Delaware State journal and statesman., 1869-09-14
rFrom the Hamilton tcanadal Spectator, srd'l
Extraordinnry Murder near Ottawa Sa'-
adn...WhO Did Ht2


A state OF the most painful excitement has
been produced in the public mind by the
nerpetration of foul and bloody murder on
Thursday night week, at Osgoode, thirteen
miles from Ottawa. The subject is now un,
dprpoing mapisterial investigation, and unVl
the results of that inquiry be made known
it would be obviously unfair to The suspecleu
man 10 indulge in any extended feula,es
upon the facts adduced as tending 10 ms
criminaton. But the general circumstancs5s
of The case are too important TO be omiileu,
and we therefore supply sufficient details 10
enable our readers to understand the story,
and TO appreciate more clearly the evidence
which has been or may be adduced. ln tne
| township of Osgocde, few miles ulslans
from Ottawa, lived family by tine naule u
Shaw, and consisting of the father, motnsI,
and two sons, with several servants anu "a
borers The elder Shaw owned Iafil con-
sislinr of about 200 acres, on which ne re- ,.
sided, and in working which all the iaiii'N
After spending the day in working, on
Thnrsdav last. the family met togelher US
,,a,,al in ybe evenlnr. About eigbt O'Clock,
Tohn The Younger son, lett the house WIN
the prolessed intention OF going 10 ms Deu III
The barn, and shortly after all the otuer Z, ln-
mates left the room, save the oiu man ono"
and Ills wife Shaw, il would seem, SUI
with his hack 10 the window, the pima OF
which was rolled up, and was in ihe act Oh
. reading His wife was moving about the
room. attending TO some domestc mu',ei .
when suddenly the quiet was dlslurpee og
The rrnort of n gun, the room instantly niieu
with smoke, and the old man. aller con
yulsiye leap from his seat, iell dead upon lue
floor, with frightlul wound IN y me l oaeA ~ VI
his head, from which the nloou noMed P,vl Pd
fnsely. An alarm was instantly ralseu anu
: the inmates of the farm were distulDeui Oul
0 no trace of the murderer could be lounu III
5 the immediate premises, and no very ac,lFe
8 search appears to have been ihaue e'se
, On the following day a Coroner's inquest
1 was held, when all the members oil the iali'-
- ily were called upon TO depose 10 sne laets
Il that they knew concerning the bioouy hlut- n,
e ance was elected beyond tie facts and CIR
al cumstances Of the MURDER and the jury re-
Ii turned verdict that the deceased person
.e Thos. shaw. came TO hil death by n leader
ID hnllet fired from gun by some person un
nr known them. This was sufficiently genera
IL and vague, and yet perhaps all mat lne epi
n, dence adduced at the time would WarrAn'
Is 1t was not sufficient, however, To- SATISFY th
10 nublic indignation; and, Immediately aile
e. The Coroner's inquest had closed, Johi
IS shaw, the younger son, was arrested an
he conveyed to the county jail. On the wa
Ie he manifested some violence OF temper, an
as once made an attempt TO escape me Gus
H. "a now undergoing examination in reieren &C
ife 10 this same young man. AT present nothih
ng but presumpiiye evidence is adduced again
as him, and that of not very clear anu COZ
as vincnE nature. .-....,...
mr.. All the circumstances of the murder,
me thus briefly indicated, are appalling; ana u
he enormity of the crime is increased by the q
art narant want Of motive for its preparation.
ith In many cases OF murder the motive IS
RS valuable as to afford at once reason,
len though not justification of the crime b
md here no motive is visible, and at present
circumstances have been mentioned SUI
in cient to indicate motive. According
ae- general testimony the murdered man was
re duiet. inoffensve old man, who llVeu up
lad good terms with his family and neighbo
lite steady and industrious in lIs habits, ane
cen member OF The Christian Church, IilssS
nee thnrefore. no prifnd fdcSe ground 10 susp
lief any person by reason OF misunderstahu
lce- or jealousy, or revenge, or even because
as religious prejudice, as we sometimes nnu
eral the case Of The wanton murders which
nos. committed in ireland. 1t is alleged that
was tween the old man and his son John, I'll
,ck. had sometimes been dispuiing, ana that
the latter has reason to be dissatisfied with sc
,he orrangements which had been made in re
tbe ance 10 the working and disposition OF
ight farm. But this, allowing it to DC true, q
we're not appear 10 be sufficient to originate
6 of motive for such ioui murger, unless' issns
ness decd, John shaw was one u 'he os'SI
the villains, and of that there Is no plool'
d il, fact that he alone oil the llmily was o o.
well the house at the time oil .he mulueI nla
wind pear little suspicious, but tnat & susp''
,ubt, must be strengthened by sonle o.nei
,wn; sumptive evidence before it can i4s'en
lrce. him a charge of guilt.