New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-08-18
HORRIBLE AFFAIR IN DELAJARE.
Correspondence Of The N. Y. Tribune.
A 2

Correspondence of The N. Y Tribune.
GEoRGETows, Del, Aug. 10, 1860
On last Sunday evening most diabohcal murder
was committed in this County Sussex, near Sc Johns
town the victim being young white girl aged four
teen years. the daughter of ZachaIiah Griffith, highly
respectable farmer of the neighborhood. The perpe-
TRAITOR Of the fendsh act mulatto boy, eighteen
years old bound TO Daniel Curry and in the service
of Mr.. Lord.
The facts of the case as developed at the Coroners
inquest held Monday evening and Tuesday morning,
are these: Miss Gritsth, with young female friend,
were walking out on Sunday afternoon at about five
o'clock in their walk, they passed Mr.. Lords house,
in which there 70 one rave the muatio boy he
regarded the girls very attentivey they passed. and
smiled at them. Miss Griffith having accompanied Der
friend short distance toward the home of the latter
left her. ard started to return TO her own home As
che was walking along the path, this negro emerged
from the woods carrying stick in his hand; he mme.
datey approached her, gave her blow over the head
with the stick, seized her by the arm with one hand,
and applied the other her throat aiming his hold
till she FELL after which he attempted 70 violate her
person. In the meantime be had tied strong string
around her throat and had drawn it sufficient tight 10
induce straDgustioDi be desised from his hesh pur
pose after having discovered that his victim dead.
IL order to coDces the evidence of his atrocous deed
fer the tine being A. least he dragged the body about
hundred and hfGy yBrds and threw IL toto ditch in
which the water was foot deep. The attack upon
the girl was 90 sudden and that she bad little
opportunity TO resist not word was spoken by eher
during the affair, according TO the negIos statement
The Coroner, Faucet, of this town, was sent for.
He went accompanied by his Deputy, Barker. A Jury
was summoned together with witnesses, aud DIS.
SadleT, Cahall, Prettyman, and Purcell. Suspicious
1T once had attached 10 the negro who was the only
-, he III ut tiuna Iba
body Of the murdered girl was found within an
hour after the occurrence. post norton examina
ton wss held. Two or three severe wounds were
found upon her head her face was scratched the i'm
pre- ssions of fingers upon the throat string
was drawn tightly about the mack, marks of violence
were seen upon Der person. and her clothes were badly
torn The negro with three Others, arrested aud
brought before the Coroner aud the first severely
questioned. At the examination Monday evening
nothing definite was elected, but the suspicious about
the negros guilt in the minds of the Jurors beca ne
more confirm ed when the negro refused on The request
Of Deputy Barker, 10 touch the corpse The Jury IN
sisted that the negro should touch the body, but he OBJ
snatty persisted in his refusal evidently being &C
auanted with the popular superstition regarding the
touch of tie victim by the murderer causing wounds to
bleed atresb. On the following morning, az the ln-
quest was assembling the negro was inorpe by one
of the pereOps present. that he would be obliged to put
his hand on the body Of the deceasedhat the Inquest
would compel bin TO do it. This frightened the negro
to suc gree that be promised 10 disclose ALL II they
made clean breast OF il, giving the facts as above
stated. We have seen his evidence and it shows a
most devihfh purpose upon his part verdict 10 ac-
cordance with he testimony was brought n.
II was with the greatest difficulty that the crowd
was prevented ly nching him. ana had uere been any
uncertainty az to his receiving bis deserts, mob law
would have been enforced There were may who
il sisted on hanging him Immediately, but Judgment
finally prevailed oye excitement and tue Coroner wa
suffered 10 briug him 10 Jail ia Georgetown. Quite
crow had asst mbed at the Prison last evening TO
this fend and the expressions and purposes We're By
no means favorable him. Sheriff Lofind mas pla ed
him in the third story Of the JAIL aud roued hi Sc
curely and i'll allow one 10 see him. He if deter
mined TO keep him until October term Of Cont, when
instiee viii be administered 10 him in heroic doses
There has lot been an execution 10 this county since
1881 but the probability that the yertebre OF this
brues Leck viii be dsOcated that h. viii be stran
pulated acco rdiDg whichever method Of hanging IL
| Irsc'ioed upon him.
There has never been such brutal murder CON nit
ted in Susss before in the annals Of crime there has
| been rolling like it. A. may be supposed, there u
| much excitement concerning it. The young girl was
| of respectable family ard was much esteemed. The
boy was Of the bright mllaito kind with atoleraey
| wen formed head He says he don't know what ln-
duced bin 10 commit the deed. The probability is ne
viii learn practically the penalty for the commission
OF tie crime if he ia ignorant OF the motives prompting
! him u its cOmmssitD "a.
| -------->----