Smyrna times., 1855-05-30
HORRIBLE OUTRAGE Two Children
Murdered by their own Father.

l.
A very revolving tragedy was perpetrated {
IN Thursday morning last, about three miles
listant from Dover; the particulars of which
We copy from the Reporter;
About four months since notoriously bad
character. named George Parker, negro, was
arrested and imprisoned for an assault upon one
IF the most estimable citizens of Dover For
this offence, he was committed to the County
Jail; bat before the term expired for which he
was incarcerated, he made good his escape, by /
breaking through the wall of the cell in which |
lie was confined; and, although diligent search
was made for him, and a liberal reward offered
for his recapture, he managed to evade second
arrest. ........-.-..-.......
1t seems for the past few weeks, he had been
living at home with his family, near Walkers
Mills, on the Kenton road. His family consist
ed of his wife, three small children, and nurse.
During Wednesday. it is alleged, he went
from home with his wife to distant store, for
the purpose of buying some whiskey. The
storekeeper, either having none on hand. or
having no license to sell it, informed Parker
that he could not supply him. Disappointed in
this, he purchased, it is said, bottle of mo.
g." Thomsonian Medicine, which contains a
large proportion of alcohol. Whether this had
anything to do with what afterwards occurred,
we know not The circumstances. however,
are as follows:
About IL o'clock. on Wednesday night, Par
ker, armed with a gun, went to the house of
Mr.. George Slaughter, farmer. residing not
far from rarker's house knocked at his door !:
and, on its being opened by Mr.. Slaughter, pre-
scented his gun, and informed Mr.. s. that he
had come there for the purpose of shooting him.
Mr.. Slaughter demonstrated, and, by some
means managed to get the negro te leave the
place without receiving, fortunately, the slight
est injury. From hers, it is said he wended
his way to Persons Corner, in search of Mr..
Moses Rash who, with number of others, upon
one occa sion, when Parker attempted to escape
from Jail, materially assisted the sherff-ther
Mr.. Pratt-in removing him from one cell tC
another, and placing him in irons. This, i
seems, Parker had not forgotten and had h,
succeeded in finding Mr. Rash, in all ptobabit,
he would have shot him. A rumor prevailed
yesterday that he was seen by several person
in the vicinity of Persons Corner. and bein.
shot at, was frightened off, and thus frustrate
in his designs.
At an early hour yesterday morning, some
time before sunrise, we believe, Parker reache
his home, and attempted to shoot through tn
head the woman who lived as nurse in his family
but she threw up her right arm, and therein re
ceived the greater portion of the charge-he
; face and head receiving but little damage.
Soon after the commission of this vilainOu
act, he proceeded TO the house u negro, name
! Richard Gibbs Here, with the aid of an AK
he forced an entrance, and made after Glib
s threatening to shoot him. Gibbs escaped, an
$ ran to the house Of Mr.. Joseph Moore, in tn
: neighborhood. for assistance. Mr.. Moore, wit
n one of his farm hands, started for Gibbs hous
:. On the road, they overlook several others, at
r thus combined, they imagined themselves suH
S cientIy strong to arrest Parker and prevent hi
f from doing further damage. But in this, tbs
d were mistaken. Arriving at Gibbs house, th'
It found Parker still in it, cutting and slashir
|, away with an axe at everything within
j reach; and he at the same time threatening
e shoot any one or more who would attempt
touch him.
4 The party finding that they could not ma
II age the desperado, sent to Dover for Depu
g Sheriff Cooper, who, in company with Const
?. ble Arthurs, proceeded directly to the scene
8. the disturbance, which was now on Parker
b own premises; he having left Gibbs, after d
IL ing his property all the damage he could.
IS When the officers arrived, they discovered ii
II Parker's house was in flames. and that two
!. his children, Zone aged two years and the otl
four.) were lying dead, with their throats
from ear to ear, and one of them so badly bur
re ed that its recognition was almost impossib
;e Parker, it seems. murdered these two chilir
in in the presence of some eight or ten men.
I'd placed the children on either side of him, a
of his gun in front of him, threatening to sh,
m any person who would attempt to molest hi
re While in this position he cut the throats Of
le two children. He then set the house on Fl
Ii threw the children into it, and soon afterwa
a. confronted, with gun in hand, the party W
ur desired TO arrest him, and who were will
gunshot distance of the house. In their effo
RS to SECURE Parker. they shot him no less tn
three times, the third and last shot taking eff
in his face, cutting through his under lip q
s0 knocking out two or three teeth. His forehe
NC just above the left eye, isquite badly shatter
~ In fact, his who.e face is filled with shot Q
. more or less injured. A man named Cole,
believe, fired at him aud was thus successful
~ his aim, when Parker rushed furously Mt !
- and they clinched. The friends of Mr.. c
now ran up, and after much difficulty succeed
90 90 in getting the wretch to the ground and ty
him. AT this juncture, the Deputy Shei
-" Cooper, and Constable Arthus reached