The colored Tennessean., 1866-03-31
A Murderer Captured.

Our readers will recollect terrible
murder which occurred in Kent county,
last October,- an account of which we
published at the time. The name of the
murderer is Ell. n. Durfee. and although
every effort was made to capture him,
he was not caught until about two
weeks since, when he was found in
|. Writ county, West Virginia.
The murder was committed on the
night of the 23dof October, near Court
land Center, in Kent county, and the
name of the murdered woman was Har-
riet Belder. On the afternoon of that
day, Durfee hired a horse and carriage
at livery stable III Grand Rapids, and
in company with the woman and her
child, which was about eighteen months
old, he drove to Laphamyille, which
place he left after supper, at about seven
o'clock, and arrived at Courtland Gen.
ter about three hours after, alone. The
next day he returned the horse and car
riage to the party of whom he hired it,.
Nothing peculiar was then noticed about
his appearance or actions, and it is be-
lieved he Left Grand Rapids that same
night. The next day, droyer, while
driving to the city, in passing through
the woods, found the child, who was
insensible, but being kindly cared for,
soon recoV cred, and is a bright and
healthy infant. The persons who took
possession of the little waif supposed at
the time that it had been deserted by it's
mother, and left to die in the woods.
The body ofthe murdered woman was
not discovered for about a month, when
it was fouIfl concealed near where the
child was taken up. What the motives
Iofthe murderer were Is not certainly
known, but it is supposed he was
the father of the child, and attempted in
this way to rid himself of the support of
the two. VIM. L. Thornton, the Sheriff
of Kent county, immediately took meas
ures for the discovery of Dufee, whose
detection is almost wholly owing to the
skill and faithfumess of Mr.. Thornton.
The Villain was first heard of at Beaver
Center, Pa, where his mother resides.
and from which town he went to Pitts
burgh. Remaining at this latter place,
short time, he left, and the next intel
hgence received from him he was at
Sharon, in the same State, where be was
engaged for a few days working in the
I iron works of that town. About the lst
of January he started for West Virginia,
and was employed about the oil wells in
Writ county, until the 9TH inst, when
NLAV3 A41SA ASt@A hSN va
his whereabouts, telgraphed on to the
officers in that vicinity, and had him ar
rested. Immediately going to Virginia,
Mr.. Thornton brought his prisoner to
this city last night, and this morning
they passed on TO Grand Rapids. Dur
fee has offered no resistance whatever,
and says that he supposes the crime has
been traced to him, and he will have to
suffer for it, but asserts. that though i'm
plicated in it, he didnot commit the muir
der. The prisoner has two brothers who
resemble him very much, and several
parties have been arrested, who were at
the time; supposed to be Durfee, but
were afterward discharged on proof OF
their identity being produced. Durfee is
twenty-five years old, about five feet
nine inches high, and weighs about one
hundred and fifteen pounds. He has
white hair and eyebrows and pink eyes,
and would be taken for an Albino, so
near does he resemble one. His hairand
beard were colored when he was cap
tured, and he looks as if he was capable
of committing almost any crime. There
can be no doubt of his guilt. ~