Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-12-19
The HerndOn Tragedy.

Iii addition to the facts 10 the case, the re-.
port Of the evidences and the dying dccIara.
top,of Mr aud Mrs. Il'rndou, heretofore pub.
lisEed in this paper. the Manassas Gazgtte Of
to day, says
The Hernlon tragedy continues the leading
topic ln this section Of The State Mr. Heru.
don died 90 Frdly evening. A post-mortem
examination was held by Drs. Smoot and
Leache on Saturday last, when it was discov-
cred that blow over one OF his eyes hal
caused TWO fractures of the skull, one across
the forehead and the ether across the ten
pie, which were the cause OF his degth.
We are informed by DR.. Leache that biz feet
were terribly frozen, and would have required
ampuatlon to avoid modification. had not
death from the blows interviewed. Il will be
remembered that when touud IN the field ~
Friday morning after the occurrence Of the
tragedy, Dir. Hernd0n was in his stocking
feet and had been thus exposed for Scvcrl
hours 10 cold rain, and freezing nigh. aud
morulug.
"W hen Fouks was first arrested Cd the day
after the murder aud robbery he was commit
ted 10 jail Tor hearing % the following Mon
day. Ga that day Mr. Herudon was 50 Ger.
tain that he was fast recovering from. VIVA:
has since proven his death, that he sent word
10 the justice to postpone the examination IN
III lue>'iay the l5,h lust. when he thought be
would be able 10 attend and testify. A. this
time it was noised about and freely. bu rather
privately hintcd that the terrible culting aui
mangns Of the old folks might have been the
result Of domestic quarrel between them.
selves, aud the murder Of the little colorrd boz
was for the purpose of hiding the crime AMI
that the wife had been lett Tor dead By her
husband. 10 give some c1Iorlog to th}> very
taiaclUuS view OF the case. il was stated that
Mrs. lcrndon had given her atcuianr> t. Qu.
derStand that she knew all about The At: ar.
but positively refused to talk Oh thu sui c.. or
to give the name of The perpclrator. Her IT,
lng declaration mus; not ouly dlslpatc any .uch
beiei a. this, but fully subStantatcS The cyl.
dence OF her husband.
'Fouks was taken before Justice, Il1rDq
woodward and Whiting Oh TUESDAY a>; an!
fully committed to await the action Of the er.n!
jury, on the second Monday in January. f,g,.
is of small statue. perhaps five feet three "
four inches high, and will weigh one huu!ry!
and twenty pounds. His color is very dark.
His confinement, or perhaps fear, has toll en-
siderab!y on hun, and while the cxamtu4tiH
was going on his looks were wild aud cxc.taI.
and he did not seem to comprehend BIZ >Ir.
roundings. nor did he appear TO know whether
he was undergoing trial for his !c or wUc,h.
er preparations were being made for MS X II.
ton. His looks do NOT indicate a y,cj.g,
disposition, and no one would >IDg,c hin III.
of Il crowd Of halt dozen negroes :, ~ tie vie
who would be likely to commit such :: t,a:.4.
crime a. he stands accused with, luGec. !:
seems impossible that he coud have cau1.!..
ted the murders, and then with the hot b5i
Of his victims streaming from his fuger<, rob
the hou.c. unless prompted and backed By IL
mons OF the bottomItss pix. Whcnauc>tci
the morning after the butchcry he wa asst.
ing his former master, Mr.. john II. o R4c
who lives about two miles from The llenIr
place, in bu,chcring hogs, and was bcsG.~agaG
with blood, which rtf, ctualy obitcratci The
blood stains FROM the human gore wAlcf! he
must have born If nc pcrpctra'cd III" iou!
deed MIR Meredith who was first employed
by Mr. o R,ar 10 dctcud the prisoner anaA-
doDed the case at the examination, stating HAT
though MIR q Rear the boys iormcr mt>;cr
had come forward aud offered 10 pay a good
portion Of his counse's fees, no one ese, ut
even those who had pretended u DC the ''Oa.y
friends OF the negro, had come forward aud 5.
ferrd assistance in this.ume of uc:i.