Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1867-04-03
Another Fiendish Murder.

AEUtLST lOuulSu
On Monday evening March 10th, mos
diaboiical murder was committed near Slei
lines Mills, in Cecil township, Washington
county About eight O. clock in the evening
three incarnate devils visited the house Of
Mr.. David Sproul, and butchered him fol
his money-the paltry sum of about one
hur dred and twenty dollars, and two silver
watches. As MIR. Sproul went out of his
door for some purpose, one ofthese dew
lis stepped forward and asked him If he
could direct him to the nearest station or
the railroad He said yes, and very obli-
gingly went with the stranger along the lane
to pair of bars near the barn, about IL
rods from the house, to show him the way
across the f3lds to the township road
When they had gone about ten rods, the
two others came round the corner of the
house and followed after. When at the
bars they had knocked him down, and prob
ably struck him when down, as there is q
large pool Of blood there, and a consider
able quantity of hair sticking in the mud
close by II. They then led him back tO
the house, one supporting him on each
side. As he entered the door he was bleed
ing prolusely about the face and said TO
his maiden sister (who is about fifty years
81 age, and the only person living with hIm1,
i am badly hurt. One Of the villains
then seized her by the arm, took her out OF
the house, and around it into the other
house; took her up stairs and tied her
hands behind her back tied her feet to-
geJher: laid her on the bed and strapped
her tight TO the bedstead; told her to tell
where the money was or he would shoot
her. She told him all she knew. and then
he went to work ransacking THIS one had
hls face btached. He brought her out of
the house as the others entered She heard
them beating him with the tongs. He hal
ioed, and they said. Give us your money,
then. They continued to beat and cut him
until life was extinct. Then these two
black hearted fendS Joined their black faced
bFor1ler IN the search for money. They
tLeu demanded hers She said it was in
the house from which they had brought
her. The two houses stand ten feet apart,
aroot between them). They went back to
the place OF murder, took her money, help
ed themselves TO bread and cream, went to
the spring and washed, then left-leavin ing
Miss Sproul tied on the bed up stairs ia
one house, and tie corpse Of Mr.. Sproul on
the floor in the other. Thus things remain
ed Tor twenty hours-until four o'clok in
evening of the next day, when neighbor
came IN and found Miss Sproui tied on the
oed. lie cut her loose She fastened to
the other house in search of her brother
and there, o Cod Such scene as met
9er wondering gaze. As she entered the
qG9or, there lay the tongs, covered with
blood and hair. The chairs, the table, the
uISneS, the walls, all sprinkled with blood,
ana the door literally painted with it. From
Tue centre could be traced channel of blood
% one end Of the room and there it stood,
CORY heap, SO lately the hearts blood of
heT brother. As she turned her eye to the
TWgsht, tnere he lay covered with bed clothes
" men they were removed-O horror of hor-
TOTS! No less than / 5 separate and distinct
gaShes on his head and face his skull split
open his ,windpipe and jugular veins cut
every inch covered with blood, and his
r,Othing saturated with it. Here we drop
,ne "a curtain. ask, why this hcllish deed !?
WI oproul was man sixty five or seventy
!ears OF age and in feeble health. Any two
men OF ordinary muscular strength could
nave tied him without any risk of bodily
IaFm ~ The only solution we can give is,
,da' ma some one OF the party was known to
faa; sif: eProul' and when theya5iscovered that
iac'' the only alternative Vas, murder or
The safest plan hereafter will be to shoot
very stranger who comes to your door, be-
'eLnWeen the hours of dark aud daylight.
:. Vur Legislature should pass law making
IL the imperative duty of the CONN issioners
VI 1r every county in the Commonwealth to
3ler reward of, say FIVE thousand dollars,
-YF Inc arrest and conviction of every muir
Isler IN It, There would then be some in
Iu.ement a,I;. to policemen to engage in the pur-
NS4t