Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1874-02-27

About ten days ago a woman by the
name of Mollie Howard, came here from
Los Animas, and took up her residence In
small hut within sight of our postoffice.
At the same time man arrived, who
claimed to come from California. This
man was an American. He was lame in
one foot, having had his toes frozen, and
was only able to wear a boot on one OF his
feet He was of sandy complexion, medl-
UNI height, heavy set, with a very bad face.
He lived in small hut with four or five
Mexican men.
On Saturday morning last the town was
thrown into a state OF great excitement by
the report that Molly Howard was found
in her house murdered On entering the
cabin in which the crime was committed q
sickening sight was presented. The poor
woman Law across her bed dead, with the
left side of her head mashed to Il Jelly; on
the forehead was Il cash two inches i'll
length, on her chin two ugly bruises. and
on her throat the imprints OF fnger-nails
were visible.
About 8 O'Clock Monday morning groups
OF men with revolvprs, gathered together.
At about eleven the groups concentrated
| into one large crowd and proce dnd to the
coroner's office Finding THAT the inquest
was over, they wendell their way to the
office of one of our justices of the peace
mere UUGN GtllClcu ttlt bllttlllS, diiNl St
| ing the American, they once more made
| their way down the street toward theriver,
| followed by at least one hundred and fifty
| persons of both sexes.
| At the river side Il large cottonwood tree
was sought and found, a rope thrown over
projecting limb and fastened around the
culprit's neck. He was then asked if he
! had anything to say, when he confessed 10
having killed Molly Howard because she
| owed him one dollar. He was then told he
would be given ten minutes to make his
peace with his Creator. He replied that he
| did not want to pray.
A woman by the name OF Moline then
| fastened another knot on the rope around
his neck, the word was given, and she. with
| three othe- disreputable women, and in
the presence of at least two hundred and
| fifty persons, Mexican and American,
| launched the murderer into eternity. He
died in about fifteen minutes.
| A RACE FOR A FoRTUNE-GENERAL
BUTLER AND CALEB CUSHING BEATEN.
For the past twenty years there has been
claim before Congress, known as the
''Atoche claim" General Atoche, who
presented the claim in person, was a hand,
some Mexican officer, who suffered in some
way during the Mexican war, and was com.
PEELED by Santa Anna to leave the country.
| His losses were secured to him when Mex
| leo paid our Government indemnity, but
the General died and it was hard struggle
for his widow and two daughters to get the
money. A correspondent of the Louisville
journal, tells what a race they had:
| The eldest daughter is the wife of Cap
| tain Ammon, the most intimate friend of
| the President. Nine. Atoche lives with
Mrs. Ammon. Before Congress adjourn
| ed, last March, the Atoche claim was al
lowed, but when Mr.. .Jannin, her lawyer
went to the Treasury to draw the money,
| Mr.. Gushing and General Butler were on
| hand with an attachment for their client,
| wealthy Mexican named Randero. Ran
| dero's claim covered the entire amount,
near 100000. After attaching the money
( it was necessary to allow a certain length
| of time to eiapse before either party could
draw the money. That especial day occur
red about two weeks ago. The first per-
sons who entered the Treasury upon that
| important day were Nine Atoche and her
lawyer, who proceeded to the Auditors
office, where all the papers were ready to
| be signed. This was quickly done, and
proceeding to the cashiers office, the mon
| ey was duly counted, receipted and deliv-
cred The parties left rejoicing. Two
| hours afterward Mr. Cushing and General
Batter entered, expecting to carry off great
piles of greenbacks. Imagine their con-
sternation when told that the money was
paid. | have heard that General Butler
made things lively, for when had he ever
before been outwitted? He said they did
| not come before IL O'Clock. because he
| thought that, even il Nine. Atoche got
| there at 8, it would take hours to make out
| the papers. The question is, who was the
| friend that limited to the Auditor that it
would be well to be prepared to receive
| Nine. Atoche as soon as the officer opened
for business ? Mr.. Jannin gets fee of
10000, and Mr.. Gushing and General But.
| Ter are minus about that sum.
| A TERRIBLE TRAGEDY IN GEORGIA.
| On the 18th instant, near Rutledge, Geor-
| gia, John W. Woods, farmer, admins
| tered morphine to his children, aged re-
( spectively fourteen, ten and four years, and
then deliberately shot himself. Mr.. Woods
and his wife had been married about fiji
teen years, during which time they have
not lived very happily together. He was
in the habit of coming home drunk, and
when under the influence of liquor would
beat and abuse her terribly. They separa.
ted several times, but for the past year had
been living peaceably together. On last
| Saturday Woods came hsme drunk and
commenced threatening and abusing her
He finally made a rush at her and sought
to seize her, it is thought with the inten
ton of killing her. She dubbed him and
fled to neighbor's, and did not return til
morning, when, on going to the house she
found the doors barred Going to a win.
dow and looking in, she discovered Woods
lying upon the carpet with a pillow under
his head and discovered blood upon his
breast. Soon the doors were forced open
by some neignbors, when lying on the fiool
was Woods, quite dead. In the same room
lying upon bed, with his head resting up
on the pillow, looking as though in peace
| full slumber, was his youngest son, George
also dead In an adjoining room, in the
same bed. were his oldest son and daugh
ter, both sleeping the sleep of DEATH
COMING IN.-An occasional correspon-
dent of the Alexandria Sentinel" wri
ting from points along the w. G. V. M. &
G. S. Railroad, says:
SAT Midland. the new station, in Eau
| quier county, between Bealeton and Rap
| pahannock stations, where so many new