, 1872-12-16
HORRIBLE MURDERS.

LtsUH0uhHAt Os t1ct. Aojs Aeof"@'* ~ &"t eStsA@ss
One OF the most inhuman and brutal murders
ever perpetrated in this part Of the State Was
committed yesterday morning at 7 O'Clock, about
Porter, the perpetrator OF this horrible deed and
his family, consisting Of wife and two little daugh-
ters, nged 8 and / years, resided in the
same house with his father-in-1aw, Mr. Henry
F. Fickinger. At the time the murder WAS
committed Mrs. Porter and her three brothers,
Jacob, John, and Solomon, and her sister Lydia,
were in the house, and all except Mrs Porter
we're engaged in cracking. walnqts. Erben
Porter, after going up stairs and putting on
seated himself with the other members Of the
family and commenced cracking and eating the
nuts, showing nothing unusual IN his manner.
After brief interval Mrs. Porter went up
etairs to attend to some work. Porter quietly
arose and walked into IN adjoining room, where
his Oldest child VAS alone after closing the door
he struck tho child three blows with the edge Of
the sharp Ratchet, cutting d terrible cash at
each stroke on the top Of the head, either OF
death. He then opened the door leading into
the room in which the other members OF the
family we're seated, and seized his youngest
child, dragged it into the room, and struck it
two blows on top Of the head. burylng the
hatohet deep into the brain at each stroke. He
then walked into IN adjoining room and threw
the hatchet, all covered with blood and brains.
into wood-box put On his hat, and started out
OF the house, passing, as he did go, b! bis wife,
Who on hearing the first child utter pitiful cry
as he struck it the first blow, had come down
stairs to see what WAS wrong. -...-
On seeing her husband throw down the hatch
ct, she asked him what he had done. His an
swer WAS that he had done what he ought to
have done before, and he could not help it. She
buried to the room where the deed had been
committed, and seeing her children lying in their
own blood, ran out to the road and gave the
alarm to the neighbors, several Of whom lived
near, and we're On hand in few minutes.
Porter, after leaving the house, made his way
Leetonia. He WAS followed to this place by one
of his neighbors. Dispatches we're sent in every
direction, and . large number OF persons started
in pursuit OF him. Immediately on the receipt
OF the despatch at Leetouia, it Was placed in
Marshal Rollins hands, who, in about twenty
minutes saw Porter crossing the railroad track,
and started after him. On approaching him,
Porter turned round and gave himself up, ad.
rnitting that he had committed the deed, and
asked the officer to protect him from those who
were in pursuit Of him.
Tho Marshal brought the prisoner to this
place on the $3.50 p N. train, and he Vas 1mme-
diately arraigned before Josiah Rohrbaugh,
Esq for bearing Ehen he peadsq sqtn not guilty
the testimony in the case, the Justice committed
him for trial at the next term Of the Court Of
Common Pleas, and sent him, under a strong
escort, to New Lisbon. .-
19e 'uotiIo tnon . -. s - 555I tS -.
ceeded to the hoase Mnere @ tne & deso + na4 neen
committed, to hold an lnquest' "hen Inc 1ono"-
ing ga facts % we're ellclIea: ar4 aanosa .. fo,rora
Mrs. forter sW9rn, ana qePoseo a. 1onoMs LOVE:
am the wl1e OF Efnen =; Forter 50" Eol.ee .se
90 up STAIRS seVeial t1nes 1nis morning 9t utts
time was up etalre; he asked mel me n ne coma
get into hs chest; salo ne conaa y ya moFg oaq{
some thngs ne dlo SO, ana openea .1e t.ss GG5se
and LOOK out nus natcnet meus uo"n - esan ailo
and IN s4orI tlme returneu " e'aue dn ~ IaAe
tina oeos FolteI was nsaaue ~ ~ ha11a ~;
ne went down stal1s o4o nos zee nlin nss9 ats
hatcnet me ne15 tlme "ent " ue ana41 nsva
had " unaer als c;4!ngs 5ar
Mnnle uster Rsnm Iy srHtr Partor oarnns,
TO nee 4ha. 4 mHs 1re 1tt 10 afcbat h;ch hs
t 1as o. & sao tbo tpo 11oadho1 m1t s aid Er whst
sune" .oon .G 1one2, ,n a. enswarad IT haTa dona
opened the door and saw my children lying on
the floor dead; I ran out Of the house and gave
the alarm to the nelghbore did not Know OF ms
drinking or being intoxicated at the time; he
left home about the 1st OF April last, and did
not return until about the middle OF October;
he said he had been in lllinois; he threatened !;
to take my life and the lives OF my children
ABOUT three monLns ago; 1llnHle "as yea1e ott
on the 2Zd OF November !ast, ana .Adela1oe
year old On the 22d of October last"
Several other witnesses we're examined, whose