The New York herald., 1874-12-18
STRANGE MURDERS.
An Old Virginia Farmer, His Wift'and House
Boy che Victims.
A YOUNG NEGRO ACCUSED OF THE CRIME.
MONEY OR REVENGE SUPPOSED TO BIZ THR MOTIVE.

county have been excitedv discussing one OF the
most brutal human butcheries that has ever been
recorded in the annals OF crime in Virginia That
your readers may better understand the facts OF
the case brief description Of the character OF the
victims ana the scene Of the fearful tragedy are
mere given.
HISTORY OF THE VICTIMS.
In the southwestern portion OF this county, near
the Fauquier line, in low log building, contain
ing TWO rooms, lived an old man named jeremiah
Herndon, whose age was bordering on
eighty, and his second wife, aged about
ffty-ave. Surrounding them we're their pos.
sessions, consisting OF LOO acres OF land. Upon
these lands lived the OLD mans sx sons, each OF
whom paid him 500 per year rent. Living with
the old folks was . dark, copper-colored negro
boy, aged about eighteen, employed as farm
hand named Jesse Fouks; and as . house boy,
little darky ten years old, named Addison Rus
SELL the latter the son OF one OF the most deserv-
ing and Industrious colored men In the State.
DISCOVERY OF THE MURDER
A little after sunrise on the morning OF the 4th
OF this month, Sommerfed, one Of the sons living
near the dwelling OF old Mr.. Herndon, went to the
house, and 1nding no one stirring, an unusual
thing at that hour walked to the stable. ana. ind
ing that locked, started back to the house again.
On entering the yard he discovered
BLOODY FOOTPRINTS,
and, following them up, saw that they came from
the house and across the porch. IN the middle or
which lay bloody axe-nandle Shocked at these
tokens OF murder he cautiously and fearfully
opened the unlatched door, when ghastly scene
was presented to his view. In this room about ten
by fourteen feet the furniture OF which consisted OF
bed, four old splint 0ttom chairs, table and
rickety bureau, was enacted the night before the
bloody tragedy l am about to describe. Lying
across sne bed, with her clothes on, was old MRS.
tAriv1cv hnr Ind stafr
ments, but still alive. In the corner near the
door, on gray army blanket lay little Addison
RUSSELL cold IN death, his
HEAD CLEFT IN TWAIN
and blood-stalned axe lying at his feet. These
two persons lay there alone, the spirit OF one nav
ing gone to Its fnal account and that OF the other
just nickerlng out its last ialnt spark. The old
and trembllngiy the young man sought the other
room, expecting there to find the mangled re-
mains OF his father On entering ne found the
room empty, with the exception OF couple OF
barrels filled with short corn. 1t quickly
mashed on his memory that his father and
and that as sometimes their quarrels had
ended IN blows, It occurred TO him that
quarrel with his vile, committed the bloody deeds
and his absence lent probability to this view OF
notihed and an effort was made to discover the
whereabouts or the old man, when soon resulted
in his discovery about hall mile from the house,
bareheaded and in his stocking ieet, trembling
with cold and
which had nowed from wounds In his head. On
being questioned ne could give no account Of the
affair nor now he came 80 be wandering in the
fields. He was carried to the house. and then, re
turning to consciousness, related the following
story as
"Jesse Fouks the hired man, had been hauling
wood during the day. He (HeTndon) had been TO
Brstow station on the virginia Maland RarOaa
that the little boy, Addison, had found piece Of
chime pork) hld in the hired mans basket, and
the family. When Jesse Fouks came in at night
he was accused by Mrs. Herndon first, and after
ward he and hrs employer had quarrel about 1t.
Mr.. Herndon drove the man away, but in about
an hour and . half he came back and demanded
meat. and said to the little boy il Mr.. Herndon
would say no more about the meat he would
man, who replied, "he did not settle such matters
In that way.n Fouks then entered the house In
take me TWO minutes to kil two such id old
wretches as you are" At this the old man picked
up an axe, which he said in his declaration was q
borrowed one, and brought 1t into the house to
prevent Its being stolen. and said TO FouKs III
you do not leave the house will split you down."
MRS. HERNDoN's DYING DECLARATION
comes IN, which says wnen her husband picked up
said, .'Dont strike with that axe or there viii be
murder here" She says she pushed Fouks out
nights horrors was that Fouks had club or axe
raised over her. The old mans memory closes
mere also. inquiries were now m8de Tor FOukS,
and it was asce ertaned that ne was at Mr.. Jonn II.
ORear's, his former owner, engaged in butch
erinR hogs. he was arrested ana taken back to
the scene OF the bloody work. In order TO help to
hide his guilt his garments, that must have been
sprinkled with the blood or MS victims, were now
deeply
Of the animals. This otherwise damning evi-
dence was thus lngeniously wiped out, and at this
time Notwithstanding the story or the old man,
many PERSONS his former master more freely than
the rest expressed q belief IN the innocence Of
/ no
OF young Herndon, thought the Old man the real
culprt.
Three days after, when the Old lady had recov-
cred in degree her senses and become able to
band. On Wednesday evening following the
tragedy Mrs. Herndon died and post-mortem ex.
cuts with the edge Of an axe one
| over the forehead four inches long, extending TO
the brain, and the other In the temple either Of
| killed an OK. Mr.. Herndon died on the Friday
night following A post-mortem examination was
held, and 1t was found that . blow just above the
right eye had fractured the skull In two dlnerent
directions-one across the forehead and the other
crushed into q shapeless mass by two blows with
/ the back OF the axe, and hts body laid where he
FouEs was &c Committed to the jail at Brentsville
at the time OF his arrest. and to-day he was
brought out for hearing , when M he he was i1ly com.
the January term Of the Crcutt. Court. II the
dying testimony Of Mr.. and Mrs. Herndon are ad-
j III
pay the penalty OF this bloody deed on the gallows
on the night OF the tragedy there was In an old
bureau In The same room, IN one or the drawers,
$500 in gold and silver ana s235 In Rreenbacks.
i The coin was wrapped In ola rags. and the paper
money was in two piles in the drawer. The latter
i was taken and the
| PRINTS OF BLOODY FINGERS
showed that It was taken at the time the murders
/ were committed, and SHOWS that robbery melted
| the murders and was deliberately planed by Fouks
before his return to the house after having been
driven away.
/ A WEALTHY NIsER.
Herndon was native OF Fauquier county, but
| has lived most OF his life in Prince William. He
/ Is reputed to have been worth between $50, 900
and $4,000, in real estate outstanding debts and
! high wore homespun clothes and long nair not
! generally well combed. He attended all the
/ County Courts where he had considerable busl-
ness. and between business hours could