Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1855-11-20
From the. Ottawa llil.) Free Trader.
SHOCKING MURDER. -,

ON Friday evening oflsst week. about
shutdown, an strocious murder was COM
milisd in the town Of Brook6sld twelve
miles east Of Ottawa, in this county, the
facts Of which, as ELECTED Of The coro'
ner's inquest, ore about as (ollows: b.
The name Of the murderer 10 Daniel
Purcell, on Irishnan. He was former.
ly laborer on the canal, but for the last
six or eight years has livod in the town ol
Brook6eld. Some eighteen months sso
he married second or third wife. and
lived with her in cabin near the river.
opposite Marseilles; but being drum
ken, brutal man, treated her SO badly
that some ten days before the murder,
she left him and went 20 tho house o.
Mr.. Richard Jackson, a mile or TWO on
On the day Of the mu'der he had, In
company with Two or three others, been
drinking deeply, and toward evening
borrowed the rife Of one OF his comPan'
ions, saying he wanted II the mex! day
TO shoot o dog. The next heard Of him
is that he called at ncighbor's, named
Boyd; told Mr.. Boyd to pay a small
amount he owed him 10 (Purcells) chill
dren, as he intended TO leave the country
He then proceeded to Jackson's and
knocked at the north door, which open
ed into a room where the family were al
tea. Mr.. Jackson invited him in q
friendly way 10 take tea with them
which he declined, and demanded, in Q
somewhat excited way, whether his wife
was there, and being answered that she
was, he said he wanted Mr.. Jackson Ia
pay him dollar day for every day
she had been there. Mr.. Jackson, in q
half laughing way, said he should do nc
such a thing. when Purcell raised his ri
fe, and ssying "then I'll shoot you" oil
most instantly fred. The ball entered
Jackson's left side, near the breast, and
killed him instantly. From Jackson''
the murderer returned TO Boyd's-salt
be wanted to load his gun-that he hal
killed Jackson, and wanted to kill him
self. Some powder was given him, bu
bis story in reference to Jackson aid hi
desperate look so frightened the famll,
that they all fled. He succeeded in get
ting the gun loaded, but having no cap
he next went home to his cabin, wher'
he arrived wet. as If he had been in lh'
river. He told bis children what he hat
done, and said he intended to drowl
himself, but first wanted 10 see them
His children also fed in terror. H
then appears to have undressed and gon
to bed, where, with razor that wa
found in the bed, he attempted 10 cut hi
throat, making hideous, but not dan
gerous cash below his chin, which ble
profusely. Thus ell covered with blood
and with nothing on but his shirt and
blank et around him, he next appeared q
the house Of Mr.. George Galloway, ap
parently in search Of his children. Th
family also fled in terror, but Mr.. G
learning what he had done, hastened I
a neighbor's for help TO arrest and Il
him; but when he returned Purcell wa
gone, and nothing has since been see
or heard of him, although the most dill
gent search has been made by from Fl
ty to one hundred men from that day
this. The probability is, that the ma
has either flung himself into the river,
has perished in some of the thickets {
morasses that abound in that vicinity.