Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1874-12-12
MYSTERIOUS MURDER.


TwO in Dying Condiiion-Ts
House Robbsd.-A most 6endish muir.
der took place at Harmson's Ford, in
Prince William county, Va, near the
Stafford line on Thursday night last.
In low and humble looking house, or
more properly hut, rot far from the
banks of Cedar run, lives an old man
about seventy years of age, well known
in this country as one Of its largest land
owners and wealthiest citizens, Jerry
Herndon, and his wife little his junior.
Living with them as farm hand was
a black boy Of small! stature, aged about
eighteen, named Jesse Fouks, and
little colored boy about ten years ofage,
named Addison Russell. Fouks had
been hauling wood, and OH coming in
at night was accused of stealing apiece
of pork FROM his employer, which he
denied. and quarrel ensued, The boy
was ordered from the house and refused
to 90 unless the meat in dispute was
given to him. Old man Herndon picked
up an axe and told the boy if he did
not leave the house he would knock
him down. Here the tale ends until
Friday morning, when, about sun-up,
Summerfeld, son of the old man, who
lives a short distance away, approached
the house, and on entering the yard
discovered bloody footprints, which he
traced to the door, and upon entering a
CHASTITY a1d bloody scene was presented
to his view. Upon pallet on the floor
the little colored boy lay, cold in death,
With his head rent in twain by single
blow of the mrrderous axe. Upon the
led laid Mrs. Hcrndon, weltering in her
blood. The father is missing, and
frantically the son asks where he is, but
no one answers. A little later the old
man is discovered in field about four
hundred yards from his dwelling, bare
footed, with his head and face cut aud
bleeding in many places. MIR. John
Alexander, eighbor, who found him,
asked who had done the deed The old
man, who seemed TO be bewildered,
said he did not know who had done 1t;
that he had been walking about all
night, and felt cold when he walked in
the water. lie was conveyed to his
home and threre told his story to Jus.
tices Horton and woodward. He told
about the quarrel, and said the last he
knew or remembered was "that the
boy started to the door.
They theory is, that if Fouks, the
hired man, is guilty, that he picked up
a new axe helve, one of the Instruments
of the bloody work, and dealt the old
man murderous blow, or perhaps sew
eral. and thinking he had killed him,
then took the axe and with 1t Killed lne
hoy. and crushed the head OF the old
woman. Surprising he had Killed all
three he lett and went TO the house OF
Mr. John II. O'Rear. After he had
oone the oldman revived, and IN de
Tirium left the house. 1t was found on
searching the house that 1925 had been
taken from a drawer by the murdered.
Fouks was arrested aud lodged IN Jail,
and will have hearing before magls.
trate on Monday. 1t is the opinion OF
the majority of those who knew any
thing about the case that he is the
guilty party, and what gives color to
the suspicion of his guilt Is, that the
weapons used an axe and an,axe handle,
were in the house before the murder,
and if it had been done by other partles.
they would have taken the weapons OF
murder with them and would not have
gone there before bedtime, the murder
Gus attack having been done before the
old folks had prepared for bed. The
little bow who was killed had gone to
bed and was probably asleep. when he
received his death blow The old lady
was in dying condition on Friday
evening, but the old man, who Is terri
bly cut about the head and face, may
recover, though his dying declarations
were taken Manassas Va Gazette.
TYPHOID FEVER CoNTAGIoN.-Prot.
Tyndall seems not only to have aroused
II. of nc.l