Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1858-01-02
Terrible Tragedy.
MURDER OF Two FEMALrs-RoBBERY
AND ARREST.

AND ARREST.
On Tuesday, between IL and l O'Clock,
two women, named Anna Gerber and Eli
zabeth Ream, were found murdered in the
house Of the former, situated on a by-road
about three quarters of a mile from Neffs-
vile, Lancaster county, Pa. From the
Lancaster Express of Wednesday we gath
er the following particulars:
The house in which the murder was
committed is a small one story frame btild-
ing neatly white washed. On the first
floor are four rooms of small size, the door
facing towards the south. Through this
entrance is obtained to the kitchen, on the
left Of which is The parlor, and back of this
d small room, about sixteen feet by four
teen, where the bodies of the murdered
women were found. Mrs Gerber was SO
years of age in October last, and must
have been lurge, stout woman-Mrs.
Ream was a small, delcately made woman,
not more than FIVE feet in height, and was
near 60 years of age. Mrs. G. is the
mother of five children, ard Mrs. r. of
three or four. A son of the latter is mar.
ried to a daughter OF the former, and re-
side not more than hundred yards apart.
In the morning, about nine o'clock, Mrs.
Rcam was seen entering the house of Mrs.
Gerber, by some neighbors. Nothing fur
ther was heard or seen of them until one
o'clock, when Mrs. Ream, the daughter of
Mrs. Gerber married TO the son Of the
murdered woman, went TO the house of her
mother, where she discovered both mother
and mother-in law lying upon the floor
with their throats cut from ear to ear, their
skulls smashed and crushed in horrible
manner. She Immediately gave the alarm,
and the neighbors were soon aroused.-
The sight presented to them was truly ave
ful the whole upper end of the floor was
one pool of blood, which has run around
tho bodies OF the murdered women and
glued them to the floor. Their hair was
matted and hung to their countenances,
while dark clots of blood covered their fea-
lures. Tie deep and ghastly wounds in
their throats were opened, and revealed
the several portions Of the neck, as far
back as the spine.
Both we're bruised and battered about
the head in terrible manner; their skulls
being crushed in numerous places. Where
the skin had been severed, small stream;
of blood had issued, and glued the hair tc
the floor. Their cloths were all in disor
der, leaving portions of their persons ex
posed. It's supposed that the murders
must have knocked the women down will
their clubs; one Of them in falling strucl
the door by the side of the stairs which
, descends into tho kitchen here was found
5 large pools Of blood, while along the sid
it could be seen by the marks that per
son had fallen against the door. From
the kitchen, they must have been dragge'
; into the small sleeping room, where thei
/ throats were cut, so as to almost sovo
. their heads from their bodies. The BLOOD
had run down the floor on both sides Of tn
l bodies The doctors present stated tha
their persons must have been violated
Q Nothing was disturbed in this room excep
! the bedclothing, which was thrown upol
. the floor; marks of blood were found upo
: different articles in the room, as if the
y had been handled by persons with blood
t hands.
y From this room the murderers went in
to an adjoining room, in which were tw
n beds, two bureaus and large chest. III
r beds were disturbed, but the bureat draw
t. ers were pulled out and their conten
e thrown upon the floor. The lid of IL
h chest was broken open and its ccnten
d were also thrown about the floor. In IL
t. bottom Of this chest we're several old ney
y and other papers, in one of which wei
lc between eighty and one hundred dOllo
C which belonged to Mr.. Gerber. Mr.. &c
o ber is supervisor of roads, and had colec
ed this money, which was all taken.
re consisted of new quarters, half dollars, 60
h dollars, two and-a-half pieces and one fl
,e dollar gold piece. Various articles in L
1t room were covered with stains of bio
e, and on the door is large blotch as il
N bloody hand had been rubed against it
lr Spots of blood were soon on the wall, b
and clothes. In the front room are Gu
ct board and bureau, the contents of viii
I'd were scattered about.
ul Two men, one negro and the Other
nc mulatto, we're seen to enter the house abb
re fifteen minutes before eleven o'clock, q
ed no other person was seen near or arou
IL Louea ,,n.H okout ana oio1oo1- xuI