New-York daily tribune., 1856-06-03
SEVEN PERSONS BUTCHERED AND
BURNED.
Sr. JosrPn. No., Thursday, May 29

Sr. JosEPH, Mo-, Thursdsy, May %, 1880.
Last night one Of the most dlabolical aud terrible
murders occurred within four miles OF this cny, that
ever shocked community or outraged humanity.
Mr. Jacob Friend, with his wife aud 1--WE chitben,
resided in neat cabin, embowered by ancient 'ores,
upon the booer of the beautiful lake which lies just
below our town, and cultivated IN quiet but pront-
eble way. a piece Of land which be had lately re
claimed from the wilderness. The banks of the NAN"
are dotted with these simple habhations, and neigh-
hols yetc all around him but his house was not vr'-
HE to apy in consequence Of the thickness of the ~
t,ryening folisge. The halo Of q man, or the bark
irg of a dog could, however, be distinctly heard.
Young Barada was there last evening" ana lett thsm
all in the erjo, ,ment Of health ard happiness. Ihs
morning young lady wa pasiIs Ahdioe"" '"o """'"
and its inhh bItaDts In ashes.
The news ,pread like wild.fre, aud in n few hours
many from obr city and the neighprhood were on the
spot. The natural question with every one Wa, nov
The cabin contained but one rooD, about sixteen ieet
square, with two doona, window aud fireplace. The
window aud the fireplace were IN the opI"s'e ends,
| and the two doors in the opposite sdes. On either
sde of the window with their feet toward tho doors,
| had stood the b6ds in which the family slept From
where the beds stood egress easy and convenient
through the window and the doors. IL hariy pos
sible then, that seven persons-a man OF ~ woman
of 90 your man Of ~, girl Of i6 and thre" smAl
chidren-coud have been burned from FIRE originating
in the fireplace. There were too many wsys ofescape:
Nor for the same reason could they have been burned
TO de sih il fire had been communicated to any part Of
tie building. The conclusion, then, before any exam
nation, was That mufu'r, lnost fou hno unhhtufh,
had been busy with his bloodyknife, before the pyro
was ignted. This conclusion was confirmed by silent
evidences which lay around There, in the corner,
near the fire. place, was skeleton, and there Just In
front Of the fireplace, was another; and where tho
beds had s0oe were all the othsrs-a large one with
the smallest clasp.d in its arms and the rest clsteret
near These were evidently the mother aud children,
those near the fireplace, the father and the son. by
one Of the latter large knife and by the Others
three.prorged pitchork With ports extremely sharp
ened and the barrel Of gun; and IN front OF tho
house revolver was found. The Jury OF Inquest aro
now sitting They have arrived ut no further concn-
zion as vet than that il was horrible murder. Fbey
will take rneasures-indeed doing 40 already ~
examination of Witnesses and the weapons foand-to
trace the mmderers. God grant that they may be-
fund and brought TO juftice. This s the sentiment
ana PRAYER Of every COED man in our country.
No event has ever given our community - serious
shock Our people have always been noted for their
lb.rality and Hospitality aud personal security H.
has been unusual 10 asten the doors at night, and,
sometimes in Summer, to close them. There aro
not five houses in a hundred with locks upon Them
They nearly all have the literal atch, with The string
always hanging out. This horrible midnight sss,-
sipaton therefore, has been more startling than an
earthquake and the whole country are aroused There
must have been more than engaged in this fendsh
wo,k. That they will be traced, have no doubt. Ii
"murder u,H out, then this must certainly be soon
developed. I will inform you Of further discevo1e'.
Mr. Friend was a good, industrious and prosperous
man As was told to-day by a neighbo. hs e1cel-
lent character ard upright dePortment male nm enc
n ies among the reckless and dssipsted IL ssd hs
had dspnte with one Of this cass short time aoce,
about hog 1t was also thought that DC ns1 several
bnndred dollars in gold saved up. WhAs induced ths
mrder therefore, must have been Jealousy, hatred or
cupidity; or, perhaps, al.