Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1857-01-03
The late Horrible Murder the Mass"c ha-
seae. Stssfc npri.Wss.

state u'rtsOm.
The murder of Mr.. Solpn A. Tenney. the war.
den of The Massachusetts State prison. ON Mon
day last, by Charles l.. Decature, a convict, was
most cool aud deliberate act. The Boston Con-
rier of Tuesday furnishes the following parten-
lar- of the tragedy:
Mr. Tenney entered tho shop at the west door,
oonversed moment with the overseer, Mr.. The
od"re bearing, and had passed ON almost to the
east door, when Decature jumped upon his back
and thrust n sharp pointed shoe knife, about four
inches in length, through his neck, sevsrng at
once the principal Arteries. Mr. bearing ran To
seize Decature. Mr.. Edward Crowther, the IN
s,ruc,or or foreman Of the shop, went to tn" as
sistance OF the warden. aud bore him away TO the
hospital
Decature, the moment he stabbed Mr.. Tenney
withdrew the knife and threw II from hun. when
Mr.. bearing approached him be extended his
arms. The oyerseer seized them, placed his Knee
against the murdercr's breast and throw INN ON
his back. Decaiure resisted; but the overseer
threatening to strike him with hammer he De
came calm. The ,r0gedv took place in the pres
cnce OF forty five. who, upon seeing the warden
fall, dropped their tnols : if amazed. but upon
the command Of the ovciseer they at once re-
turned to their respective benches, aud Deca'ure
was conveyed to solitary cell. lilo was re-
preached for the murder and replied have
been watching my chance for tive days
1t would seem Il at the murder the result
of predetermnaton and pl About six weeks
ago, Deoature asked for new knife. saying that
that which he had bpemusing had been misplaced
or lost Tho murder"us weapon. II now turns
out, was the same knife which he said he had
lost, He had sharpenod il for the purpose. aud
secroted it somewhere about his bench. Tho
other evidence of reconciliation Is found IN the
facts that he yesterday morning asked MalIen'
convict, "if the warden would come through 10
day and said to rhayer, also convict, "lon4l
see fun before night" Other consiots report
other language, to the same general purport.
MIR. Tenney never spoke after he was stabbed
lie reeled. drew his revolver and fell upon his
knees. He muttered, and gaspeL and died in the
arms of MIR. Crowiher within fifteen minutes al
ter the assault. The suddenncs, aud violence of
his death, coupled with the recent death OF the
deputy warden-Galen G. Walker. who was
stabbed on the 18th instant in the prison chapel
by the convict james Magee-together with 9th
or circumstances OF late date, comhne to make
the murder of the warden n cause of more than
common sorrow. On the 10th instant he was
married to Miss Mary L. Bartlett. daughter of
Wilton :. Bartlett, superintendent of Suffolk
county jail, and while yet on his marriage tour
he was summoned home, III consequence ct the
murder of his deputy. And now he. IL the 3}l
year of his age and the first month of his MARI
are, is cut down. His mother and wife resided
with him in the "warden's house," in the prison
grounds. Their grief cannot be measured
Mrs Walker on hearing that Mr.. Tenney had
been killed. became frantic, and for an hour
feeling of insecurity and excitement prevailed
throughout the premises.
As possible tho convicts were sent 10
their cells for the night. Generally they mani
Tested sorrow; for tho warden had been kind to
them. lie was man of experience in prison
matters.