The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-04-03

dwelt, Mr.. Funston informed Ofaoer Eli f.
Newman, Of the ninth police district, OF the
| message. The latter ran to the dwelling, No.
| 015 Judson-street. q small thor ,ughtare which
| ty-third and Twenty fourth streets: He tried
| the front door, but it did not yield; he rang
| the bell, but there came no response; be ran
around to he rear of the row OF dwellings,, and,
| leapjng over the fence, hurried mp to the
| kitchen window. Tho shutters he found bow
! ed, but he pulled these apart, raised the sash
and looked in. Wha. horrible picture greet
| ed him. one CHASTITY that the remembrance
Of it will live long in his memory. He saw
lying upon the floor woman with her head
| terribly gashed and covered with blood; lying
their features mutlated and their heads rest
ing upon their dead mothers clothes.
This is the theory Of the manner in which
the murder was committed. At an early hour
from where she was sleeping in one OF the
upper chambers, and, dressing herself com
pletely, went down into the kitchen. Whether
Blackstone went down with her at the time, or
subsequently, Is o question which no mortal
can solve. Procuring her kindlng, she emptied
and and then put on the coal: While bending over over
AMI, raising al, axe, which he had procured,
struck her terrible blow. The sharp edge OF
the instrument ut frightful cash in the wo-
mans right cheek, and crashed through her
jaw, almost severing. it completely from the
rest of the bony structure Of her face. As the
victim raised her head, the murderer again
raised the axe and struck her. the IN
neck. severng the windppe and chipping the
spinal column. She could make no strug gle
for death must have been too sudden. The
little boy, Lee may have 1un down when his
mother did, and have seen the enactment OF
this part OF the tragedy, or he may have been
called from the room above by his mothers
cries. However. he came into the kitchen. and
the murderer catching his little son, beat his
ha rO1a OF ha i.,in int
the dining room whore his beautiful little three
year old daughter lay, he murdered her by
beating The skull until it's bony structure was
entirely shattered.
After the tragedy was enacted, the MUIR
derer-the husband of the one and the father
Of the two other vctims-dld not seek in any
stepped back into tho Sitchen, however, and
taking the body of his wife, still warm and
covered with blood, laid it out upon the bare
floor. with the head lying towards the window
opening upon the side alley. Then taking the
mutlated bo 1y of his son, he stretched it out
upon the same floor, but partly on it's face, and
With his head resting upon the mothers hips.
bleeding form Of his little daughter. whose fea-
tures= although set rigid in death, wore
q sweet, pleasant smile, and carrying it
into the. Kitchen, placed it beside the form
evade too hasty discovery. The current Of
blood which welled from the gashed throat of
his wife was running towards the kitchen door,
and fearful that it might course through under
the door. he rolled up white table cloth and
laid it across the floor, so that the bloody tide
would be stopped. Then gong to the SINK, he
took a small rag and with the aid OF water
placing upon the sink boiler which might
have bsen standing in his way, he left the
scene Of his fendlsh butchery, and putting on
his clothes passed out the front door. which he
thoughts Of the terrible crime he could not
eHace. He acted strangely-like one who did not
know what to do-aS il his mlnd was confused.
While passing on in this manner an officer Of the
ninth pOlic3 district accOsted him. He respond
ed in so unusual aud strange tone that he
was taken in custody-the officer believing
him insane. Learning that he was to be taken
to the stati IN, Blackstone broke away from his
custOdians and dashed down street, evading
all pursuit; on he went, now running, now
walking quickly. until he reached Chestnut
street wharf. The sight of the water did not
wharf, and before hand could be given to his
rescue. he plunged in o the water, to rise once,
twice. and then sunk. The morning papers of
Yesterday all chronlc!cd the death, by drown
ing, of man named blackstone" but none
then knew that this act was the finale to the
most shocking tragedy that had occurred since
the Dee1ing family was butchered. -.a4
tlcut, IN 1884, His wife, Isabella Lee, was born
in Madison, in the came State Their m marriage
was solemnlzed on the Sd Of December, 1857.
About fourteen months ago Blackstone came
to this city, and Immediately became associa-
ted with Mr.. Funston in the manufacture of
gilded frames, at No. 912 Market street. Ever
since his arrival a deep melancholy began
to manifest itself, and though he did every
thing to secure the enjoyment of his children
and his wife, whom he seems to have deeply
loved. still he reaped none of that pleasure
ing man, strong, heathful. and with good
moral qualities everything indeed to make
man loved end respected; but he could not
shake off that heavy broodinE spirit. In the
dUnk lvvNrp H.,
many costly articles Of jewelry, such as gold
watches, rings, bracelets, &c.