The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1867-05-30
The Marder Of smith WILSON.

q We have received two letters
from Germantown, Tenn. on the
subject ofthe assassination of our
late fellow-citizeu, Smith Wilson.
The object Of the writers of these
letters Zone Rev. B. Miller, and
the other a Capt D. D. Carr, late
Ofthe Federal army was to remove
the impression that must naturally
have arisen in the minds of the &C.
quaintances of Mr.. Wilson, that
his murder was the work of some
hster of the North, and the result
of passions engendered by the re-
bellion. Such was the impression
under which we wrote our first
paragraph relating to the affair
not conceiving it possible, that in
the case ola man Of the Unknown
characterof Smith Wilson, any mo-
tive of personal hostility or re.
venge could have had any thing to
do with it. This impression proves
TO have been entirely erroneous in
the case referred to-and we are
glad to be able to publish tho most
authentic statement Of the circum.
stances attending the murder that
it is now possible TO procure. This
abatement is contained in a letter
from a member of Mr.. Wilson g
family, which has been kindly fur.
nished us by DR.. Boerstler, Of this
city. We select this in preference to
the letters first above mentioned, for
the reason that they contain moth
ing material to a correct under-
standing Of the affair which this
extract does not give. We will
add that none can be moro greatly
rejoiced than we at the indications
of regard and sympathy shown by
the neigbbors Of the bereaved fam
lily, in their efforts in their behalf,
aud to bring 10 justice tho perpc-
traitor of the dastardly murder
II would be gratifying, in an
immsasurable degree to be able 10
believe in the prevalence Of a simi-
lar feeling throughout the South
We quote from the letter referre
to as follows:
"On Monday morning our boys
were passing the Gin House, and
noticed the steople had been drawn
from the Lint-room. Upon exam.
lining they found that a quantity
of oats, cloverseed and chop were
missing. Fresh foot prints of men,
horse aud mule were seen, and
Father and Frank followed these
through woods, fields and swamps,
and occasionally found small quan
titles Of oats. At the ond of fvc
miles these indications camo to an
end, at a house. They then re.
traced their steps to our home. The
noxt morning Father referred the
matter to few friends, prominent
and prudent men of our neighbor.
borhood, who wero exceedingly in.
indignant and urged Father To
tako out 4 search warrant imme.
diately, and they would aid in fer
reting out the thief. Next morn
ing peace officer and others with
Father proceeded to tho suspected
house, and found part of the mis-.
sing articles. Many ouso.holders
in that vicinity invited the officer
to search their promises, and were
anxious to detect tho thief; his was
the only familyrofusing tho osearch
On tho return homo Father seated
himself on the sofa near q window
and cheOrfully spoke to mother
who sat near him, the children in
the room. Tho report Of n pisto
was heard ; Father sprang up
walked for tho door, turned round
fell on the floor, gave one groar
and bis pure spirit had fed. no q
lifelcss corpse, The neighbors were
soon around, white and black
armed, and searched tho vicinity
Other parties soon arrived and the
whole country was thoroughly
secured, but the murderer moi
found, The planters and othori
did all that tho most loving friend,
could, to 1nd the perpetrator, .an(
TO us offered all aid and consolation
The excitement has spread through
out the country. The planters
though greatly pressed in thei
finances, have offered large ro
ward, and dispatched detectives
into Alabama, Arkansas, Mississip
pi, ETC., to apprehond tho assassin
No time, labor or expense spared
and all kindness and tenderness
given to tho Stranger family" W,
know that neither sectional feel
ing, or hatred to the Northern
peoplohad anything to do with th
murder Of our dear Father. w
are sorry-sorry in iced that som
Of the Northern people regard !
as sectional, for Il was done througl
personal revenge alone"
ROant1 n..I..