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

dwelt. MIR. Funston informed Officer Eli +.
Newuam, of the ninth police district, OF the
message. The latter ran to the dwelling. NO
S15 Judson-street, a small thor ,ughfare winch
runs north from Brown-street, between Tweu.
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; ne ran
around to The rear of the row OF dwellings,: anu,
leaping over the fence, hurried up 20 tne
kitchen window The shutters he found DOW
ed, but he pulled these apart, raised the sasn
and looked in. What horrible picture greel-
ed him, one 40 ghastly that the remempfance
of it will live long in his memory. nc saI
| living upon the floor o woman Win neI heau
terribly gashed and covered with Diood' EinS
upon her left were two little children, VIII VIII
their features mutllated ana cIothaa Sne ea''
Th;s ia the theory OF the manner IN winch
| tho murder was committed. at an early nour
m Monday morning Mrs. Blackstone got up
from where she was sleeping IN one OF tne
upper chambers, and, dressmg nefSeu U,, othn- I'LL
nietely. went down into the Kitchen. Whetner
RRlackstone went down with her at the time, or
subsequently, is a question which no mortal
can solve. Procuring her kindling, she emptled
the crate of the range, placed the @ood
and then put on the coal. While bending over
the range, Blackstone etepped up behind her,
and, raising all axe, which ne had procured,
struck her terrible blow. The sharp edge Oh
the instrument .ut frightful cash In the wo-
mans right cheek, and crashed through her
Jaw, almost severipg 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
strument this time burying itself into the
neck, severing the windoipe and chipping tne
spinal column. She could make no struggle
for death must have been too sudden. Inc
little boy, Lee, may have Iun down when his
mother did, and have seen the enactment OF
this part Of the tragedy, or he may nave peeh
called from the room above by ms motner
cries. However, he came into the kltchen, ana
the murderer catching his little SOD, beat hls
brains out with the pole OF the axe. Holng INTO
the dining room where his beautiful little three
wear old daughter lay, be murdered her by
beating the skull until its 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 victims-dld not seek In any
manner to cover up the terrible CRIME. ne
stepped back into the fitchep, 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
mutilated boiy Of his son, he stretched IL out
upon the same floor, but partly on its face, and
with his head resting upon the mothers hlps.
Then, going into the dining room, he lifted the
bleeding form of his little daughter, whose fea-
lures, although set rigid;y in death, wore
sweet, pleasant smile, and carrying it
into the kitchen, placed it beside the form
of the boy. Only in one way dld ne Try 10
evade a 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, 30 that the bloody tide
would be stopped. Then going to the sink, he
took small rag and with the aid OF water
cleaned his hands Of their red stains. Then
placing upon the sink boiler which might
scene of his fiendish butchery, and putting on
his clothes passed out the front door, which he
closed and walked down tho street. But the
thoughts uf the terrible crime he could not
efface. He acted strangely-like one who did not
know what to do-as il his aind was confused.
While passing on in this manner an ohcer OF the
ninth police district aocosted 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 MS
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
stop him, but stepping on to the edge OF the
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 chronlcIed the death, by drown
ing, of a man named Blackstone" but none
thon knew that this act was tho finale to the
most shocking tragedy that had occurred since
the Deeriug family was butohered.
The murderer was born in Brantford, Connec-
ticut, in 1882. His wife, Isabella Lee, was born
in Madison, in the,same State. Their marriage
was solen.nlzed oyRhe I'd Of DStember, 1851:
About tonrteep6 nnths ago glalstouo came
to this city, an samed edlatey became associa-
ted with hr. 6ston in the manufacture OF
gilded trs-,at No. sl2 Market street. Ever Ever
since his ara)h deep melancholy. began
to manifest itself, and though he did every
thing to the enjoyment 70 Of bays hi, dse1
loved. still be reaped none of that pleasure
which he gave to others. BE was fine look,
ing man, strong, healthful. and with good
moral qualitiesSeverything indeed to make
man loved and respected; but he could not
shake off that heavy eroodinE spirit: In saas the
many Costly articles of jewelry, such as gold
watches, rings, bracelets, Go.