The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1855-06-02
Horrible mufdef n Delawave-Two
Children Killed BY their Father.

The Delaware State Reporter OF the 18th
gives the details of one of the most horrible
outrages ever perpetrated. A negro OF no.
toriously bad character named George Par.
ker, who was confined in Jail. made his %.
cape, got drunk, procured . gun; roved ur
and down the country, threatening death
and devastation to every one who came ia
his way. He attempted to shoot several per
sons an failed, and being pursued BY sewers
persons, fed to his own house, after having
demolished q neighbours furniture with or
axe. This took place about three miiea
from Dover. His proceedings at HE own
house are thus described:
When the officers arrived, they dscov cree
that Parker's house was in flames, and thai
two of his children. Zone aged two years and
the other four) were lying dead, with their
throats cut from ear to ear, and one Of them
so badly burned that it's recognition was a.
most impossible. Parker, IL seems, murder
ed these two children in the presence o.
soma eight or ten men. He placed the child
rem on either side Of him, and his gun in front
of him. threatening to shoot any person whc
would attempt to modest him. While in thi,
position he cut the throats Of his two children
He then set the house on fire, threw the
children into il, and soon Afterwards con.
fronted, with gun In hand, the party who de-.
sired to arrest him, and who were within
gunshot distance Of the house. In their e.
forts to secure Parker, they shot him no lee,
than three times, the third and last shot tax.
ing effect in his face, cutting through his
under lip and knocking out two or three
teeth. His forehead. just above the LETT eye
10 quite badly shattered. In fact bic whole
/ r Z - a. - - - - =
jured. A man named Cole, we believe, fred
At him and was thus suscessful In bic aim
when Parker rushed furiously at him and they
ciinched. The friends OF Mr.. Cole now ran
up, and after much difficulty succeeded in
getting the wretch TO the ground and tying
him. At this juncture the Deputy Sheriff,
Cooper. and Constable Arthurs reached the
ground and quickly assisted ia further secur.
ing him by placing him in heavy irons. The
fire by this time had entirely consumed the
building, and the RENAME Of the children
were laid aside to await the Coroner's i'm
quest. All this occurred before O'Clock in
the morning. Parker was placed in . cart
nd brought to Dover. His screams on the
road. and as he passed through the Maiu
sire ct If the town, attracted the attention oil
almost the entire community.
Ii was with great difficulty the officers and
their assistants got him to the cell, and j,
was only managed Oy tying a rope around
his neck and dragging him head foremos,
down the stairway and into the dungeon
His resistance was so great. that it was pro.
posed by several who Ofhciated, to lynch
him on the spot. and have no further trouble
with him. Parker 10. perhaps the most des.
perate character ever confined in our county
Jail. He is some six feet high, wePhs moi
less than two hundred pounds, is very muscu'
lar, and 1.-the 40 q cat. At times, il has
taken, a. in the present case, more than q
dozen men TO manage him.
For four hours after his confinement bic
continued and uncessing cries Of "murder,'
"murder," "murder," were distinctly heard
for at least quarter Of mile in all direc.
tons from the Jail. During the day more
than one hundred persona visited his cell, te
take q view Of the prisoner. The rumor that
horrible murder had occurred near Dove
prevailed at an esriy hour and our quiet towr
was the scene Of intense and unusual excite
ment.
| We may mention here that Parker made Z
desperate effort to take the life Of his wife
end her remaining child. She escaped By
running from the house with the child in bel
arms.