Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1866-04-20
Murder of Seven Persons,
A MOST HORRIBLE BuTcnERY.

A most horrible butchery was perpetrat-
ed near Philadelphia, on Saturday, April
Tor at least that is supposed to have
been the day-by which seven persons
were murdered in cold blood, including all
of one family, with one exception. The
name of the murdered family was Deer
ing, and we give the following particulars
from the Philadelphia papers:
"A man at work fixing up some fences
for Mr.. Ware, neighbor, had his atten
ton called by a young man, to the fact
that the cattle and horses of Mr. Deering,
had not been out of the stable or barn for
several days. He saw them and fed them
in the morning. Both went to the spot,
and on making a close observation, part
of foot VAS discovered sticking out from
the hay. A further examination was made,
and the body of Mr.. Deering was found,
his head being shockingly mangled. His
breast bone protruded 10 such an extent
that it was driven into his neck. 1t was
CHASTITY, sickening sight. His gloves were
found upon his hands. Near his body were
the mangled remains of Miss Heating, his
cousin. She was also shockingly cut
about the head We learn that she had been
attending the funeral of relative in New
Jersey, and that on Saturday morning Mr..
Deering stopped at railroad depot to
take her down 10 his house. Her dress
was deep black, indicating that the work Of
this part of the tragedy must have been
done as soon as the horse was driven to
the stables. The hat and boots of Mr..
Deering were missing. These were prob
ably taken by the murderer. The wagon
was alongside of the dwelling house. The
horse was found in the stall in the stable
with the halter on him. The animal, in
the agony of hunge r, had almost hung him
self
The belief that.the murder was committed
on Saturday is strengthened by the fact
that horse and some cattle which had
been locked up in the stable and barn were
suffering for the want of food and water
when discovered The fact also that de-
composition had begun is thought to
strengthen il. The bodies were quite of
fensiye. Probably more shocking sight
was never seen than t he mother and her
murdered children, after they had been
removed from the crib. One of the chill
dren was a mere babe, less than two years
old, whose innocent face was sufficient, one
would have thought, TO have moved even
the brutal murderer's heart to pity. The
victims, with their ages are as follows -
Christopher Deering, 40 years Julia, his
wife, IS years; Elizabeth Dolan, the niece,
% years; John Deering, s years; Thorn
as Deering, 6 years; Anna Deering, 4
years; Emily Deering, years.
The eldest child VIM. Deerng, was
spending few days with his grandfather,
VIM Duffy, in West Philadelphia. Had
he been home there cannot be doubt but
that he would have shared the fate of the
other members of the family.
The bloody ak used in this case as the
instrument of death, was found in the yard
in the rear of the house. 1t was new, and
sharp as razor. 1t must have been pur-
chased very recently, and somebody must.
have ground it since then.
. 1t is strange indeed that there was very
little or no blood about the bodies of the
victims, nor in the vicinity of the places
where they were found. DiIigent search
was made by the shrewdest officers, for
these marks, with the view of ascertBining,
if possible, how or where the murders were
committed. But all efforts tending to this
result were made in vain, and of course
The entire affair is involved in deep mys-
terry. 1t is thought, however, that the
mother and her children having been muir
dered, were conveyed to the barn and
there thrown into heap, as already stat
ed The murders must have been COM
mitted outside of the dwelling house, and
what blood flowed must have soaked into
the ground, or been washed out or dissi-
pated by the rains which prevailed since
Saturday.
1t is evident that after these murders,
| the hellish perpetrator of them not being
! able TO find any money in the house, came
10 the conclusion that MIR. Deering must
have his funds about him, and therefore
waited his return. The desperate man
probably laid in wait in the rear of the
house, and commenced the work Of death
as Mr.. Deerins and his cousin, Miss Keat.
ing, were getting out Of the wagon. lie
then dragged them to the place where
their bodies were found, as already des.
cribed. The piece of meat that Mr.. d
had purchased on Saturday morning wa:
found in the box, under the front seat Of
the wagon. 1t was partly decomposed.-
There was no blood discovered about the
wagon.