The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1867-03-23
From the PittsbuYg Commercial.l
HORRIBLE TRAGEDY

An Old Man Brufaliy Murdered
Money the Cause OF the Dced-Ons
Thousand Dollars Reward for the
Murderers.
We are called upon to record another
fearful tragedy, of more horrible
character than that committed at Boyd's
Hill over year ago. The scene of the
tragedy was at the house of Mr.. David
Sproul, located in Washington county
three miles from NoblestOwn, and two
miles and half from McDonald's Station
o. the Pan Handle Railroad, which is
about fourteen miles from this city
Mr.. Sproul and his unmarried sister
about fifty years of age, occupied the
house, which is half mile from any
other habitation. On Monday night last
about eight o'clock, three men, one. OF
whom had his face blackened, knocked
at the door of Mr.. Sprouts house, and
inquired the way to the Hempfeld rail
road. They were answered by Mr
Sproul, who went to the door for the
purpose of pointing out to them the dl-
rection to the railroad. AS soon as he
reached the door he was seized by two
of the men, who dragged him into the
kitchen and there brutaly murdered
him. The body was mangled in the
most horrible manner. His throat was
cut from ear to ear, his head cut across
the forehead, the knife run through both
cheeks, opening his mouth nearly the
full extent of his jaws, and was stabbed
below the eve. back Of the ear, and on
the top of the head.
simultaneously with seizing Mr..
Sproul at the door, the man who had
his face blackened rushed in, and catch
ing hold of Miss Sproul, dragged her up
to the garret, where he threw her on
the bed, and tied her with q rope, swear
ing at the same time if she made any
outcry he would murder her. The men
in the kitchen halloed to the man with
the blackened face, whom they called
California john" to kill her, but find
ing that she was securely fastened to
the bed they did not harm her.
The Williams then proceeded to ran
sack the house, as their purpose seemed
to be to get money. They searched the
garret and found box secreted, which
they broke open. They took from the
box all the money. in it-one hundred
and sixteen dollars, and two silver
watches. There was also in the box
notes to the amount of over twenty-five c
thousand dollars. but being Of no use
to them, they left them strewn upon
the floor. The wretches, having secur-
ed all the money in the house, then fled,
leavi ng Miss. Sproul tied on the bed,
She remained in that position until
two o'clock the next (TuesdayC after
noon, when aneighbor, who had come to
the house to get some milk, heard her
screams and released her. Upon being
loosened, she was so PROSTATE that she
could scarcely stand.
Justice of the Peace johnson, of
Washington county, on Wednesday at
ternoon, empancled ajury and proceed,
ed to hold an inquest on the body OF
Mr.. Sproul. After hearingth evidence
of several witnesses. the inquest was
adjourned until yesterday afternoon.
No clue whatever to the murderers
has been obtained. A reward of one
thousand dollars for their apprehension
has been offered by the relatives of the
deceased Miss Sproul thinks that she
can recognize the murderers. She says
that the man with the blackened face
could not have been stranger in that
locality, rs he seemed to know all about
the house. About two weeks since, Mr.,
Sproul had two thousand dollars in
money at home, which he wished to
loan at interest, and the murderers,
probably learning of this, went to his
house on Monday night with the eIpec-
tatioA of getting that sum. The de-
ceased, however, had loaned the money
to his brother few days since. q ..i
Mr.. Sproul, the deceased, was an un-
married man, of about fifty five or sixty
years of age. The body was buried yes
terday.