The New York herald., 1872-12-13
A MURDEROUS FATHER.
A Horrible Tragedy at Columbiana--A Mother
Leaves Her Children for Few Minutes,
When Their Father Butchers
Them with q Hatchet
PITTsBuRG, Pa, Dec. II, 1879

PiTTsBURG, Pa, Dec. II, 1872.
special despatch received here this evening
from Coumbiana, village close to the State line,
tells OF horrible crime that was committed near
there this morning at about seven O'Clock. II ap-
pears that Erbert Porter, man OF about thirty
five years OF age, lived with his fathern-law,
Henry Flicknger, on account, perhaps, OF the
former, owing to dssolute habits, being unable to
provide for his wife and their offspring. Porter is
a carpenter by trade, but brutal in disposition,
and ready and willing at all times to engage in q
quarrel with any under the slightest pretence.
He was actually terror to the neghborhood for
years and his word, whether right or wrong, was
law in dealings with those persons who were
Obliged to come IN contact with him. lie was
abusive to his good wife, who, despite OF brutal
treatment received, allowed him to remain with
her at her fathers house. This morning, after
breakfast,
MRS. PORTER WENT UP STAIRS
to make the beds and sweep out the rooms, lcava
ing her two sweet little children sitting by the fire
and her husband near by them cracking hickory
nuts with hatchet The wife had requested him to
keep an eye on the children and not allow them to
approach to the fire, which he promised to do,
and when she left him he was amusing the babies
with broken nuts held in his hand. The woman went
up in the rooms fearing no danger for ten fifteen
minutes when the eldest OF the children, little
girl three years old,
GAVE PIERCING SCREAM
that terrified her mother in the adjoining apart
ment Hurrying to the room in which she left her
innocent darling IN childish glee but few mo-
ments before, her feet were arrested on the steps
by hearing distinct strokes OF the murderOnS
hatchet, and she suspected at once that the demon
OF q husband had murdered them. Throwing open
the door at the foot Of the staircase hOrrible
spectacle was presented to her eyes. There
lay the two children-One but q lsping babe.
dead, their clothes and features dyed with blood
rushing out Of gashes wide and deep in their
little bodies. Life was utterly extinct, and warm
blood still pouring from the wounds and
One look at the children enough for the unfor-
tunate mother, and she, gancing at the hall open
door, saw Porter go out with the bloody lnStru-
ment clutched in his hands, and saw him put
II under hls coat and walk up the road to-
wards Leetonla. She was faint and terrified
give an alarm, and Porter walked brisky up the
road; but finally, on the neighborhooC being
alarmed he was
CAPTURED AT LEEToNIA,
distant from the scene OF the murder about fvU
miles. When IN custody he was questioned as to-
what had caused MIN to murder the dear Children,l
but he could assign reason for the
atrOCiOuS crime and intimated that people werG
making deal OF fuss over matter that did not
concern them in the least. He was taken to Jail
bodies is to be held tomorrow. Porter is large,l
powerful man. about five feet ten inches in height,
OF dark complexion, dark eyes and thick, heavy
hair and beard This fearful murder creates theI
greatest excitement in the neighhorhOod, and ID
was some time before the people could realize the
against the man. but officers, to his intense dgust
hurried him of to jail ard out OF reach OF the enI
ragged people. 1t is said Porter killed the children
purely in revenge for something his wife had done.