Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-12-31
THE CITY.
HORRIBLE MASSACRE.


e. 81 IN7Il
: Many Of our readers have doubtless ere
this been startled by reports of the horrible
massacre of the family of John M. Roosa,
residing near Deerfeld, Warren county.
1t took place on the night of Monday. Dec.
26. Mr.. Roosa was at the time patient
in the Dayton Lunatic Asylum, having
been placed there about four weeks ago, on
account Of temporary fits Of insanity. Mrs
Roosa had on Thursday sufficient
strength and composurc to give the follow
ing connected account of the fearful TRACE
w: q.,
Ats O'Clock the family retired as usual.
ne mother, with Frances, ten years old,
. . d Harry, two years old, occupied one bed;
Alice, fourteen years old, and Nettie, eight,
occupie, another room; and hired man,
Jesse Cousins, slept in the kitchen. (The
house is situated a mile from Deeriield and
half mile from the pike leading to Leban-
n) 1t was perhaps one o'clock when Mrs.
.yoosa was awakened, and saw man, in his
shirt-sleeves and stocking-feet, with lamp
iu one hand and hatchet in the other, COM
ing Into her room. She did not recognize
him, but knew it was not her husband. She
afterward learned that the hired man, Jesse
Cousins, had before this been assaulted and
left for dead. The flend Immediately struck
her on the head with Lis hatchet, stunning
her almost to insensibility, but she sprung
out of bed and fell on the 1oor--he repeat
ing his blows on her head and breast until
she lay almost senseless. He then coolly
slaughtered the helpless children, Frances
. and Harry, as he thought, but the latter only
was killed. He then turned his bloody steps
10 thereon where Alice and Nettie were
s sleeping. He dragged Alice out of bed, and
told her to get him all the money in the
| house. She went to her mothers room, and
y there witnessed the horrible spectacle pre-
sented by the mother and her sister and
brother, bathed In their blood. Her moth
er told her where the pocket-book was,
which she got and took to the man, telling
him that was all they had, and he could
have everything they had if he would only
spare their lives. He took the pocket book,
which contained only eight or ten dollars,
part of which he left in it as he threw ii
aside, cursed her, and then slew her as he
had the others. While he was doing so
little Nettie came to the door to see what
was going OIL, when he told her to go back
or he would kill her. She hurried away
and hid herself in the bed clothes and was
not disturbed. The murderer then went
udCh W hIS. INOosai, WIN uicinillnc was
conscious enough to keep still; and feigning
death when he looked over her, he left her
under thebellef that she had expired. She,
however, saw him leave the house by going
out at the window, on the sill of which were
tile bloody tracks of his feet.
After fearful and horrid suspense of hall
| Nan hour, Mrs. Roosa heard the breathing
and moaning of the hired man, and ventur-
! ed to call to him. He answered that he
was dying, and could not come to her re-
lief. He lived until near morning, when he
became still in death. The child Nettie,
however, crept from her hiding place, and
amid the blood, the dead and the dying, she
watched until morning, when she ran down
to the nearest neighbor's, Mr.. Scott's, and
told what had happened. Mrs. Roosa and
Frances at once received all the attention
and relief that could be given. The man
Cousins was found sitting up, dead, in a
chair. A coroner's inquest was held the
same day. which resulted in nothing so far
las the author of the fiendish murder Is con-
cerned.
Welearn that man by the name of Charles
SeeHers, deserter from the 4lst O.V. l.
who formerly resided near Deerfleld, about
which place he has been lingering for some
lime past, came up from Cincinnati, day
Dr two since, to Tod Barracks in this city,
aving enlisted as a substitute. He has
been detained at the Barracks under strong
uspicion of having committed the fendish
laughter above narrated.