Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1866-04-13

~PnuADE1PHlA, April 12.-Full imports Of
- Dsssihg family murder show It to have
beea one Of the most horrible butchefies Of
he Hge. The spfees reporters ny that the
body Of the mother and three Of the child
rem were found In one corner Of the hrn,
near . small out heuse which communicated
by . hole through which the re-
mains OF the murdered vic4ims were brought
10 view. Il seems Al though the bodies
were thrown into one heap pell mel, and
then covered over with dirt and hay. The
u~nfortunates were most terribly mangled
about their heads. Anew, sharp and bloody
axe was found in the rear Of the dwellings,
which had been used to do the bloody deed.
All of the victims seem 10 have been struck
ON the left side Of the forehead, Just above
the eye, with the heel Of the axe, and then
with the blade the demon finished the hor
rible work by cutting the throats of all.
One Of the little boys was so horribly cut
that his head dropped of when his body |
was lifted up. The other boy, when dis
covered, had his right arm crooked and
partly raised, as though attempting to ward
of the blow that sent him into eternity.
The mother was defending her baby from
the attack Of the demon, when she was
mercilessly struck down. The babe had re
| ceived IN awful cut on the upper part of the !
breast, near the shoulder, almost severing
one Of its arms. and also another sharp cut
correct of the theories expressed is, that all
this dreadful work was done on Saturday
morning, during the absence Of Mr. Deer
ing. His body and Miss KeatiDg's, his
neice, were found alongside OF the barn,
not far distant from the spot where the 9th
ers were discovered. The bodies of MI.
Dcering and Miss Heating were covered
over with hay, with one Of his feet partly
sticking out. A little boy, aged IA years,
who lived with the family and worked upon
the farm, Is missing. 1t is believed he was
also murdered and his body thrown into a
deep we'll, or one of the many bitches that
abound in that section of the country. The
well on the premises was partly searched
last night. but no bottom could be reached.
The ditcnes in the vicinity Of the house
were also examined without discovering the
body Of the boy. The search is being re
sumed with vigOr.
The Ledger says. the more this murder Is
examined into, the more astounding does 1t
appear. A mother and her four children
are butchcred, it is supposed singly, after
being enticed from home and without leav-
ing any track of the hellish deed behind,
and then upon the arrival Of the husband
and niece, for them TO have been dealt with
in the same manner. and still no spot of
blood found in the house or yard, is indeed
surprising. The only rational theory that
we have. heard is, that upon the arrival of
Mr.. Deering and his niece he discovered that
his family Were not in the house, started az
ter them, and after leaving the house was
met bp the murdefers and slain. The niece
then, it 10 thought, followed hef uncle AMI
was In turn killed in the same manner. I'm
fortunately Il appears that the name of the
supposed murderer is not known by any Of
the neighbors, nor can any description be
given. 1t is only known at present that he
was a German lab0rsr. The excitement in
regard to the murder in the lower section Of
the city IL intense.
P~HnLADELPnIA, April 12.-An additional
victim to the horrible tragedy down on the
neck was discovered this morning. The
body of the missing boy was found under .
hay stack with his head smashed in with .
hammer, and his throat cut. Tie clothes Of
the supposed murderer have been found.
They are saturated all ovcr with blood.
The Buuetin gives the following descrip-
ton Of the supposed murderer: A German
named Anthony or Antoine, aged % to 80
years, heighth, 5 feet II inches, very muscu.
lar, light complexion, light hair, mustaclle
and goa.ce, pimples ON his face, round
shoulders, walks slowly, taking long strides,
and speaks imperfect English.
The police are making every effort to a.
| rest the murderer.