The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-11-22
BosroN, November Is, 1871.

PieeemeaI.
BosroN, November Is, 1871.
One OF the most brutal and inhuman
tragedies which ever Mortified any COM
munlty was enacted in Lynn, last night,
and is to-day the leading topic of con-
yersation IN that city. The actors were
q man named John G. Clinton, about
forty three years of age, a barber bv
trade, and his wife, who was made the
victim Of treatment that could only be
expected OF fend, she having been
shockingly beaten and then
LITERALLY ROASTED ALIVE.
The scene OF the affair was on How.
ard street, in one of the small wooden
houses which are set back from the
street, and accessible by means of mar
row alleywavs from the street. The
parties lived in the rear of No. 50, the
family consisting of Clinton, his wife
and tour boys, ranging in age from three
10 seventeen years. About half-past
eight o clock last evening two women,
named Margaret Brown ana Charlotte
Moody, who lived almost directly in
front of Clinton's house, had their at
tention called to the latter bv the sound
of heavy blows, screaming and groaning
which proceeded from it. As the
sounds increased the two women went
out and listened beneath the windows,
but the sounds suddenly ceased and all
was quiet. They then returned to their
houses, but in about fifteen minutes
were again disturbed By the same noises,
which they again sought to trace out
as before, but the sounds ceased as they
had previously done.
After this everything remained quiet
until about ten minutes past nine clock
when the same woman discovered that
the house was on fire inside. An
alarm was at once rsised, and three men
named David Lee, Frelinghusen Moody
and Fred Walton, rushed INTO the house
with buckets. On entering they found
that there was fire on table in the
front room, also in an entry way which
led up stairs, and pile in the middle
of the floor, consisting Of what
APPEARED 70 BE BUNDLE OF CLOTHING,
was also burning. On examining the
latter il was found TO be the body OF
Mrs. Clinton, horribly bruised and
burned in a most sickening manner.
The clothing was almost entirely burned
from the body, which was scorched and
roasted. The flames were put out with
some difficulty. One report Is that
while the men were endeayoring 70 e1-
tinguish the fire the poor victim threw
up one of her arms and breathed per
ceptib bly,, but another, and probably the
correct story, is that life had left the
BODY wnen it was discovered. About
three feet from the head of the victim lay
the fragments of kerosene lamp, which
had been borrowed from a neighhor on
that night, and traces of the oil were
also seen on different parts OF the floor.
CITY Marshal Barrett and two officers
went at once TO the place. Clinton was
STANDING OVER THE BODY OF HIS WIFE,
doing nothing, but appearing consider
ably affected. He was arrested, taken
10 the station house and locked up.
One of the sous, named Frank, lad
ten wears of rye, who was first TO enter
the house. saws that he had been at
tending an evening school that night
and had returned home Just as the fire
was discovered. He went into the house
and saw his mother burning on the
floor. Recollecting that his little
brother was probably upstairs abed, ne
rushed up and met his father coming
down. He found his brother, took him
down stairs and into a neigh boring
house. As soon as the flames had been
extinguished Coroner J. q. Pinkham
was called in, and he ordered the body
of the woman to be carried to the po-
lice station, which was Immediately
done.
The Coroner then summoned a jury,
who viewed the body and then adj
jourued.
APPEARANCE OF THE BODY.
The corpse presented a slckenlDg
sight. There were marks of violence
on the head, consisting OF two or three
cuts, looking as though they had been
made made with some dull instrument.
On the breast were also wounds which
appeared 10 have been caused by some
thing beside the flames. The features
were rendered unrecognizable, and the
hair was burned close TO the bead, Leav,
inc the skull bare and horribly crisped
and black, the flesh dropping from the
hands arms and body, rendering 1t
sight which could not be beheld without
a shudder at the awful atrocIty OF the
crime and the blackness OF the soul
that could execute 1t.
rgg HUSBAND AND PRISONER STORY.
The husband and prisoner has SAID
very little, but told brief story. l! iS
that he was in bed up stairs about nine
o clock, all being quiet, when ms NIUE
bow came rushing up and told MIN tha'
the house was on fire. lie went down
and found his wife lying on the floor IN
the condition in which she was iound
! bv the threee men.
The belief that the man Is guilty. Is
al,ost universal. One theory OF the
affair is that be had some d'hiI
with his wife, during which ne threw
tho kerosene lamp at her, striking heE
~ the breast and inflicting the wounds
rstsrr.d to that the oil scattered over
her clothing and the
:, MES WERE INHALED By THE VICTIM.
other people firmly believe that the
monster killed her by blows, ana tnen
actnallv set fire to the body, leaving II
az a1 bur1, His previous character has
been rather bad. He has been know wv.
in LYNN for upwards of twenty years;
10 hSu" po,antly a resident, and