Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1873-08-01
MONEY THE OBJECT.

oANb tii1 SDO i'S
From the Wiliomsport Gazette and Bulletin o.
July 24th.
We are called upon to record one of the
bloodiest and most cold.hearted crimes ev-
er committed in the county of Lycomng.
John Mcbride and his aged wife. Isabella,
living on what is known as the "Lusb
Farm" on the road leading from Newber
ry to Linden, were brutally assaulted, it is
supposed, on Tuesday evening.
LOCATION OF THE HOUSE.
The house, which is plain old-fashion.
stands within few hundred yards of the
well known to all persons in the habit OF
travelling that road. 1t is surrounded by
trees and high weeds-the fences are dlap-
idated, and everything about the premises
wears cheerless and forbidding appear
ance-more like the home Of want and Pc
nury than wealth and abundance.
ISABELLA MBRIEE.
When the old lady was assaulted and
stricken down by the red-handed murder.
er, she seemed to have been engaged in her
domestic duties about the yard, such as
putting away the milk for the evening. Her
body lay near the cellar door, her head
resting on n pile of stones, and her gray
hair was saturated with blood which oozed
from wound Just back of the right eye.
The fatal bullet entered near the temple
and came out at the base of the nose. She
stroke from bludgeon, and the little finger
of her left hand was .broken. This was
probably done by the blow as she threw
her arm up in self-defense. She was pro-
bably over seventy years Of age.
APPEARANCE OF JOHN M'BRIDE.
The old man, John M'Bride, who is pro-
badly near seventy, was found inside the
dwelling in room apparently used as a
kitchen and sleeping apartment, lying on
the floor weltering in his blood, which had
flowed freely and completely saturated the
floor. He seemed to have been stricken
down near the kitchen table, which was
covered with dishes and cooking utensils
in disordered condition. But few evil
dences of a struggle were observable--a few
spots Of blood were noticed on the wall and
a blood stain on the table seemed to have
been made By 4 bloody hand grasping for
support.
HOW THE DISCOVERY WAS MADE.
The terrible deed of blood was discover
ed on Wednesday afternoon, between two
and three O'Clock, by Abram Newcomer,
who was passing the house in the direction
of the Linden railroad station, and observ-
ing the cattle in the yard thought it rather
unusual that they should be penned up at
that hour. On making an examination OF
the premises he found the old lady lying
dead near the cellar door, as already de-
scribcd. Horror stricken at the sight of
the bloody corpse, and realizing that a
dreadful crime had been committed. he
FASTENED around to the door of the kitchen,
over the cellar--the house standing on the
declivity of hill--which he found closed.
AS he tried the door dog inside COM
menced barking, but no one appeared.
Fearing the worst he at once proceeded to
the nearest neighbors and gave the alarm.
EXAMINING THE PREMISES.
Uriah Wagner, on being informed of the
murder, ut once repaired to the house. On
seeing Mrs. Mcbride he started for Mr.
Carothcrs, and when he came the party at
once entered the house, where they found
the old man lying on the floor, and the dog
on the bed.
WOUNDS OF TIE OLD MAN.
y messenger at once FASTENED to the city
and made information at police headquar-
ters, and had physicians dispatched to
dress the wounds of the old man. Drs.
Crawford and Mutt at once repaired to the
scene of blood, The old man, who was in
sensible, was at once placed on the bed in
the room where he had been stricken down,
and his wounds dressed. Seven deep CASH
es were fonnd on the top of his head, which
it was found necessary to close with stitch
es. After a careful examination the ply
sicians came to the conclusion that the
skull was not broken, and they entertain
hopes OF his recovery.
THE BLOODY CLUB.
In the room where the old man lay was
found heavy club, made out of young
pine sapling, about four feet in length, and
two inches in diameter, which bore evi-
denccs of having been freshly cut, and with
murderous intentions. 1t was beSpattered
with blood, and several gray hairs were
observed adhering to the rough bark, which
showed conclusively that it had been used
to do the bloody work.
FINDING THE MONEY.
The Jury repaired TO back room, and
opening the drawer Of bureau proceeded
to an examination. 1t was not long until
they found money slowed away in all
manner of inconceivable ways. Between
the leaves of an old book entitled 1.-The
Complete Duty of Man." one thousand
dollars in bills ranging from fives to TWEEN
ties, were found. a small bag containing
forty-seven dollars in paper roll of bills,
snugly slowed away, was found to contain
800, and in q small red pocket book $l9O
were found. Five one dollar gold pieces
rolled out of a small bag, and near by il
So 50 in silver change were discovered. In
another package SIS so, made up of gold
and silver was found--then 81 in old fash
ioned quarters turned up. Two dollars
and a-half in silver was found in another
place ; then 81 ; and S11 in one dollar gold
pieces. A small package of postal curren.
cy containing 81 IS was unearthed in a
quiet nook Of the drawer-then S4 10 in
small change, and finally $40 in silver was
developed in another place. A large and
handsome red pocket book was taken out
which was found comppctly stuffed with
bills in denominations of iiyos, tens and
twcnties. In hurriedly counting the con
tents it was found to contain 1920. A
more lAethoric packet book is seldom seen
a number of bills on old county banks
long since passed out of existence, were
unearthed; also numerous county orders