Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1871-12-29
A MURDERER AT BAY.
Horrible Crime near Boston Wife
Stabbed Thfrty-HVe Times by her
Husband-The Murderer Shot f>cafl.

Not long ago William Venncr, aged 80.
and his wife, aged 20, came from Maine 81
reside i'll Lynn, Mass. The man drank, 2id
the couple did not live happily together.
They resided with Venner's sister. a Mrs.
Caswell. On Wednesday night, the 18Th
inst, Mr.. and Mrs. Nenner left there and
found board with Mrs. ROundy, ~ 1870
Adams street. \ day two ago e!ineF
told his wife that he had left of drinking,
and obtained from her about forty dollars
in money, with part of which lie fought a
4. large dirk knife. Saturday morning there
seemed no new trouble between The cou-
pie, but on the contrary they seemed to
harmonic perfectly. Shortly after break
! fast Venner went down into the cellar to
/ split some wood for his landlady. While
, there, and at about 10 o'clock, Mrs. Fenner
also went down one flight Of stairs, but des-
cended no farther, as it was on this floor
that she met her cruel death. 1t is opposed
that she had started to go down st sirS and
was met by her husband, who was coming
+ up from the cellar
Mrs. Conway, who lives on the lower
| floor, heard loud screams coming from the
entrv-way at the foot of the stairs, which
! was separated from her only by one door,
and which also had a door opening Oh the
! etreet. Mrs. Conway rushed to the door
! and saw Mrs. Venner stru Sgling in the
/ grasp of her husband, who held her by the
! hair with one hand, while with the other
| he held the dirk above referred to, with
! which he was dealing murlcrous stabs
about the head and neck Of the WOman-
Mrs Conway rushed into the street, shrek
ing in terror. An old man named Ares
went to the front door and attempted to
push it open. He was met by the mlndel-
er, who was then s,auding over his wife,
! from whom lif. had not yet dcpaI1ed. Ven
ncr waved his knife threateninely, and said:
! ''Damn you, don't you come i'll here The
old man Immediately rctreated.
TIE MUEDERER'S ESCAPE AND CAPTURE.
A moment more the murderer flung open
tie door and walked cO0lly forth. Mrs.
Conway shouted The s the man, stop
him - but although by this time h>it Il
dozen persons We're attracted to the spot, ell
were Mortified, and no one stirred. Nenner
then ran away to the woods. An alarm
was given, and a large detachment Of thc
city police repaired to the house to learn the
circumstances of the case and institute
search for the murderer. Their efforts
soon proved successful, for an hour after the
commission of the crime they had found lis
perpetrator in the woods, III Rocks Pasture,
in the rear of the house. lie showed fight,
and attempted to escape. His eyes glitterel
like those of Il wild animal, ;ulI b;da his
pulSuero stand off.
The officers pressed fOrW ard. The rcnziad
man saw that there was nothing left him
but to cut his way through, aul this he at
tempted at the risk of his life. Starting
madly from Lhe tree against which he bad
been leaning, dirk in hand, hc rushed
through the tlironG. Officer Goodrich tried
to check him in his progress; hjtt i; WAS
useless Officer ThIrstou stood ii his way.
but Nenner attacked the off 'cr aud with
the force 0t his onset threw Mi. Thur5toIi
upon his back, stabbin@ hin. rct,eutedl,
with the dirk in the back of his head. One
Of the wounds laid the left check Of Mr..
Thurston wide open, and all of them are
Of Il serious character.
THE MUHDEHEI; SHOT.
Officer Whittier came TO the rca"tte and
used his club to good advantage, but Ecfofe
the brute could be compelled to rcIinGlish
his hold City Marshal Barrett a!,IcaIed
upon the scene and shot him dead, iGiii,t-
ing four wounds in the head, shoulder, side
and hand, upon the left side oi lis body.
The body Of Mrs. Nenncr Was removed to
the City Hall. Thi!ty-ivc Wo-ui,s had
been inflicted upon her, almost any one OF
which WOULD have been sufficient TO
cause death.