Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1854-05-13
Murder o. Female OH Board the Stea-
meP Yankee Blade.

Murder o. Female on Board the Stea-
mer Yankee Blade.
A female named Susan Russell was
killed by her lover, Edward II. Avery, on
board the steamship Yankee Blade, on her
passage from New York to Panama. He
was ardendy attached to her, and jealous
of the attention she received from the cabin
passengers. Avery is only 26 years OF
age, native of Springfield, Massachusetts,,
respectable parentage, and highly intel
ligent. lie became acquainted with the
female, who was frail, but young and hand
some, at Worcester, Mass, and proposed
to take her to California. She consented,
and they engaged passage on the Yankee
Blade, as brother and sister, he agreeing to
work his passage out. She was furnished
through the kindness of the captain, with
q berth i'm the second cabin, with another
female. This removed her considerably
from the presence Of her lover, who
worked on the forward deck and she, ia
king advantage of her position, began 10
fit with the young men on board, which,
when the knowledge thereof came to the
ears of Avery, rendered him eXcGedingI y
jealous, and finally he acted in such man
ner as to induce those who saw him to be-
lieve he was deranged. The Panama
Star thus narrates the tragedy that ensued {:
Goa the l3,h February, al about s o.
clock in the evening, the passengers were
alarmed by shrieks from female voice,
which proved to be Susan Russell, who
ran about the aGcr-deck, crying my bro
Their has killed me = and falling upon the
deck, in five minutes she was corps.
She had been but few minutes previous
10 that sitting in the cabin, engaged in a
lively conversation with one of the passen-
gers, when Avery called her on deck.
On approaching her, he drew from belt
in his side ten-inch bowie knife, with
which he stabbed her in the right breast,
severing one of the large arteries, the knife
passing through her back. Immediately
after committing this dreadful deed, he
snapped pistol twice at his own breast
but finding it would not 90 off, he drew a
razor from his pocket, with which he cut
deep and severe cash in his throat, then
rushing forward TO where she had fallen,
and where the passengers and Others began
to collect, he cried, Stand back gentlemen
stand back, did it, then falling beside
the dead body, he wept over it, kissed
the marble cheeks, saying, 4 loved that
girl, but you cabin passengers did this.
"rhis was the notwithstanding scene
the writer ever witnessed. There lay the
poor, manged body olthe unfortunate girl
over her bent her equally unfortunate
though guilty lover utlering the most la
menlabe expressions Of his fervent attach
ment to her, while the blood came stream
ing from his throat. Every one expected
to see hun momentarily expire; he did
not die, however, as the surgeon succeeded
in sewing up his wound, and he is now
nearly recovered. He had preliminary
examination before the American Consul
at Rio JaneirO, who ordered him on TO San
Francisco for trial. Since the sad occur
renee he has become quite penltent, and
awaits his trial with considerable fOrtitude.
The poor fellow has a mother living in
Norwich county, upon whom ihis blow
will fall very heavily, when she learns the
particulars of the sad affair"