Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1873-04-04
MURDER MOST FOUL.
AN AGED LADY TAKEN OUT OF
! HER BED AND HANGED. -.
THE CRIME sHROUDED IN
MYSTERY.


the Nolensville pike, there lived an
old Lady, sixty years Of age, named
Susan Houssn, widow Of the late Ben
Houseu. whose name was familiar to
the reside nts Of Nashville many years
ago. We have heard it stated that
Mrs Housen, upwards of twenty years
but not being able to pay for the same,
ing under this treatment, she there
return to the place mistress Of the do
main. So declaring, she came without
means to nashville, set to work indus
triously, and in q few years accumu-
lated considerable means. True to
her word, she sought out the owner OF
the Aforesaid property, purchased the
has lived there quietly, and bearing
the reputation of good christian
woman. Z" y
Her homestead consisted of com
Portable house and upwards of seventy
acres of land, most of which she kept
under cultivation. In addition to this
property she also owned q lot n this
city aud one in Edgefeld. Living
with this old lady, at her quiet country
retreat, was her son William and his
wife, and one or two children.
On Monday night last, according to
daughter in-law and the children re-
tired to bed at an early hour-the first
named in separate room and the
others in one adjoining. 4 short
while before shutdown William, the
son, proceeded to Mill creek on little
fishing excursion. ala had not returned
when the balance of the family went
to bed. 9'srf@= - '". -.F
It WA about 8 p. NJ, when the
daughter -in-law was awakened by
screams, and jumping out of bed. she
discovered that the door leading to the
old lady's room was open. Feeling
sure that something was wrong, she
ran Immediately to the residence of
the nearest neighbor, Mr.. Thomas W.
Barnes, who lives about three hundred
ya-is distant, and aroused him. That
gentleman came out az soon as posi-
bic, carrying with him his gun. The
two were proceeding along the road, in
the direction of the house, when they
came up with Robert n. Patterson,
another neighbor, who, hearing the
screams that had proceeded from the
residence OF Mrs. Housen, determined
to walk out and learn the cause. He
also took theDprecaution to get his gun
before leaving his premises. Mr..
Barnes and Mr.. Patterson, accompa-
MED by the lady, proceeded at once to
the home of Mrs. Housen, went into
her room and found the feather bed
and the bed clothes on the floor. the
mattress still on the bedstead. They
called for Mrs. Housen, but she did
not answer They looked under the
bed, but she was nowhere to be seen.
After thorough search had been
made about the house, without finding
her, these gentlemen started down q
path that led from the house, and soon
discovered a flannel petticoat. Going
along the same path, and about two
hundred yards from the house, they
found, to their horror, the body of
Mrs. Hsueen dangling from a cross
beam, or pole, that had been used for
suspending hogs after they had been
had been wrapped around the neck
five times, and afterwards fastened as
securely to the beam above. Upon
examining the gallows, there were indi-
cations of the rough manner in which
evidences which made it certain that
she met her death NOT by her aWn
hands, but by those of some demon in
human shape. An inquest was held,
but no light was thrown upon the sub
ject--NdshriUc (Tenn.,) onion and
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