The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1866-07-23
CITY AND STATE NEWS

49, -. - :
HORRIBLE MuRpER.-4 Woua' statoea
Sir TJmes-7ks ahsNau al LGyo-No
sooner had the excitement consequent
upon the fire in Centre Wheeling sub
sided, than that portion of the city was
Thrown into alarm by "a horriblemurder.
About ten O'Clock on Saturday night a
woman named Mary Jane Riddle was
hrutally murdered, near her residence in
centre Wheeling, by man named God
fey Lukerd Mrs. Riddle had been out
washing and ironing, and, in company
With her little daughter was returning
to her home. When near her house
Iukerd rushed upon her and Immediate
~ commenced brutal assault He
drew large knife and stabbed her six
times before she could release herself
from his grasp. When he had accom-
pushed the toni deed he released her.
She staggered into her honse and died
within fifteen minutes.
The horrid deed was committed in the
rear OF frame building adjoining the
residence of Mrs. r. When Lukerd had
inflicted the second stab the woman
who resided in the frame house heard
the scuffle and ran to the window She
saw the man cutting the woman, but
before she could give the alarm be had
released his victim and made his escape.
A cOroners Jury was summoned uGd
the body examined. 1t was found that
six wounds had been inflicted in the
throat, shoulder aud breast Of the wo
man The wounds we're, evidently, IN
dicted by a knife held in the left hand
As thsy were deep and ugly gashes, cut
very awkwardly Any one OF three ot
the wounds would have been satticient
To have caused death The jury IL
turned a verdict that the deceased had
come to her death from wounds ipil'cted
with a kuito in the hands OF Godfrey
Lukerd.
The deceased was about thirty five
years of age. Her husband, James Rid
die, is an employee on the Wheeling aud
Cincinnati packet Potomac, and is alb
sent from the city most of his time. Ii
seems that Lukerd had made frequent
visits 10 the house, calling upon Mrs. K.
aud her sister.in-law. He had been al
the house on Thursday, when the women
dressed felon which he had on his loft
hand when tying up the linen cloths
On Thursday Miss Riddle was by Lukerd
giyen large knife to cut the linen and
threads to q proper size and length. On
Saturday night, before Lukord hal re-
leased Mrs Riddle, Miss Il. saw him us3
the Same knife he had lOaUcd her
What caused Lukerd TO commit lito
foul deed rs yet remains a mystery A
Young man who resides near the seen" of
the murder says he saw Lukerd secroto
himself in some tall weeds, a short dis
lance from Mis- Il y house, about hall
past eight O'clocA on Saturday night |
ilrs. r. had been hard ut work all day, |
and was late returning 10 her home wh'n
She was assaulted.
Lukerd is a saddler and harness ma
IN by trade, and has for some time been |
ruplOyed in the harness mandatory of |
john Lump, on Market Square. lie |
vas seldom, if ever, seen under the lnilu- |
ance of liquor, and was 4 very quiet
man. He was remarkable for his mo
rusenesS and reticCnCe.
When Lukerd had committed the loul
act he ran away and made his escape,
hoforo the news of tho murder had
.p,ead Up to late hour last night nc
was still at large, although every effort
Was being made to bring about his arrest,
The murderer is small man, Ger.
man by birth about four feet six OF cIgi't
inches high; very black hair, moustachc
and gotee (c9lored bIack) has small
feet felon or bealing on the thumb of
left hand; when last seen no wore a
brack frOck coat, light pants, vest and
hat He talks broken English, and sol
IS to be hoped he will be arrested.
2. S.-A gentleman who came up IRON
Bellaire last evening, who had not heard
of the murder, says he saw Lukcrd IN
hat town yesterday morning, and that
he entered barber shop and had bis
inustache and gotee shaved off.