The native Virginian. [volume] (Orange Court House, Va.) 1867-187?, 1868-12-25


A most diabolical attempt was made
night before last by party of negroes
to murder and rob the house of Andrew
Shurman, German dairyman, who
lives on the Nine Mile road, near bat
terry No. B, about mile from<the cor-
poration line, The circumstances are
as follows:
About halt-past ten O'Clock Shurman
and his wife had retired to bed, but lett
their light burning. They heard shot
/ fired Immediately at the back-door OF
their house, and in an instant another
was fired. Shurman jumped up and
picked up a horse-pistol which he had
| in his room, and went TO the door. He
opened it and Saw two nrgro men stand
Ing very near it. He fired his pistol at
them, without aim, and shut the door as
| quickly as he could and locked. He
seized his gun, and as he did so the door
was forced open and the two negroes
ru she'd into the room. They seized his
gun before he could use it, wrenched 1t
out of lis hands, and began to beat him
over the head. His wife who had been
partially conce lied by the door as it
stood open, seeing that her husband
was being murdered, got out OF bed and
came to his assistance. He was by this
time insensible.
AS she came up one of the negroes
turned ane dealt her death blow on
the forehead. which fractured her skull
and rendered her inseusible. Having
thus killed as they thought, Shurman
and his wife, they proceeded with their
work of plumber.
Shurman'S consciousness was restored
to a sufficient extent yesterday after
noon for him to form an idea of the ex-
tent of their depredations. He found
that they had stolen about 50 80 in mo-
ney, his coat, the bedclothes off of the
bed and a quantity ofneat. They also
carried oft gun with which they had
beaten the man and his wife. and took
rifle which they found in the corner,
but dropped it in the yard.
AS soon as the condition of the par
ties was known, DR.. Waring and DR..
Brauer, from HOward's Grove hospital,
were sent tor. When DIR. Waring
reached the house he found and excited
crowd OF three or tour hundred people,
armed in various ways, who expressed
the determination to find the murder
ers and thieves and bring them to JUS
tice.
A negro boy who lived at Shurman's
and his father, Frank Taylor were ar
rested and lodged in Jail.
Mrs. Shurman recovered her consci-
business yesterday morning, and said
there were five negroes III the parity
She grew worse towards night and last
night at 10 O'Clock, was delrious, and in
a precarious condition. She complains
much of pain and soreness about her
body, and it is supposed that she was
beaten after she was knocked senseless.
Shurman says he can identify the
negroes who attacked him If he can see
them. DR.. Brauer remained with the
wounded people last night. Shurman
had three severe wounds on his head.
There is great excitement over the
dabolical affair in the neighborhood,
and no effort will be spared to find the
of it and bring them to JUS
tice.
1t is not surprising that such ou:rages
are committed when Underwood has de-
cided that we have no courts competent
to punish the perpetrators of them, and
when he sets at liberty convicted felons
who are brought before him. If he will
not allow the courts of the State to pun
ish murderers, thieves and incendiaries,
we hope the military will see to it that
they are not permitted to go unwhipt
of justice. .-ERq. and EraDirer, Dec. IL.