Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-09-18
NUMBER 27l.
From the NJ. Louis Democrat.
Horrible Murder.

An acquaintance from Jefferson county In thi,
State, called upon us yesterday and furnished the
details OF one of the most narrowing murders, by
outrageous punishment of boy, which we have
recorded for long time. The facts stated to us
are as follows
German family emigrated to this country, and
on the passage out the father died Of cholera.
subsequently, and after arriving in ST. Louis. the
mother died, leaving a small boy, who being left
entirely destitute, was at the solicitation of some
friends, bound apprentice to a man named Christi
pher Huber, then living in st. Louis About
year since, however, Huber removed to farm ~
Jefferson county, taking the boy with bim and
treating him with severity. Occasionally the hey
would be sent into the woods to hunt cattle, and
u he either got lost himself or faded to find the
Cattle, was invariably beaten inhumany. At
length the treatment became so harsh that the boy
could no longer stand IL but woald often pass night
after night in the woods bst upon returning for
something to eat would sny receive severer pun.
ishment. Some -four Or five weeks ago, it seems
that the lad thps intimidated, remained out sew
eral nights, o-d was seeking some food in the
evening ate, when he was caught by Huber. tied
with rope, the flesh stripped almost fiom his
body with thong, and then thrown into the cor
ner where he remained twenty-f -four hours.
Whet released, he again escaped and endcavor.
ed to sustain life by going into the orchard at
night hnd plucking fruit; but Huber, 1t seems
suspefing this also, lay in wait for him. and again
caught him. The punishment then inflicted, and
IS narrated by our informant is too inhunlan for
repetition. Ii is sufficient to add that the next
morning the boy endeavored to crawl to neigh.
bors house, but failed to do So and lay exhausted
in an adjoining field for two days before he was
found When discovered, bis back was mass Of
putrd flesh; he was fy-blown and covered with
veimin and evidently beyond the hope of re-
covery. The person who discovered him carried
him in his arms to Hubers, the nearest place, and
it is said that it with difficulty he was prevent
ed from again punishng his Runaway" as he call
ed him. Death, however, soon put an end to his
miseries, and in an hour or two he breathed his
last Thebody was then thrust into boot box,
without clothing, and uncereinoniously tossed into
the ground.
Such is the statement of the affair as furnished
to US by gentleman whose yerncity and impartial
character we have no reason to question. These
circumstances it is said, transpired several weeks
ago, but last week the matter becoming nosed
abroad, coroners inquest was held on the body
testimony taken, and writ issued for the arrest of
Huber The sheriff at once executed the same
and was carrying Huber to Jail, when by some
means not explained, and upon some promises of
security for his appearance, he was permitted to
return TO his farm for the night. This he was NOT
slow to take advantage OF, as the excited people
threatened him with lynch law forthwith, and he
accordingly decamped with all speed. We under
stand that he has since been In ST. Louis but
that on Friday last he also disappeared from the
place at which he has been stopping since when
he has not been seen.
We give the above narrative just as we heard il,
and with no further knowledge of the facts in the
case than that derived from the lips of our infor-
mant.