Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-07-07
DAILY EVENING STAR.

DAILY EVENING STAR.
A NEGRO DouB1E.MURDERER BURNED.
10 DEATH IN TENNESSEE. -
The Knoxville Register has received the
following 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: = s-a.---2'-s. Z. s1s.l- 81. s-s~~aJ
a--s- DANBRIDGE, June 2l, 1854.
The deplorsble scenes of horror which
have occurred in this county within the
last week are peculiarly thrilling, and
strike every heart with a sting Of poig-
nant regret, which beggars description.
On last Wednesday night, whilst Elijah
Moore, his wife and sister-in-law were
enjoying at home that JOY and pleasure
which could alone be realized in calm re-
pose in their own domicil, servant of
said Moore stole quietly into the room in
which they were sleeping, and without
provocation murdered Moore most bru.
tally with an axe .19s" E.-1.--sI. 80 is--. e.
Mrs. Moore being awakened by the
blows upon her husband, entreated him
to desise, and for this kind pntreaty, from
an lnduigent mistress, he feiied her to the
fiber and murdered her with the same
axe. The scenes thus perpetrated aroused
Miss Lotspeeeh, the sister of Mrs Moore,
a young lady of fine family and unexcep.
| tOnatle character, who ran to the bed
where her sister and brother-in.law were
being immersed in murder and their own
blood; but the horror of the picture
before her overawed her, and she sprang
back to her own bed. ." e. - =
The fiend with. hellish purposes APP
preached her, and after violent struggles
between them, ia which he broke her left
arm, bruised her left shoulder, throat and
chin very severely, he FINALLY accomplished
his hell.born purposes and took also her
innocent life. Thus, by the hand of a
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 Uni
verse. I learn they were exemplary
members of the Methodist Episcopal
Church. - " 80
The indignation of our people was in
tense and had no bounds. A large num-
Der assembled and began a vigilant and
thorough search for the hardened wretch,
and on last Sabbath, about II O'Clock,
he was arrested. = On the day following
he suffered at the stake by torch that
penalty which his infamy deserved, and
was burned to death atone clock, within
o few hundred yards of the place where
the murders were committed. About one
thousand citizens were present, and the
execution was performed 1coolly and de.
liberately; and m the large assembly
there was not dissenting voice to the
execution. - - 5...-
This violent. measure was adopted in
this county as means Of absolute neces-
sary self defence, which could not be Sc
cured by an ordinary resort to the laws.
Two executions on the gallows have
occurred in this county within year or
two past, and the example has been un-
ayailing. Four executions by hanging
have taken place, heretofore in Jefferson,
of slaves guilty Of similar offences, and
it has produced no radical terror or cx-
ample for the others designing the same
crimes, and hence any example less her-
trible and terrifying would have availed
nothing here. - - g. 1'.. o..
- -. :. ANOTHER. ACCOUNT.
Correspondence of the Nashville Urion, June %.
-.r7 ~ - = DANDRIDGE, June 10,
On Wednesday night last, Mr.. Elijah
Moore, of this county, living nine miles
from this place, and his vile, and his
wife's sister, Miss Jane Lotspeich, were
all murdered. Suspicion Immediately
fixed upon negro man named Sam. be-
longing to Moore, who was found to be
run away. .-.,.--
The excitement was intense, and the
whole country rose up in arms, formed
themselves into companions to hunt for
him, and yesterday he was overtaken
crossing Chucky river, about twenty
miles from this place and was immedi-
ately' fired upon, ono shot taking effect In
his right arm. lie. Immediately turned
and gave himself to the pursuing party,
who took him to the house Of Mr.. L., ID.
Franklin, where, by screwing his fingers
and then his hands in vice until all the
bones were mashed, land other treatment
which cannot be mentioned in print, he
acknowledged that he had committed the
murders. s77Cg-s cd. II !:s5aazs .-..:-:ciE5 +.
He says that he had conceived a strong
and irresistible PASSION for Miss Lotspeieh
and made several proposals, which We're
always rejected withindignation,s that he
had told her il she syer informed on him
be would kill her, and thus prevent her
from telling his master; but ON last Mon
day he made another attempt, when She
Immediately told her. brother-In-law MIR.
Moore, who talked to him about. it and
threatened to whip him; he then deter
mined to enter the house, kill Mr.. Moore
and carry Miss l.. away, while another
negro was to take Airs. Moore; but in
killing Moore, Mrs. Moore waksd up and
caught the axe, which he wrested from.
her and struck her q violent blow on the
head, mashing her skull, and thus, rem
dcring her incapabieof further resistance,
but not cansing immediate death.
In the. meantime, Miss l. awoke, and
struggled to prevent his killing her; he
,coolly informed her of his purpose; she
begged him to kill her; be struck her with
ii Hr,lya ono nf hpr arms AT thu