe; went
back 10 Miss rs bed and Il second time violated
her person. and then split her head open with the
axe.
He then opened the doors, and quietly pulling
on his shoes, got into a canoe, turned it loose,
laid down in the bottom of it and went to sleep,
ms though nothing unsual had occurred, and did
not awake until he had foatcd several miles down
the river
The whole annals of crime do not show such n
hcIish,fondish crime, accompanied with SO much
GOODNESS. But he has met his doom. lie was to-
day tied 10 atrco, in sight of his murdered mas
tcr's house. large pile Of rich pine built around
him, and then set on fire and burnt to ashes in
the presence of 200 or 800 persons, who did
not leave the spot until he was completely reduc-
cd 10 ashes
Thus has ended the life of one of the most foul
and backheortcd fends that ever dsgraoed the
earth