Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-03-19
THE HEKNDON MURDER.
The Murderer-TheA Approaching Ex-
ecufion-Hindicati ton of the Law.

petrated in this community, on the evening Of
the Sd day of December, 1874 deed which
has no parallel 10 the annals OF crlme-no
counterpart anywhere 10 the entire category OF
savage brutality.
The maIippancy and semi barbarism of vic.
torious Carthage never presented In It's treat
meut of the Roman Regulus spectacle more
inhunlan 10 its conception, and more hendlsh
in its subsequent execution, or more abhorrent
to the seuse of common humanity, than the
tragedy which occurred on that date In this
otherwise peaceful community.
jeremiah Herndon, a Well-to-do farmer,
man who had lived out bis three-score years in
| peace aud harmony with his fellow mau, with
no breath of SANDER 10 asperse his integrity, or
| yenomous tongues to assail his character; with
no ayowed enemy to mar the tranquility OF bis
declining years; his wife, the partner OF his
lows, his prieis and OF his tollsOme life, to-
gether with Addison Russell, a small coloIed
bow, between ten and twelve years OF age, be-
came the victims of al ignorant, coWardy, pas
sionate, brutal and malignant assassin, who, IN
the commission of his fell act, had no other
motive than suppostltlous revenge, no other
paiation of his crime than mean aud aim.
| less design to screen himself from threatened
prosecution for petit larceny.
| The house where the murders were commit
ted is about six miles southwest OF BrentsVIlle,
near Cedar Run, and not far from the Stafford
| llne y
On Thursday morning, between the hours OF
! eight and nine, Que of the Sons OF DIR. Hern-
don. who lives but short distance from his
| fathers homestead, went, as was his frequent
habit, to bis fathers house, and on entering
discovered the doors to be open and the toor
of the room (which was used for dining, sit
ting and bedroom by the old people, TO be
| covered with large pools of blood. The colored
| bow, Addison Russell, (who, with Mr.. and
| Mrs Herudon aud the prisoner, Jesse Fuuks,
| were the only Inmates of the house,, Was lying
on his back near the fireplace, with deep
cash across his forehead about eight feet
! from the boy lay Mrs Herndon on the bed,
both apparently dead, but his father was no.
where TO be seen. Appalled, by such sight,
he ran to the house of MIR. j. &. Colviu, the
| nearest neighbor, and Informed him of what
ne had seen. They, with a ,coored man' i'm,
1ucdiateIy repaired to the house, examined
the old lady and boy, concluded both we're
/ dead and made diligent search for Mr.. Herndon,
| but failed to find him. The neighbors were
| then summoned and the condition of the house
examined, but no clue to the murderer was OBJ
| Ianed, though the beaureau where Mr.. Hern-
I don kept his moucy was open with the keys 10
the lock, and some money was supposed to
have been taken; still the gold aud silver we're
untouched About ten o'clock neighbor
brought in Mr.. Herndon on his back, hay
ing found him about half mile from the
house on Cedar Run, walking in his stocking
feet, without bis coat on and bareheaded. l0
the meantime Mrs. Herndon was found not to
be dead though utterly unconscious. An IN
quest was held upon the dead body OF Addison
| RUSSELL and Jesse Fouks, WHO had gone to
I Miss o. Rear's, about TWO miles from the place,
was at first arrested on suspicion, and permit
| ted to testify at the inquest His confused
manner iu giving his evidence confirmed the
suspicion heretofore entertained OF his guilt.
| Notwithstanding the subsequent declarations
| of Mr. and Mrs Hcrndon, who 10 the mean
time recovered sufficient consciousness to re-
member that Jesse Fouks had entered their
room about dusk and had quarrelled with MIR.
| a., the evidence was only clrcumstantlal and
macy persons believed in the Innocence of the
prisoner.
The trial came on, and it was then that the
criminality of the prisoner was settled beyond
doubt by his confession to the jaiior of hav
ing concealed money which he stated he had
picked up where MIR. H. had dropped it.
The prisoner was defended by Messrs. Mere.
dith and Williams, the State being represented
By Commonwealth s Attorney Larkin, assisted
by Judge Nicol. He was found guilty and
condemned to be hanged. Judge Keith, 10
passing sentence upon him, tod the prisoner
! that he had received fair and impartial trial,
and exhorted him to make preparation for the
future welfare Of his soul.
On the 3lst Of January last Fouks made bis
escape from the jain. He burnt hole through
the partition of his cell and got out into the
|
| his escape except an iron grated door, which
was unlocked, and the outer door. On his ap.
pearance at the outer door he was met by the
TAILOR wife, who, with great presence Of mind,
seized him and called for help, but be managed
to get free aud got away, but was captured on
the following day 10 straw rick about six
| luiles from Brentsville. Ga the following day
he sent for the jalor and Sheriff Goodwin, and
told them that he could not go to bis Maker in
PRAYER with lie on his lips He acknowledged
his guilt and disclaimed having any accompIice,
and stated that lie was ready to die. Contu
ing, he said that on the evening of the murder
he took some meat, ADD that Mr.. Herodon
threatened to prosecute him; that be went into
the house to try to induce the old man to
promise not to prosecute him; that be refused
to retrac; aud that they then commenced
quarreling, and Mr.. Herndon took up the ak
and threatened to knock his braius out. Fouks
retreated to the door (the door being opeu,)
| words, 'Old Satan was in me- F." struck Mr.
Herndon and took de ak from him, and den
| struck de old woman twice wild de ak. didn't
strike her with nufin else, and den strike
Add 1.-THE colored boy) twice wild de ak also.
Iu reply to another question he said that old
Mr.. Herudon had his face towards him when
lie struck him that Mrs. H. was close by, but
| before she could interfere he had gotten hold
of the ak and struck her down as he supposed
dead. When he killed the old people and the
boy he thought it was about eight o'clock. He
further stated that be did not strike the old
man with anything but the axe handle, but the
old lady and the boy were killed with the ak
that candle was burning 10 the room at the