Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1873-08-09
The Mcbride Massacre.

4 dspatch from Philadelphia gives the par
ticulars of the murder of Mrs. Isabella Mcbride
near Willamsport, Pa, on Tuesday evening
last by Nelson Wade, brakeSman on the
PHILADELPHIA and Erie Road The murdered
woman. together with her husband, have long
resided in Linden, not a great distance from
Williamsport They were both industrious,
and by hard, labor for near forty years had
contrived to ley by considerable sum oi mo-
.ney. some estimating it at forty Thousand dol
lars. On Tuesday last it was noised around
the village "that old Mcbride was crazy, and
was giving his money away To any person VINO
called upon himP Among those who heard
tbis rumor was Wade, who visited McBrldes
house and was seen to leave il late on Tues
.dav evening together with one or two other
railroad men, The visit was supposed by the
peighbors to have been simply for fun, but the
Later trip of Wade, as it now transpires, was
Frought with deed of blood that horrihedihe
neonle At the time of the murder the aged
couple were making preparations to eat their
evening meal Mrs. Mcbride, previous to set
TIM down to the table, went tO the cellar, en-
the outside Of the building, with a JAR OF milk
The door being closed she placed the Jar on the
steps. and while endeavOring TO uniasten 1t she
was approached from behind by man, who,
without uttering a word, dealt her terrific
blow on the head with huge club, knocking
her to the ground. Two or three more blows
from the same instrument aud Mrs. Mcbride
was horribly disfgured corpse, her head hay-
ing been crushed to Jelly.
Wade for such was the murdererS name,
then paused a moment and searched he body,
and found a key to the closest in which were
stored the earnings Of the old couple. With
this and the same CORY club in his hand he en-
tered the farmhouse and encountered old Mr..
Mcbride. The struggle between the two was
but brief. and one or two heavy blows on the
head rendered Mcbride seuseeSS, hut not dead,
as the fend supposed Wade then ransacked
the house and succeeded in finding between
EIGHT and ten thousand dollars IN gold, with
which be fled, after having set the house on fire
10 destroy all traces of the horrible tragedy.
The arrest Of Wade was brought about
through information received by the sheriff OF
Iycoming county, from lad to whom Wade
showed several bags Of gold. \ portion Of the
money he buried near the barn in the presence
Of the lad after asking the latter to promise
him that he would not reveal its whereabouts
to any person. This the boy promised, and
Wade then told him that he intended buryiug
the remainder aud if be should fail toreturn
after 4 certain date the lad could dig It up aud
retain il for his own use. lie then, Gccompa-
MED by the latter, went to another spot in the
vicinity of the barn aud the specie was buried
and the two separated This information was
specdiy communicated to the authorities, and
the murderer was shortly afterward arrested
aud placed in irons Once iu the prison he be-
Gan to laugh. and seemed TO be greatly amused
and pleased on account Of the sensation be
created. After an hour or so Of confinement he
sent for an officer aud related the whole story
Of the murder of Mrs Mcbride, giving de-
scripiion Of the old lady's actions when be
strucl, her the first blow with the club, and
went so far as 90 even attempt to immltate her
cries. I'm this heartess undertaking he was
speedily checked, and he assumed m air OF IN
iured innocence because he WAS not allowed e.
proceed. lie said that during bis career he had
killed several people, among whom was span
ish woman. and that the desire O. murder had
grown on him. and it was the easiest thing
imaginable 10 make 4 man " croak when a
person wanted to get rid Of Gn Objectionable OBJ
iect. His first murder, rs he related, was COM
mitted on the plains several years ago, and
since that time he had put out Of the way D
all whom he did not like, and lie had never
been even suspected. lie said he did not fear
death land was ready to swing whenever
they got ready" His troubles be attributed
to the want of proper training when young
This he did not receive, as bis parents died aud
left him alone in the world when about five
years of age. lie refused TO give the names OF
any Of his victims, but said that before he was
hung he would tell all Old Mr.. Mcbride still
remains in an. unconscious state, and the ply
sicians entertain no hopes Of his recovery.