The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1872-12-24
THE nATCnET nURDERER.
Particulars yof the Cruel Murder
Of two t,htttlreD M biana.
Ohi0.-A Brsite 0t Ii Father.

Ohio--A Brute Oi d Faiheri
81 The telegraph on Thursday brought
The news alat 4 horrible doutte murder
had been .cosnmittcA CoMmbiaua,
Ohio, that morning From late accounts
it appears that Erbert Porter, man of
shut thirty-live years of age, lived with
his father-in,!aw, Henry Flickingcr, on
account, perhaps, OF the former, owing
q aissollne httits, hcing1 1aa6le topro-
vile for his wife and their offspring
Porter is carpenter by trade, but hru
! tai in disposition, ane ready and willing
at all times to engage in a quarrel with
an, one under the slightest pre,euce. :;
He was actaant q terror TO tho teigh-
! borhood for Years, and his word, whcth-
er right or wrong, was law in dealings
with those persons who were obliged 10
come in contact with him. He was abu-
sive to his good wife, WHO, despite OF
brutal treatment received, allowed him
to remain with her at her father house.
This morning, after breakfast, Mrs
Porter went up stairs TO make the beds
and sweep out the rooms, leaving her
/ two sweet little children Sitting by the
| fire and her husband near bv them
crackingiliickory nuts with Ratchet 80
The wife had requested him to keep an
| eye on the children and not allow them
TO approself near to the fire, which he
promised to do and when she left him
heswas asausing the babies with broken
nuts held in his hand The woman went
up in the.Footns fearing no danger for
ten or fifteen minutes, when the eldest
Of the children a litllegitl three years
old gave apicreing scream that terrified
her mothers III The sdjeihinga apartment.
Hdrrying TO tlie room in which She i]eft
heriihnocent darling in childish gIee but
afew moments before, her feet we're ar.
1 rested enthe steps by hearing distinct
strokes of the numbering hatcIiet, and
she suspected at once, that the demon
i OF a lfusband had murdered them
/ Throwing open the doorat the foot q
i the staircase, q hor{ole spectacle was
presented to her eyes? There lay The
two cbiidfen-one but a lisping babe
dead, thtff Clothes and features dyed
with blood rushing ont of the gashes
wide and deep in their little bodies. =
Lite was utterly extinct and warm blood
was stiIl pouring from the wounds AM
making diu1nutive pools on the carpet
less foor0 y One dook at the childrer
was enough for the unfortunate mother
and she, glancing atthe half open door
saw Porter 60 out with the bloody in
strumeDt clutcbed in his hands, and saw
him put it under his coat and walk uI
the road towards Leetonia. She was Sc
faint and terrified with what she hat
seen thatshe was unable to give an,
| alarm. aud POrterwalked briskly up th,
road ssbut finally, GA the aesghbofhoot
being alarmed, he ~as captured at Lee
tonia, distant from the scene of tn.
murder about 1--WE miles. When inhcas
tody heawas questioned as to what hai
caused hia, to murder the dear children
butihe could assign no reason for th,
atrocious crime and minated that peo
pie we're making a deal Of a fuss over
. matter that did not concern them il
the least! He was taken to Jail at New
lisbon, and anrinquest ON the two ilittl
bodies was held on Friday Porter is
large powerful mar, about five feet te,
inches in height, OF dark complexion
! dark eyes and thick, heavy hair ant
beard. This fearful murder cfeates tn
greatest excitement in the neighbor
hood and it was some time before tb
people could sfealize the enofrnity q
the deed SLond' threats are made asains
the man; but officers, to his intense dis
gust, hurried him off to Jail and out O
reach Of the enraged people It is sai'
Porter killed the children purely in re
venge f5r something his wife had done
Si;st.-' L. -. ---11-A q. -
\ F~W cd ip,&yop one cs,,a cav, ,bof III