Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1874-12-18
Shocking Tragedy In Virginia
Death of Two of the Victims.

says:
In a low and humble looking house, or
more properly a hut, not far from the
banks of Cedar Run, lives an old man,
about seventy years of age, well known in
this county us one Of its largest land own
ers and Wealthiest citizens, Jerry Hern-
don, and his wife, little his junior Liv-
ing with them aS IL farm hand was black
boy of small stature, aged about eighteen,
named Jesse Fouks, and a. little colored
boy, about ten years of age, named Ad-
Olson Russell. Fouks had been hauling
wood, and on coming in at night was ac-
cused Of stealing a piece of pork from his
employer, which he denied, and quarrel
ensned The boy was ordered from the
house, and refused to go unless the meat
IN dispute was given to him. Old man
Herndon picked up an axe and told the
boy 1t he did not leave the house he would
knock him down. Here the tale ends I'M
til about Friday morning, when about
sun-up Summeriield, a son of the old man,
who lives short distance away, approaches
the house, and on entering the yard, dis
covers bloody foot prints, which be traces
to the door, and upon entering CHASTITY
and bloody scene is presented TO his view.
Upon a pallet on the floor the little colored
boy lay cold in death, with his head rent
in twain by a single blow of the murderous
axe. Upon the bed laid Mrs Herndon
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 mar is discovered in the field about
four hundred yards from his dwelling bare
headed and barefooted, with his head and
face cut and bleeding in many places. Mr..
John Alexander, a neighbor, who found
him. asked him who had done the deed.
The old who cnpmp6 n hp hQ xvit1are1
said he did rot know who had done it, that
he had been walking about all night, and
felt cold when he walked in the water. He
was conveyed to his home, and there told
his story to Justices Horton and Wood
yard. He told about the quarrel, and said
the last he knew OF remembered, that the
boy started to the door,"
The theory is, that if Fouks, the hired
man, is guilty, that he picked up a new
bloody work, and dealt the old man MUIR
derous blow or, perhaps, several and
thinking he had killed him, then took the
axe and with it killed the boy, and crushed
the head Of the old woman. Supposing he
had killed all three he left and went to the
house of MI. John FL. O'Rear. After he
had gone the old man revived, and in a de-
lirium left the house. 1t was found OF
searching the house that 1925 had been
taken from drawer by the murderer.
Fouks Was arrested and lodged in jail, ard
will have a hearing before a magistrate on
Monday. 1t IS the opinion of the majority
of those who know anything 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 all axe
handle, were in the house before the muir
der, and if it had been done by other par
ties, they would have taken the weapons
Of murder with them and would not have
gone there before bed time, the murderous
attack having been done before the old
folks had prepared for bed. The little boy
who was killed had gone to bed and wac
probably asleep when he received his death
blow.
The Gazette" of Monday announcing
the death of Mrs. Herndon, says:
Another one of the victims of the ter
ribe Thursday night tragedy, Mrs. Hern-
dor, died Oh "Wednesday night Of last week
Justice NJ. w. Horton took her dying dec
laratlon, which was to the effect that
after having quarreled with her husband
vt dark about the meat he was accused Of
stealing, Fouks returned in about an hour
and half afterwards, and in an excited
manner demanded the meat which had
been taken from him. Her husband and
Foulks then got into a fight and she shov-
ed Foulks out of doors, when she heard
him exclaim sit would not take me long
to kill you two old wretehes." She turned
to go back from the door and was struck
by Foulks and knocked senseless. Drs.
Leach and Smout who held a post mortem
examination states that she had two cnts
supposed 10 be made with the edge of the
axe, one of them transyersly across the
forehead, four inches long, extending to
the brain, which was sufficient to cause
death. She was perfectly rational on
Monday, and her testimony goes to show
positively, that FoulkS, who is now III Jail,
committed the deed. On papers in the
drawer from which the money was taken
were the marks cf bloody fingers, showing
that robbery was one of the incentives to
the murder. Old man Herlldon, it is said
by his physicians, is sinking rapidly, and
lis death is hourly expected. He, too,
now declares positively that Foulks did
the deed.
Tie colored people in the neighbonrhood
are terribly excited at the brutal murder
Of the little coloied boy, and threats Of
Iynching are INDUCED in. Foulks is ter
ribly excited i'll JAIL and is almost constant
ly crying and praying.
There WAS IL considerable amount OF
gold coin in the drawer at the time the
greeniackS were taken which was not dis
turbed. The stolen money has not been
recovered, nor has there been any effort
to discover it that we have heard of.