Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1872-09-14
IRGlNIA, SATURDAY, SEP. IA, 1872.
HORRIBLE AFFAIR.

A Man was arrested in Maysville, De
kalb county. No, on the 2lst of Au-
gust driving a wagon in which was
found the dead bodies of five persons,
a woman and two children and two per
sons. The stencil from their bodies
caused an examination which led to his
arrest. He said q man had paid him
to carry them off and bury them, and
that they were returning emigrants, and
that was all he knew about it
Later news gives an account OF his
confession and the following subsequent
events
He gave his name as Tanzey, and said
it was not Osburn. Us stated in his first
confession; that his home was ut Mount
Ayr, Iowa, where he had wife and
one child. The parties he had murder
ed were five in number-a man with
his wife and two children aud another
mar who Was unmarried. He said they
were travelling in lumber wagon, and
that they were returning from Kansas
to their home III Minnesota. He met
them first last Thursday, the 18th.
Having no money and travelling in the
same direction, they kindly asked him
to join them, which he did. The wag
on being large, they all-SiN in number
slept in it.
The married man his wife, and two
children slept Oh platform raised on
the front of the wagon, while the re-
manning two slept III the bottom OF the
bed below. Last Sunday night they
canped within half 4 mile OF 4 house
near Burr Oak grove. At this place
the wretch conceived the idea of muir
dering them and making way with their
horses and wagon. the cattle (three or
four in number.) and whatever money
they might have in their possession.
After having murdered them, he intend
cd to secrctc them in the brush on Clear
creek, near by That Sunday night,
little dreaming of the black-hearted
wretch they had taken under their shell
rand the awful fate ,hatawaited them,
tLey lay down in the wagon for the
night, and all, save the murderer, were
sound asleep. Satisfying himself that
al Were sleeping, he took loaded piS
toi which lay in the wagon,and placing
it at the head OF the man vhowaS sleep
inc by his side, fired. He instantly
killed him.
The married man being reused by
the report Of the pistol rose up, and
thinking Tanzy had fired at strange
dog which had been annoying them
during the night 10y barking, said:
Good, good. The assassin immcdiate-
ly turned and shot him. and then jump.
ci from the wagon to the ground. The
wounded man attempted to follow him
when Tanzcy seized al axe and DIES
patched him at once.
The agonizcd wife Of the murdered
man was now running around the wag-
on uttering fearful cries, and fearing
that she would alarm the people at the
farm house near by, he also killed her
with an axe or club Just which he does
not remember The two infant babes,
aged three and fifteen months, now
alone remained living and it seems he
did not dispose Of them until some time
after the rest had bccd killed.
When asked how he could have the
heart to kill the two helpless children
he replied that he did owith reluctance
but that when he had murdered their
mother they annoyed him with their
piteous cries, and being alarmed lest
they should lead to his detection, he
cut their throats from car to ear, and
thus completed bis work OF destruction.
4 crowd Of two hundred men then
hung the wretch to tree until he was
lnqi