Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1854-03-06
horrible Affair.
yracuss IN. W Daily Republican

The Syracuse IN. W Daily Republican
of Feb. "a, says:
A horrible murder was committed in
this county last night. The particulars as
current here are that man named Alfred
Filler, residing at Spirit Rock, four or five
miles from this city, sold q span Of horses
yesterday for $500 cash and returned home
With the money. About midnight he and
his wife heard noise in the cellar and
got Zip. toascertain the cause--his wife pre-.
ceding hin Of. going to different entrance
Directly he heard the report of pistol
and a scream from his wife, when lie was
immediately. attacked by the ruffisns.. He
succeeded in escaping TO his fathers a
short distance and procured help. On re-
turning he discovered the body ofhs wife
shot through the heart and the house robb-
ed Of the money. Two Irishmen who
had been in. his employ are suspected, as
they are missing.
The news Of the murder was conveyed
10 Coroner Saul ofthis city early this morn
ing, when he, in company with several
officers. and citizens. proceeded to the
Scene Of the tragedy. On entering the
sitting loom Mr.. Saul saw ::!!..e body Of the
deceased lying upon the floor with the
throat cut from car to ear, pistol wound
and many Other wounds on her body, and
two Of her fingers nearly cut off, apparent
ily in attempting to defend herself from the
assassin. She lay in her night clothes, nit
having been disturbed since the discovery
Of the murder. She was % years Of age.
Her husband Allied Filler is 80 years Of
age. a, large hsspdsome man. with large
black Whiskers and hair, squ,te wealthy
farmer, and is dae, Of the most respectable
citizens in oar sQunts.. ~
:. A Jury ofiDquest was summoned. and
Filler testified to the circumstances given
above. Henry Filler, son Of Alfred Fl
Der. aged aboutfiye years, was subsequently,
called. He ssid:-
was walked in the night, saw a. nj. ~.
standing in front of mothers bed, stabt;no
her; told him TO stop; can't Tell VIZ !. WE.
ne had on no cap or hat; there was light
i" the bed room: told the mn | would
80 and tell Mary; he ha,s. large black
wh'skers and black als.:.r; father has a gun;
the man had a r;.stoI; he took fathers
sn!.e ano stalled mother: he found the
= " y IN Liners pocket; saw him have
.4.he :. knife, mother said 'Don't Alfred"
when saw the man killing her, called
father; then went into the room with
Mary and Frances; saw the blood on the
floor; did not step in it; the man had whisk-
ers long as Pas; did hot see where the man
went to- the candlestick was fathers; the
knife was thrown on the floor; knife shown
is fathers. Here long bladed Spanish
knife was exhibited to the boy and identi-
fed by him. 1t was found by one Of the
jurymen under the. stand in the bedroom
this morning, closed, ard with no blood Gu
it,
It appears from dispatch dated SYRIA
cuse, Feb. IS, that domestic in the fam
lily named Mary Cummings has made some
horrible disclosures. She says the murder
was the act of Filler HIMSELF and the ar
Iansemept of the body, and other details,
to give the appearance Of burglary and the
subsequent murder. were made by him be-
fore STARTING for help. All parties CONCERN
I'd in the case are apder arrest. to await
further proct edings. Altogether this is
out Of th, most remark able cas-, { on record