American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1857-01-03
From the Louisville Courier.

Four Slaves Arrcstcd--COMGes
sion Of one Of Them Excite
incnt in the Country.
In the Courier Monday we briefly al.
luded to the probable murder of a fam.
lily of Joyce in the county, and the de-
s'ruciion of their property by fire. We
are now in full possession of the facts
of the horrible affair so far as ascertain.
ed from one of the relatives of the muir.
dered family in this city. The house
was the property of VIM. Joyce, a
young man, who was fortunately away
from home on the nigh, of the murder
to attend wedding. He had howey-
or, left his brother Richard Joyce. aged
10. at the house to take care of his
property and the family during his alb
sence.
The house is what is denominated a
double log house, consisting of two
rooms. divided by an open passage
The house is situated on the borders
Of Jefferson and Bull, counties, on Bri.
ar Greek the dividing line ofthe coun-
ties, about fifteen miles from The CITY
and not near Salt liver rs WAS stated.
The inmates of the house were Mrs.
Lydia Joyce, her son Richard Joyce. a
young man If 10, Mrs. Welsh, her
daughter. widow and the latter's little
daughter. child Of three years. The
Oldest son VIM joyce, the owner ofthe
house as before stated. was away from
home. The house was burned TO the
ground late Thursday night, end next
morning al Investigation let to- the hor-
Ilhle belief that the entire households
had been murdered The charred re-
mains of the two women were found
near the fireplace, while those of the
young man were lying in the place sup
posed to have been occupied by the
bed.
Mr.. VIM. Joyce returned to his home
to find it mass Of Wondering ruins,
and with the assistance Of the neighbors
instituted vigorous investigation Of
the premises, aud the cause of tho disas
ter. Suspicion at once fastened upon
several o! the nagroes in the vicinity,
and on searching the premises of MIR.
Pendieton, watch, coat, pants, and
other things, the property Of VIM. Joyce
were found secreted under the house
Bill, slave of Mr. Pendleton, was then
arrested, and confessed that he and
three Others mur dered The family, plum.
dered and then fired the house. AT this
revelation The ,,ao,ss, .vo;,a,,
vailed. and lynch lay w.s ,hnn,
enforced et once bn, caIr.r ;,dao.,
over-ru'ed the action Of the more has
ty, and the three other NEGROES imnlica.
ted were caught and ,;sd ~ s,aI". a.
make them confess their nor,;c;na,;an
in the bloodv deed Th.u na,l ~.
and GEORGE. slaves of Hiram onJ I a,,
is Samu,ls and q INV or r.,
resident of Jefferson c,upty aud rio
nearest peiohbor of The J,yco c,;I,,
The others are residents of RulI;, ]
~. The slave of Mr.. B,,wn woo ~
rested lato in The evening Thev ali
deny the murder. though susnIcion y.
side from the confession of RiII l. Co.,,
strong against them. An ex.n;no,;o1
of the negroes was about +, no ;ns,;,,,aI
by local magistrates. bur tho Cs.I;nos ~
the community were so b;obIv awaited
IN lat it was deferred. and we le.,n ,h =,
strong force was brinoi,u ,bon, l,aro
to be lodged in iail
E,om ,Lo o,,c; -,
Mr. Formulation i, annsars ,tnt go ,r u
proes hearino ,ba, Wm Jovcs ,. "o nc nc
sent from home had d.,.rr,;,,,,J -, 81
the bouse u,der Inc L,I;, 8 ,.,a,
y LARGE sum nf mnn.v I,ha 70 "au
Tho hn,se obou, rn;d,;,h, "o"' 10
the door, and encounteTedR;cbarJT rpen
the brother of Williams. He was brain.
ed with club in the presence of his
mother and sister. The aged mother
seized pair of longs to rush to the de.
fence of her son, but on the instant was
attacked by the negroes, one of whom
Knocked her senseless with club
The daughter, Mrs. WEIGH, attempted
to escape out of the window, but was
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