Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1867-05-01
A Romance of Crime.

BLANDvILLE, Ballard County, KY, April
I2.-Ihe usual quiet OF this little village
has been disturbed by an incident OF great
moment to US, and one which forcibly illus
trates the old sayings that murder Will
out and "a woman can not keep secret.
About eleven years ago there came to this
county, and settled about five miles from
this town, a man named Hudson, of South
Carolina, In which State he abandoned his
wife and three children. One Of his neigh
bors, named Belcher, was the father of two
buXom daug ghters, between the younger of
whom, aged fifteen, and Hudson, there
sprang up an intimacy, which resulted III
the seduction Of the girl.ss
Nine years ago, this month, Hudson COM
mitted suicide, and was found in the garret
of his house, hanging by the neck, his knees
touching the floor. He must have commit
ted the deed some four or five days before
his body was discovered, as the remains had
commenced to decay. and one side OF the
face and ear were much eaten away by the
rats. A Coroner's inquest was held over
the body, and verdict of suicide returned.
One of the jurors, however, noticed some
thing like u piece of iron in the ear OF the
deceased, but did not examine it very minute
| ly, nor did he mention the fact for some time
after The younger Belcher girl married a
man named McNabb with whom she had
| since lived very happily, Notwithstanding
she became mother III a few months after
marriage. The family prospered; the older
sister likewise married, and was much re-
| spected none of the nelghbors having aught
to say against either of the girls. But there
was skeleton in both households, and the
sisters, as they plodded along the journey Of
! life, were continually harassed by fears and
| 1,,,btr ao.b tp low tha "
ions which haunted their minds.
\ few weeks since, during a fit of des-
| pOndency, the younger sister dlvulged to a
neighbor the terrible secret which had so
long weighed upon her conscience and made
her life a torment: it was that herself, with
her sister aud husband, had murdered HUd-
SOM Her story was, that in company with
McNabb, whom she afterwards married, and
her elder sister, she called upon Hudson,
and telling him Of her situation, upbraided
him with her betrayal Hudson attempted
to laugh away the affair, and for the first
time informed her Of his being a married
man. This incensed both the sisters and
McNabb, all of whom commenced an as
sault upon Hudson, as had been previously
agreed upon In case he refused to render
Justice to the girl he had so f6ully wronged.
Hudson was easily oVerp0wered, and killed,
by driving into his ear portion OF the iron
spindle belonging to spinning wheel
After the murder was accomplished, the
body was taken to the loft of the cabin. anC
left hanging By the neck, as 1t was found
several days thereafter. The woman tC
whom this fearful secret was impaired. dl
; vulged the facts before the grand jury al
the present term of TIE circuit court, who
at once found bill against McNabb, his
wife, and sister law, and on yesterday Il {
parties were arrested brought to this town
and placed in jail The women are both de
cidedly good looking but their countenan-
ces seem to indicate that they have no hope.
This is one of the most singular cases that
has ever come before any court in Kentucky
and shows that oft times truth is stranger
than fiction"