Delaware State journal and statesman., 1866-11-13
MASSACRE or WuirE FAMILY IN
ALABAMA,
NunDrR or AZ on LADY ~ KENTUCKY


MURDER or An oGp LADY IN KENTUCKY.
few days ago dispatch from Rome, Ga,
mentioned the massacre of Il white lamily in
Alabama by negroes. The tragedy occurred
near Cedar iilnns, Cherokee county. The
Rome Courier gives these particulars.
Mr. Arthur Williams was moving with his
family from Barlow (iormerly Cass) county
Georgia, 10 Texas, and on Sunday evening
Camped lor ihe night on the banks Of the
CooSa river, about two miles from Cedar
Biull' Appearances indicate that himself
wife and two little children were all sleepin,
on one bed that was spread ont on the rround
When found, about daylrenk on Monday
morning, MIR. Williams and these two chill
dren were still lying upon the bed, dead, and
it on fire
They had been killed with an axe that was
lyingnear, Mr. W. Is head having been literal
ly split open, and the children horribly mutt
latedj but all seemed to have been killed in
sanily, as their bodies still remained upon
the bed. Mrs W., having received a terri
Die blow upon the head on her left check.
destroying her lett eye and breaking her Jaw
1one, WIN the clothes on fire, had rolled
down the blum to the waters edge, and when
found, though speechlcss, was still alive
when our informant left tins awful scene.
We are glad to learn that the negroes who
murdered Mr.. Arthur Williams and hi.
family, on Monday morning last, hayo been
arrested, and confessed the crime. one nC
them was the keeper of the ferry over tlr
Coosa river, and one-whcther the same or
not we dld not lcarn-was formerly owned
by Colonel Nat. Thornton.
One conlesses that he took Mr. W. $ run.
and severely wounded Mrs Williams in the
head, and then ravished her and asserts ihni
the other killed MI W. and the two dnugL
tiers with an axe. They then made search
for money, but, as they assert, found none
II was with great difficulty that the people
were restrained from administering summary
punishment
CONFESSION OF ONE or THE NEGROES.
| went to the ferry where the family were
camped about two hours before dny. for tho
purpose of crossing the river, and not know
ing how to get over walked I'M 10 lilo
lamily and inquired of them to know ms 10
where the ierryman lived. Mr.. Williams
told me that the negro who attended the
ferry lived on the opposite side of the river
and that he tWilliams) did moi suppose thai
could get oyer before daylight, and said il
] chose to do So could kindlr M the fire
ana stay there I'LL morning. accepted his
proposition, and after got the fire mrnin,r
he gave me Il sack to lie down on. | then
lay down but did not go to straightforward
the family did About the time thought
they were dead in sleep, got up from W bore
had been lying, and took up an axe, which
lay by the fire and struck the man two blows
on the head, which killed him instantly.
lie never moved hand or foot. Al that Time
the two children began to cry, and the wo.
man commenced raising up from where She
was lying, MS il 10 see what was the matter
with them. | then struck her one blow
which / thought had killed her | next
turned with the axe in my hand, and struck
thom both Then laid the axe down, and
took the mans socks and shoes and put
them on. In the meantime the woman lad
recovered sufficiently from the first blow
had given her to make noise When Law
down the axe to put on the shoes and socks,
lost sight of ii; when the woman com.
menccd making the noise, | looked for il to
strike her the second time, and not seeing it,
seized gun which the man had lying by