The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1875-03-18

the man was waiting in the cabin of the scow.
Having got his victim inside. he came out in
Ills true character. He ordered the child to I'M
dress, threatening him with a knife if he hesi-
tated to oDey. Then he tied the naked child
to the lockers, and then the torture was begun.
First, he made a cash under each eye and
across each cheek. Then he slashed the arms
below the shoulders. Next, he drew the knife
underneath EACH nipple. Then he made slit
across the lower part of the abdomen, and jab-
bed the knife into the fieshy parts OF the chld's
body Finally, he drew of and administered
half a dozen kicks to @i
THE QUIvERING BODY OF TIE PAINTING
CHILD,
and retired from the scene, leaving his victim
to his fate. But for the providential return OF
the girl to recover her lost handkerchief, the
poor child would have been dead before the
night was half over. He describes his torturer
as boy with a white eye.
When these facts became known, the public
feeling was INDISPENSABLE. Parents were afraid
to allow their children to 80 to shool or to quit
their presence even in broad daylight. The
police worked indefatigaby to discover the
young monster, bat despite every exertion, he
remained uncaptured.
The climax of atrocity had not, however,
been reached even yet. A laborer returning
from his work on the Boston and Hartford rail
road, heard a strange moaning sound. The
night was dark and rain was falling. He lis
tened attentively, and pursuing the direction
whence the sound came, he discovered the max
ed body of boy bound to telegraph post
lie united the cord, wrapped up the almost
dead child and carried him to the hut OF a
Waterman on the bridge. What a spectacle
was reyealedl The boy was apparently five or
six years old. His golden curls were matted
with blood. His face was covered with gasTes
His limbs and body We're covered with gaping
wounds. The child was handed over to its par
ents, who had already informed the police of
his disappearance, and when he could, speak
his statement showed that he. too was a vic
tim Of the boy with the With eye.
THIS GROWING HORROR
stirred up the whole community. Special j
tectiyes We're put to Work. One officer volun-
teered to ransacll the city, and bring forth this
young monster, dead or alive, if he was within
reach. This man started out on his mission.
accompanied by the lad who had escaped tor
ture by the appearances OF third person on
the scene. The two went all around togethel
They spent three weeks hunting about in ev-
cry direction, and the officer was ready to give
tho matter up in despair. One evening they
were walking down Broadway, South Boston,
together; right in front of them was thick set
lad. approaching them at q slow, crouching
gait. His head was down; as nc came close
upon them he looked up; that one glance was
enough. The little fellow with the officer gave
a shout, and literally danced as he exclaimed,
pointing at the boy before them, s'rhere he is,
there he is. DON'T let him escape. That's the
boy. See, there's the white eye, there's the
white eye.''
THE BOY WITH THE WHITE EYE.
q
moment There was no mistake there vas the
white eye. Each one OF his victims s.lhse-
quently identified him, and he was tried and
sentenced to the Reformatory at Westfeld,
Massachusetts, until he should reach his TWEEN
ty-tirst year.
There Visited him and had long conver-
satien with him. / was struck with his re-
markable gentle manners and his Intelligence.
He told me he did not know what led him to
commit these crimes, and expressed his great
est horror and repugnance at them. lie had
always been accustomed to say his prayers,
bnt after having perpetrated these atrocities.
he would go and sit on. the side of his bed
afraid to lie down or go to sleep. When he
went out, he said he had no intention of do
ing anything wrong: but just as soon as an OPP
postunity offered he could not resist, the i'm
pulse. He did not know how he had escaped
detection so long, as he was walking about ev-
commission of brutality with view ofescaping
the detection and capture. When | Quilted
him he wept and expressed d hope that weuld
go and see him again.
HIS LAST CRIME.
At the end of q year and a halls conGne-
ment, Jesse was released and allowed to re-
turn home. His conduct at the reformatory
had been exen plarv. and there was every rea-
son to believe that his propensity to infict tor
ture was subduaG. The sequel shows that this
was not the case. He sonn returned to his
the little boy Mllen and cruelty butchered
him, this time finishing his work and closing
his career OF blood. -Subsequently on digging
in the cellar where his mother hal formerly
resided in South Boston, the skeleton OF q
child was found supposed to be the relnaiGs of
little cir! named Katie Curran. who had been
missing for some time. Indeed Jessie confess
ed having murdered her and buried the body
in the cellar.
AS stated at the outset. Jesse was sentenc-
ed on Saturday last to be hanged, certain ex-
ceptions taken during the trial having been
overrHled. Attorney General Train moved
for sentence, and Chief justice Gray briefly ac-
dressed the unfortunate boy and closed with
the sentence of death. The Chief Justice
was deeply moved, SO were all the Court
The condemned lad seemed scarcely to under
stand his fate.
Col Thomas VI. Preston, OF Washington
county, Va, died q few days since, aged IS
years.