Smyrna times., 1866-04-18
Murder I'm Philadelphia

Seven Persons Fiendishly Murdered-Four
Children and Three Adults the Kctims-Ter- |
ys6le Brutality. r,A
The Philadelphia Ledger gives the following
particulars of terrible tragedy in that city dis
closed ON Wednesday evening, and supposed
to have been perpetrated on Saturday last, by |
which seven persons persons were fendishiy
murdered: i
The names of the victims and their ages are
as follows Christopher Dearing- 40 years Ju-
liza, his wife, 35 years; Elizabeth Dolan, the
niece, 25 years; John Dearing, 8 years; Thom-
as Dearing, years Anna Dearing, 4 years
Emily Dearing, years. These constituted the
entire family except the oldest child, William
Dearing, who was at the timetortunatey visit
ing his grandfather, William Duffy, in West
Philadelphia. 1t appears that Alr. bearing
occupied farm on Jones's lane, some distance
from the Point House road. He had been
resident of the neighborhood for twelve or ff-
teen years, and is represented to have been an
intelligent, industrious and reputable citizen,
and at times is said to have considerable sums
of money about him, but did not keep much in
the house, except on occasions of necessity
Besides his own family he had hired man
living with him, whose name none of the resi-
dents thereabOuts could give; also lad, called
Cornelius, seventeen years old, who was
bound to Mr. D1aring, and had been with him
seven or eight years.
The last seen of Mr. Dearing alive was on
Saturday last, when he came to the city on busi-
= ness. After transacting his business, he seems
to have driven to his house with his niece, who
had been spending few days at Burlington
with some friends
/, The country in which the farm is located is
a very retired spot, and the nearest house is
nearly a quarter of mile off.
Since Saturday all had been quiet at the
farm hut no ono undarfnot IN aSanrtain thf
reason until Tuesday, when a friend of Mr.
, Dearing went to the house and found it fasten
ed up, but etfecting an entrance the interior
was found not entirely in order. The barn anC
stable were then visited, and in the former tht
foot OF man was seen protruding from unde
pile of hay, and this removed, the murdered
body OF MIR. Dearing was uncovered and tina
of his niece also. Both were in full dress, h
having even his gloves on, and both had thei
u heads nearly severed from their bodies. TIL
pockets of his pantaloons had been turned in
side out, and his body seemed to have bee
searched, as if for money belt The bodie
= had been doubtless carried there and the ha
; piled over them to prevent immediate discovery
The other bodies were found in corn-crib al
= tached to the barn, the mother and four chi
|. dren all lying together, and all, as Mr.. Dearin
r. and niece were, with their thrOats cut and the
/ bodies con ,ealed under pile of hay. Prob;
l. Dly more shocking SlSnC was never seen ina
the mother and her murdered children, aftt
N they had been removed from the crib. One
the children was mere babe, less than tW
% years old, whose innocent face was sufhcien
ar one would have thought, to have moved eve
At the brutal murderer's heart to pity. The SINE
from the bodies was quite offensive from d
composition.
Everything about the premises was found
" be in perfect order except in the house. He
s. there was evidence Of close search for valuable
It, drawers were pulled out, and the top of an ol
ed fashioned clock removed in the pursuit Of mo
IL ey.
The supposition was that all the victims h
IS been carried to the places where they were d
m covered. The disappearance of the hired m
es and ofthe boy Cornelius led to suspicion agair
Ie- them. The hired man had been only she
ry time with Mr.. Dearing, and is not known
le- many of the neighbors The body of the b
it named Cornelius Carey was found under t
1t. haystack.
The hired man was arrested in the city
an Thursday last. His name is Antoine Prob
lly He is a German, aud has been in the army.
IL When arrested he had on some of Dearin
IN clothing, which, with other articles in his p
ity session, was recognized by Mrs. DIS motht
is, also the prisoner. He has made partial cC
fession.