Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1868-06-11
Shocking Murder.


The Fredericksburg Herald obtains from an
informant who was on the ground the following
,,articnlars of the late horrible affair in Orange
County Virginia. Miss Mary Lumsden, tho
victim. had been an inmate of the house of
Reuben d. Herndon for twelve months. She
was about thirty years Of age. She disappear
ell the oath Of April. The Herald account
says:
Although diligent search had been made,
things remained in this unsatisfactory condl-
ton till the oath Of May, when Mrs James
Jacobs, who lives three-quarters Of mile from
where the body of Miss L. was afterwards
found saw her dog coming TO her. and dlscov-
ering blood On his feet, determined at once 10
find out where the blood came from. Calling
the dog. Mrs. J, hied him on, and following,
she was led direct to where the cody OF Miss
Iumsden Law There were three large logs
piled on the body, all of which were large Tor
any single man to handle. This was about
mile from where HerndUn lived, and, it should
be borne in mind, was at least mile and
half in the opposite direction from where Miss
Lumsden had been directed to 90 IN the letter
fpublished below which was found in her dress
pocket. and which HerndOn acknowledges TO
have written.
An inquest was heldon the body. DR.. John
Voolfolk, who made the examination, said the
womb had been cut out No traces Of the
child were found. but as a whole month had
elapsed. during which heavy rains fell and as
the spot showed unmiStakable evidences oil
having been visited by dogs and buzzards, TINS
fact is not singular. The body OF Miss l.. had
been proved upon, and one Of her arms was en-
tir,ly gone-probably dragged off by dog.
On the evening II the 24th-the day when
fuuud-Mr. Lumsdcn, the father, called on
Herndon. who was working Mt Mrs. Simpson ;
one mile and half from where II. lived
and asked him to % and see the body. Hern-
don declined and said he must 50 home.
The next day, when the inquest was beng
/ held, HerndUn declined going to the spot where
/ the body was found. until summoned. When
| he arrived there, the father Mr.. Lumsden, APP
preached Herndon and said You murdered
mydaughtcr" Herndon replied al did not
| The father continued " You cannot deny you
wrote that letter" Found below No
sir. ! did il" was the reply; whercupon the
father raised hickory stick and attempted to
! knock Herndon down, but was prevented 10y
! the magistrate, Mr. Richard Richards.
An old neck-tie belonging to Ilerndon was
found a few yards from where the body was
discovered, and the following has been furnish
ed US as a verbatim copy Except punctuation
of the letter found in the dress pocket of Miss
Lumsden. on the day her body was discovered
"Molile: Ihave tried everything that would
do any good, and do not know what better we
can DO than to runaway; they will find it out
any how, and | am going to take these oxen tc
/ Mr.. JohnsouS and he will pay me the money
! for them so rs soon rs | com back home you
can take your bonnet and shawl, and tell SUI
san YOU want something from homeabout dress
and when YOU get over to the woods, 90 down
| the patb little ways, and then turn to the left
and 90 down to that old fence that runs be-
tween the woods and pines, and hide yourself
so if any body should com along that theay
can't see YOU and then stay until Fife leaves
this evening, and will come out there, and by
the morning we viii be out of the reach of any
body around heare; when you leave the patti
do not let your tracks be seen, nor any wheart
through the pines, for fear they may find yot
before night now if you will do this, after yor
read il com in and bow your head do not lei
Susan see this or know anything about 1t
should ANYBODY scom while am gon to Mr.
Johnson's. do not let them see You fix If you
can help it.
When this was read in Herudon'S presence
he betrayed some emotion. During its read
ing he made the single remark: This is {
great burleSque on me-" There was no sigma
ture to the letter, but as Ilerndon admitted II:
authorship, alldoubtas to this point is removed
Susan. referred 10 in the letter is the wife o
Mr. Herndon, and Fife" a brother of thu
murdered girl, who was at Herndou'S engaged
in seeding oats.
1t appears that on the 24th-the day of th'
murder-Herndon took a yoke of steers, highly
priced by him, and for which he had been of
fered big price at one time, to Mr.. J. John
sons TO sell. Mr. J. observed jestingly that h
could not pay for them then. Herndon sale
? he would be ruined if he didn't get the none,
at-once. as the sheriff would take them if h
didn't sell them Mr.. J. paid him SIS TO
them, and they are said to be worth at leaS
$40.
Herndon married the daughter Of Mr. Saun
ders Mason, who is also a Baptist preacher, anC
highly respected.
Herndon himself is a carpenter, and not Al
ordained minister. Although he preached a
times he was not remarkable as a model t,
follow, and was regarded as a man Of more thar
ordinary timidity The impression in some
quarters is that he hired some one to commi
the fatal deed whilst others believe that h,
did it with his own hands.
Herndon remains in Jail, and is said by thos
who have visited him to be very cool and con
fdcnt. His trial will take pac in August
A few nights ago, he tried to break Jail, bu
was frustrated
Second Congressional District.