Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1855-09-12
Parricide and Fratricide.

OnUSt Ius IeleSEapnE mead on Saturday
morning we published an account of a
horrible murder at Sterling, near Oswego,
N. T., A man, his wife and son were
killed by another son. The testimony
before the coroner, was full and direct,
and fixed his guilt beyond question.
When charged with it by neighbor he
admitted the crime.
He had been imprisoned some time
for horse stealing. His father by giving
to neighbor cbattel mortgage on his
farm borrowed a hundred dollars, and
freed his son. Subsequently that neigh
boris son died, and the present murderer,
instead of manifesting what his father
thought would be a proper respect, ridi-
cuIed the ceremonies, he and his parents
being Catholics. On this the father and
son quarreled, and in the night, when the
three we're sleeping, he killed them all
with an axe. DR.. Proud6t thus testified
before the cOroner's jnry:
was called on this morning by Patrick
Fitz gerald, son of the murdered man,
who said his folks were all poisoned or
killed. asked him what was the matter;
said John was carrying on like the devil,
and said there were negfoeS in the house
asked Patrick if there was any poison in
the house said his mother had told him
John had put poison in the sugar last
Sunday.
When I came to the house, saw James,
the murdered son, lying on the floor,
covered with blood had large cash in
the face or jaw, and one large cash thtee-
quarters OF an inch above the temple ;
Thought it done by an axe sewed up
wounds. Having examined the bodies
Of Mark, (the father.) Mary. (the moth
cr,) and James Fitz geralds find Mark
FItzgeralds' neck literally severed from
tie body, excepting skin in two places +;
said wound was in my opinion made with
an axe walle deceased was in bed, caus-
ing instant DEATH
Mary Titzgeralds has four wounds,
one superficial wound in the neck the
large blood vessels are not cut; one
wound on the left shoulder penetrated
into the muscles that capped the Shouts
der; one toward the right shoulder,
partly severing the spinal colomn, and
one about half an inch above this pene-
trating slantingly; have no doubtsof the
blows inflicted causing her death. Games
had one wound on the cheek, and one on
the temple, made with an axe am salts
lied that they were the cause of his death.
saw an axe in the door yard that
had blood on the helve in sevaral places;
think, from rust on it, that it had been
washed the handle was secured and
scraped. During the whole time of ex-
animation John was in great excitement,
saying, "Oh, my father; Oh, my mother
On, my brother ; what made me do this,
" or why did do this:'
The following isthe statement of Messrs.
Adle and Plum, 10 whom the prisoner
made confession: 20
" John Fitz3gfalds confesses that he
did kill his father, mother and brother
with an axe, on the morning Of Thursday,
August 80. 8fhat since the funeral of his
brother on the 9Th of May-which he
did not Attending. parents have been
displeased with him. and he angry with
them for their course, which anger has
grown upon him till about a week ago he
tried to poison them by putting some
0trychnine into tumbIer of sugar.
1T was from thesSsame bottle which
was found in his trunk. Says no one
knew anything of his intention to kill
them"
After the examination Of the witness,
Justice Tiliord requested the presence of
the prisoner. On appearing, he said to
him, " John, you are charged with the
murder OF your father, mother and broth
CT. l wish to ask you a few questions;
but will say TO You that you need not an
swcr, unless you choose. Do you know
how your father. mother and brother re-
ceivcd their wounds 2"
Prisoner" do. With an AK"
Justice" In whose hands 90
Prisoner" In my own. 1 tried to
poison father and mother about a week
ago"
Justice-"What was the poison ?"
Prisoner" In a phial in my trunk.
got it i'll Oswego; don't know who of.
did not get poison with intent to kill
father and mother"
Justice-"lIad you conversation with
any one in relation to the matter before
you committed the deed 2"
Prisoner" l had conversation with
some one about killing father and moth
cr, but object telling with whom''
Were admitted to the room containing
the bodies which had been washed
and laid out. While we stood gaz>
ing at the lifelcss forms, a slight open
ing was made by those surrounding the
bed, and the murderer stood before us,
looking at his victims Hardly a breath
broke the stiffness, as he gazed at their
paid, upturned faces, until sob broke
from him, when his whole frame shook
with emotion. 1t was but transitory,
however, he regaincd his composure, and
was led out of the room in a moment.
The tragedy has occasioned the most
intense excitement for miles around, and
the roads leading to the house were
thron5ed with teams and pedestrians, and
IL large crowd was also on the prem