Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1858-03-18
.5,-.4 From the Russellville Herald.
Murder of a Kentucky Lady by
Her slave.

The Bowlinggreen Gazette, of last We'd
nesday, gives the following particulars of
the murder of the wife of Mr.. Uriah Porter,
near Scottsville, KY:
The facts and circumstances of the mur-
der of Mrs. Porter are painful in the ex-
treme. The Investigation that led to the
developments which fasten the killing up
on the servants referred to, were made, not
from any suspicion that she had been killed,
because no such apprehensions were enter
tanned by any member Of the family, until
it was discovered that her throat had been
cut with a knife. From reliable sources
we have ascertained the following particu-
lars of this melancholy affair:
On Monday morning, the husband of
deceased went to Scottsville, leaving no
white person upon the premises except Mrs.
Porter, who was admired by all who knew
her, as an amiable lady and kind hearted,
reasonable mistress; yet ore of the servants
became angry with his mistress the day
previous, because, in giving out dinner to
the blacks, she overlooked him, and failed
to leave for him something which she had
given to others. 1t is thought that this,
together with Mrs. Porter's opposition to his
marriage-on the ground that he already
had two wives-to one of her servant girls,
caused the negro man to commit the afro
cious deed. The boy seems only to have
been an accomplice, as it appeared in proof
that the man said to the boy, Immediately
after the deed was committed, that he
"had fixed her." simultaneously with this
declaration throwing into the adjoining lot
knife reeking with blood.
AS soon as the corpse was found, one Of
the servants was dispatched to this place
to bring the sad intelligence of her death
to her brother and sister, residing here, say
ing his mistress had fallen from ladder
and killed herself, which was the basis of
the publication made in our last issue; and
the perpetrator Of the deed went to Scots
vile for his master. The report Of her
death attracted great numbers Of the neigh
bors to the house, who soon discovered that
instead of the reported accidental death,
her throat had been cut. This being as
certained as fact an investigation was
commenced, by which they learned that
the negro man had been very restless dur
ing the day, ecming to the house very Of
ten from bis work, showing that his mind
was in a state of dread and anxiety. The
boy being interrogatad in reference to the
matter, said, as had already been stated,
that he saw the man throw away bloody
knife, etc.
Great excitement has prevailed in the
neighborhood for ten miles around, and
during the trial of the negroes before an
examining court, it was feared that the ex-
cited crowds who focked to the scene,
would not allow the law to take its course,
out would lynch them. They were how
ever, safely committed to Jail at Scottsville,
to await their trial at the next session OF
the Criminal Court, which will be held in
April next.
We have learned, since the above was
written, that the murderer of Mrs. Porter
was preacher, having the pastoral charge
Of a colored congregation in the neighbor
hood. He has always been faithful and
obedient servant, which renders his conduct
the more strange.