Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1861-03-21
Horrible Murder of n Pedlar in
Chester County.

One of the most diabolical and cold-blood
ed murders we have ever heard of was per-
petrated on Saturday morning last, in Ches-
ter county, at point about mile south
of CoatesviIle, and five miles southwest
from the borough of Downingtown. The
murdered man was named Jacob Mack, but
he was familiarly known in Chester county
by the name of "Dutch Jake" He has
traversedrr the neighborhood in which the
murder took place-for years past with
pack containing jewelry and fancy dry
goods. We understand that he was un-
married, and abou; twenty five years of age.
Two of his uncles reside in this city. The
particulars of this horrid affair, as near as
we could learn them, are as follows:
Friday night he stopped at the hotel in
Mortonvile, and in the morning he display
ed, as was his custom, over two hundred
dollars in gold. He had frequently been
warned BY his friends that he was liable TO
be wayIaid and murdered at any time, from
the fact of his constantly carrying such
large sum of mon ey about his person. He
laughed at their remonstrances, however,
and took great pleasure in exhibiting his
gold at every stopping place. Several per-
sons were in the hotel at Mortonville when
be settled his bill on Saturday morning,
among whom was a barber from Coates
vile, and it is alleged that high and threat
eniDg words passed between the latter and
the pedlar. The difficulty appeared to have
been amicably adjusted, and about nine o.
clock Mack proceeded on his journey.
He arrived at the residence of Furmar
Miller, about ten o'clock in the morning.
This house is located on the farm OF John
D. Steele, ESQ, ON public road which. is
much travelled. He left there at half past
10, and went about four hundred yards
from the house, in westwardly direction,
where he was waylaid and brutally murder
ed. The spot where bis body was discov-
cred was in sight of three farm houses.
His brains had been beaten out with club,
and bis skull was imbedded in the earth in
pool of blood. The bushes and stones
in the vicinity were despatched with blood
and every thing indicated severe struggle
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man. His body was stretched out at full
length. and one hand grasped fence rail.
His pockets bad been ritled of the gold and
watch and chain. A small box contain
ing jewelry was carried away, but his pack
remained near his side. Several articles
which had been taken therefrom were found
on Sunday, together with the box of jewel
ry, in a neighboring wood.
The remains of the murdered man were
taken to Morlonvile on Saturday afternoon
where they We're inferred on SUNDAY, after
an inquest had been held and verdict rem
dered in accordance with the above facts.
Several persons have been arrested, but as
yet nothing has been developed TO warrant
their commitment for trial. IL is supposed
the murderers took the cars of the Penn
sylvania Railroad Company and may have
arrived in this city. During the scuffle be-
tween The murderer and his victim the front
part of the coat of the former was torn of
and left on the ground. This clue may
possibly lead 10 his detection. Great indig-
nation prevails in Chester county in con-
sequence of this most atrocious murder.