The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-11-24
A VIRGINIA H0RB OR.

u
He Is Committed for Triai-Excitemeut
Among the People-yhreats of Lynching
the Alleged AIurderc,r-Theory of the Ira
gedy-A Cine 10 It's observation-disclosures
rion with the Criainal-His Arrest and
Commitment TO Jail.
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va, Nov. 81, 1869.
Tne preliminary examination OF John Henry
Salmon, charged with the double crime OF fratrcide
ana matrfcde, has Just been concluded before Jus
tlce Thornley,, and the prisoner has been committed
for Indictment by the Grand Jury OF Abemare
county, bail being refused.
Since the discovery OF this atrocIous and inhuman
murder the morning OF the 5th inst the greatest
excitement has prevailed among the people, not
only In the immediate neghborhood, but throughout
the entire country. Public feeling was shocked
and incensed at the enormity and horrible bar
barity OF the crime that threats of summary
vengeance were freely uttered should The perpe
trator OF the deed be found but every EFFORT in this
direction Jailed unu the detective Craddock, from
Richmond, made his appearance upon the scene.
With the usual secrecy and with the most commend
able zeal he set about ferreng out the awful mys-
terry then oppressive the community over which
1t had brought an appalling gloom. The officer, or
bloodhound OF the law, quietly surveyed the pre-
muses., noted accurately the positions Of the muir
dered woman and her son they lay weltering In
their gore, observed the singular conduct or John
nenr- Salmon the son and brother; investigated
the manner in which ne had spent the previous
evening aud subsequent night, and coupling all the
circumstances with the knowledge that he desired
TO get full possession OF the property the detective
arrested HIM as the murderer or his mother and
brother. This occasloned additional and intense ex
element, and the people were only restrained from
taking the law In their own hands by the counsel Of
some men or influence VINO ye5 entertained
os In ha u1f Of
all this craving for vengeance, amounting almost TO
thirst for the blood OF the murderer, ana the exist
ing doubt as TO his guilt the prisoner was conveyed
10 Charlottesville and lodged III jail, and since then,
IN consequence OF the developments at the examna-
uon, there has been no abatement whatever OIL popu-
lar Indignation, winch Is now centred upon the
alleged criminal. so violent Is this that IL liberated
the prisoner would pay tne penal, OF his crime AZ
the hanos OF an outraged community.
THE SALMON FAMILY
native Virgnlans and old residents of Albemarle
county, where they were esteemed anu respected 10y
all VINO knew them. Three years ago t..e father
dled, leaving his WIDOW aud two sons, John Henry
and Luther Salmon, in comfortable though
not atuent circumstances. The farm upon which
they llved is located about four miles IRON keswlck
depot and eight from here, and consists vi
about 100 acres, good portion OF which
was IN .oa cultivation HAVING gpoh an
supplied Trult Tor the dstIllatlon vi large
quantity OF brandy annually. the residence Is an
from the public road 1t is q one story buding,
with two rooms ON the first moor staircase ieao.
d,
and with shed room attached to the left, beneath
when is a cellar. In the latter place the brandy
was stored, while the shed room above served as a
receptacle for general lumber and farm tools, and
the remainder oil the house was occupied by the
family. AS lar as known by nelghDors tue utmost
good feeling existed among the members OF TINS
small family since the death OF the father. No
had ever heard OF them quarrellng, much less that
angry words mad passed between them. IL was
true that John Henry the oldest brother nad
become, at the OF tue war, somewhat absolute
In his habits, keeping low company ana INDUCING III
which soon involved hun IN debt; but though tais
was matter OF regret on the part OF his aged mother
and younger brother, IL was not the SUBJECT OF bad
teelng dlssenslon. Regardless, however, OF tine
grief ccasloned his mother and OF the straits
which his dissipation reduced them John salmon
c0nGnued his bad course until his credit was ex-
hausted and he was threatened with lawsuit for
the recovery OF debts he had incurred. Bankrupt IN
all other means there was nothing left but the farm,
OF which he was part owner, To satisfy his credit
ors; bnt sooner than sacrifice this he made deed OF
conveyance 10 his brother winch saved ii from the
hammer OF the auctloneer This was about eighteen
months ago, and II now seems, IRON the terrible
sequel that ne not Only regretted tue transfer OF his
own share 10 his brother but Ihat ne coveted the
possession Of the entire property.
A DEyELoPMLNT
which was seized upon as au essential clue TO the
establishment OF Jonn Salmon's guilt was the TACT
that no later than month since he consulted law
yer named Bremond as TO the disposition OF the pro-
perty In the event Of The death or his mother and
brother He seemed doubtful that he should become
the heir since he had made the deed Of TRANSFER TO
his brother; but when his legal adviser assured him
he would become sole proprietor at the demise OF
II Is believed from that moment he resolved upon
the OF the deed winch resulted the ter
rloe tragedy OF the 4h inst. Little s known OF his
conduct towards his mother and brother during the
month preceding the murder lie Kept his awful pur-
pose locked WITHIN his own breast and many think
he merely awaited lifting opportunity TO carry 1t
into execution winch on Thursday evening last pre-
sented Itself
EXISTING THEORY OF THE MURDER
Early on that tragic day Luther Salmon rode over
to keswlcz depot for the purpose OF ransactng
business. Among other purchases that he made
VIZ lfy ut nOflG U1 fnh hl main far mini
ing at the time small amount OF money, supposed
TO be some Blk or seven dollars. TINS he carried
home with him. From the best sources OF tnfotma-
ton Luther arrived at his mothers mouse shortly
before shutdown. There was nobody upon the pre-
nises at the time Luther returned except John and
his mother. Stephny Wright, a colored man. who
resided at Mr.. Rothwell's three-quarter OF a mile
distant had been there, and mad been requested by
John salmon to accompany hun TO a corn-shucklng
that night about three miles or He told hum he
had something TO DO and could not go, ana after
seeing John salmon iced his horses he tWrehD
went home. After stabllng and feeding his
horse, Luther, II is supposed, entered the house,
where he found John. nrs. Salmon III tins time was
without the house gathering some chips Of wood In
her apron TO light fire. The opportune moment
had arrived Tor tine assassns work. IL was between
sunset aud dark-a sort OF twilight that successfully
concealed the stealthy movements OF tue murderer.
In an instant Luther salmon was ieled TO tile ground
Dy blow from monkey wrench on The temple,
which was followed by another the back Of the
mead, both breaking the scalp ana crushing III the
Skull. Alone with his first victim stood the muir
derer IN awful silence for lew moments which was
at length broken by the aged mother, who appeared
on the threshold OF the door with the chips III ner
apron supported by both arms. Win a
cry OF horror when she beheld her muir
dered son Mrs. Salmon rushed from the
apartment probably with view TO give
the alarm aud sim holding the cnIps. she had
reached the adjoining room when the murderer
overlook her and another powerful blow from the
same murderous instrument, dealt by her unnatural
OFFSPRING, sent her reeling 10 the grould-a corpse.
But tne hend's work was not finished. lie repeated
the blow upon the head OF MS mother wan such
force as 10 make her white hairs cling TO the wrench
Blood Blood oozed from tue heads Of both the victims
from the wounds, the and the nostrls. Return
Ing TO the room where lay has first victim, the
murderer rineu his pocketbook. He took the six or
seven dollars 1t contained aud then replaced the
empty pocketbook where he found IL, and CARRYING
the wrench IN his hand, he lett the house OF death
The wrench he deposted just without one OF the
front doors and close 10 the house one OF the WIN
dows and BON the front doors open.
THE CORN sHUCKiNG.