The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-06-13
The Assassin of Farmer Durkin
on the Gallows.
A REVOLVING CRIME.
A Man Murdered for Eight Dollars and
Suit of Clothes.

this county on the 10Th Of December, 1873, for his
clothes and IS or 50 in money was hanged here.
THE CRIME.
ON the night OF the 9th OF December last, this
usually quiet and orderly community was startled
by the announcement Of murder committed the
night previous, Of young man named William O.
Durkin, native OF Dinwiadie county, but at that
time residing here. In addition to some mercantile
business he was engaged IN young Durkln also
cultivated q farm, which he had recently pur-
chased near Rappahannock Station on the then
Orange and Alexandra Railroad. The circum-
stances OF the murder, az CLEANED from the testi-
m0ny elected at the trial OF the murderer, and
also from subsequent confessions made by him, are
briefly to the following election the night of the
Goth December Mr.. Durkin had occasion to go 10
the railway station on some business, having
transacted which he started home. The night was
excessively cold, and when Durkin had proceeded
about half way he saw light in q house that had
some time previously been vacated but was then
In charge Of negro named William Jones. AS
Durkin was suffering from the cold he entered the
house, and explaining to the negro that he wished
to warm himself, invited by that individual to
take seat aJ the fire. Gladly avail.
ting himself Of the hospitality, Durkin warmed
his hands and then took a newspaper from his
pocket which he obtained at the railway station,
and began to read. Unfortunately for the young
man, he had not closely observed the sinister looks
ana expression OF his sable host, who was moving
cautiously about the house while the guest read
by the nrelght. Intent upon his newspaper with
MS head bent over towards the fire. the unsus-
pecting victim presented most favorable oppor-
tunity for the design OF the murderer. Durkin
had scarcely been quarter of an hour IN the house
when the negro Jones stealthily approached from
behind and struck him heavy blow with large
IRON coupling pin, weighing about ten pounds,
which sent him reeling from his seat to the floor,
the blood from his wound squirting In all drec-
tions. The murderer, thinking that his victim
WAS dead, then proceeded to search his pock-
cts for money, the small amount OF SIS only
rewarding him for his murderous deed.
He found. however on his person the
&ey of Durkin's residence and with this he
hurried there, In the hope Of obtaining more vau-
able booty He entered the house. and, after OBJ.
tanning light, rifed All Durk1n's trunks cabinet
drawers and presses, taking with him such things
- he could conveniently carry, but only finding in
This robbery the Insignificant sum Of So 30, max
ing IN Ill - 80 IN money. But even this did not
end the crimes Of the night. With the combined
plunder Of both roDberles the negro then returned
70 the house in which lay the unconscious. but not
hfeless. body OF Mr.. Durkin. Soon alter his en-
trance Durkln exhibited signs OF animation, when
the nend at once attacked him again with the
about the head,
COMPLETED THE BRUTAL MURDER
and Durkin was left mutiated corpse. The MUIR
derer then became alarmed for his own safety and
determined to fly; but before he set out he
stripped the body Of Durkin of his Overcoat, dress
coat, pants, vest and hat, and, taking on his own
clothes and arraying himself In those of his VICTIM
he hurried to the nearest railway station. There
ne took the first train to this town. and here he
fha
direction when he proceeded as far northward as
Alexandria From Aiexandrla the muroerer went
~ MARYLAND, thence to West Virginia. thence Go
Richmond, and finally to Charlottesville, where he
THE DISCOVERY OF THE MURDER
was not made until the morning OF the 9th De.
cemper when some negroes found DuTkin's dead
body, cold, nude and dis1gured. His skull was
prOtruding. His face was covered with blood and
his entire chest was bedaubed and despatched.
As soon as the people in the vicinity heard OF the
1ou deed they assembled in large numbers at the
scene of the murder, when. after viewing the
body, they were loud and vehement in their ex-
the crime. Suspicion At once attached to the
negro JONES' and his sudden disappearance,
which were readily identided, only too well con.
nrmed what was so generally believed. Large re-
wards were offered for his apprehension, both BY
he advertised that Jones had great trouble in
evading the Officers OF the law for period OF
nearly two months, when he was captured by an
artfce of two or the most expert detectives in the
country. After visiting the scene OF the murder
and investigating every circumstance that could
be obtained In relation to jones' habits these off-
GERS laid ther plans to effect his arrest They as
certained during investigation that Jones had
. wife residing somewhere IN or about the city OF
Richmond and as she went by another, and, to
them, unknown name, It was no small matter to
discover her whereabouts, without at the same
time exciting her suspicion as to their objects.
After weeks OF diligent inquiry they at length
found the woman, and were further enlightened
by the Information that she cOrrespOnded with
her husband, William Jones. Acting upon this,
&hnu aA1N0 vyut hnnaa fry 4 81
mail carrier would bring her any letter, and one
day they saw that oniclal enter with the desired
Ger Wren followed in and demanded to read the
letter The woman at trst refused, but, finally.
was then ct Charlottesville waiting for some
clothes which hts vile was requested to send at
once 50 that ne could shake the dust OF the
West Following up this ciew Chief OF Detectives
Knox, accompanied BY hts assistant, Wren, pro-
directing their steps 70 house in the western
suburbs Of that city, at about TWO O'Clock in the
morning, one OF them went to the front and the
other the back door, so as to leave no chance for
escape. Wren Knocked at the front door, which
vas opened ~ ~, n IN n
70 the centre oil the apartments, when he was CON-
manded to stand still and not dare put out the
light, at the peril Of his hfe and the giistening
pistol in wren's hand but 700 iorcibly backed up
his words. He then pushed the door, and as ne
behind the door, ana, looking to see what. this
could be, found the man they "wanted." Jones
Crted:-
II SURRENDERED SURRENDER
rue "darbles" were then expedltlously placed on
MS Wrists, and on the same day Jones was safely
lodged In the jail here, where he has been closely
guarded until to-day, when he was taken out to
expiate me- terrible crimes on the galows. When
arrested ne had on the clothes OF the murdered
Durkin, the pants and having blood stains
ON them, Which were additional evidences or his
guilt
Jones was brought TO trial at the spring term OF
the Circuit Court here in April last. His case was
ene nrst on me docket and he pleaded guilty,
when evidence was heard as To whether or not 1t
was murder In the FIRST degree The prisoner was
ably defended, but he was convicted and was sem
fenced to be executed to-day.
OTHER CRIMES.
Jones was no novice in crime and has been one
or the most desperate and reckless negroes in the
State. He was sent to the Penitentlarv from
Hanover county in 1868 to serve term OF fourteen
years for the crime OF horse stealing Alter re-