The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-06-26
A TALE OF HORROR.

dies that took place in this country, In
the early part of this century, few will
be found more sensational and painfully
interesting than that which occurred in
July, 1911. almost on the site on which
now the flUurishing city OF Parkers burg,
West Virginia, stands.
At that time Northwestern Virginia
was but sparsely settled, and only a
few farm houses stood on the present
site OF Parkersburg.
The most substantial Of them was
| tw o-storied brick building, belonging to
Abraham Solomon Bloch, an English
jew, who had arrived in that part Of the
country in 1906, and who, in 1903, during
the excitement OF large camp meeting,
| with his wife and child, had Joined the
Methodist Church.
In 1910 Bloch died suddenly, leaving to
his wife and daughter Rebecca small
farm and two slaves, jackson, a colored
man of twepty-thrse, and Jackson's
wife, Dinah, very pretty quadroon.
| Rebecca was then sixteen years old.
| Sue was
| A PETITE BRUNETTE,
combining in her person all the charms
of the most fascinating daughters oil
Judah.
Her large black eyes, when in repose.
bore The strangely fascinating languid
expression OF the Orientals. Her waist
clasped IL with his hands joined to-
gether.
One day famous painter, who
stopped at her father's house while on
his way to the Far West, was SO struck
with Rebecca's beauty that he remained
there tor two months, and painted her
full length portrait, which ne sent to
England, where it excited general
admiration. And yet this splendid
creature was destined to meet with u
truly horrible late.
1t came about in this wise: Mrs. Bloch
and her daughter were ardent Worship
ers of the new faith they had embrace
They were generally respected for their
pious conduct, and on Sundays
Travelled nearly fifteen miles in order "
: attend meeting at small frame church
, built on u mound close 10 the kanaWha
River.
The itinerant Methodist preachers OF
that circuit, which, owing to the sparse
ness OF the population, was a very large
, one, never failed to stop at the hos.
pitable house OF Mrs. Boon, where they
were treated 10 the best the widow could
afford.
; One day, in the middle of July, 1911,
: John Messmore,
YOUNG METHODIST PREACHER,
of fine appearance ana aim 'sL brilliantly
! intellectual, arrived at the house Of Mrs
ii Bloch, who received HIM with the utmost
, Kindness.
. ~ have come here, Sister Bloch" he
said to her, ''Lo hold weeks revival
among tue colored lolks of the neighbor.
mood. VIII you let me enjoy your hospi-
J tality for that timeW
| ipvfuiIv iod with vn
quest. GA the same evening ReDecca
Luld her mother, as tney were going tt
bed, "Mamma, Mr.. Messmore said tC
me tonight, before going away, he
would tell me something that concerned
me personally. What can it be? AS he
was speaking to me, he looked at me SC
. strangely"
Mrs. Bloch could not see anything i'm.
proper in what Brother Messmore had
done, and told Rebecca to wait in
patience until
THE PIOUS MINISTER
, | would tell her what he mad meant.
Next day the revival began. About
three hundred negroes assembled GO
listen to Mr.. Messmore's eXhortations
Among his most attentive and enthusi
astic listeners were Jackson, Mrs.
Bloch's slave, and his pretty wife
Dmah.
Alter the services were over, Mess
more spoke to several OF the coloreC
folks; among others to Dinah.
:, Evening came, and Mrs. Bloch sen
jackson, at Messmere's request, to tn,
g Post. office of HUT wills, nine miles from
: where she lived. He was expected bacl
d by midnight.
= Messmore retired to his room on tn
ground floor at 8 o'clock. Mrs. Blocl
went upstairs to hers, and Rebecc;
It went to the small chamber at the end O
], the hallway on the ground floor, where
she slept. Next morning Mrs. Blocl
sieptuntil 8 O'clock.
When she came down stairs she wa
surprised at the stiffness reigning II
L the house. She opened Rebecca's doc
8 and
ATRULY TERRIBLE SPECTACLE
burst upon her view. Stretched ont o,
d her couch lay poor Rebecca, dead, he
,, face, her bosom, her sn0w-N night
, dress covered with blood.
The mother, overcome with horror
G tell fainting on the floor.
Upon reaWaking to consciousness. sh
l. rushed out of the little room, aud hur
n ried to Messmore's bed-chamber. Tn
n preacher was gone, but there were blood
% stains on the foor.
The trenzied mother ran to the doc
~ anu bCTGuiu6u CdChbOu Oludu
The latter came out of the kitchel
garden. She looked embarrassed, bu
# Mrs. Bloch did not notlce it nor did
\ large confusion in the quadroon's fac
"a attract her attention.
70 sDinah," shrieked Mrs. Bloch, "m
+, daughter has been murderedI"
.s ''La a. mercyp cried Dinah, In a ton
of intense horror.
Mrs. Bloch took her to the room wher
the corpse was lying.
"Where is Jacksenp asked the vic
G ow.
a "He is in the cornfeld, missis."
"Go and bring him here"
Jackson arrived in few minutes. Fl
n too seemed greatly shocked.
"Where is Mr.. Messmorep asked Mrs
Bloch.
Il "He must have gone away before day
., break, missis," replied the slave. "Whe
got to the stable it was little afte
6 sunrise. His horse was gone. Who ca
have done this" added jackson, wit
itears in his eyes. "Who can have kille
dear young missisW
The mother sank in another swoor
Dinah sprinkled her face with waite
II When she became conscious agai
IS Jackson was gone.
y "He is gone to tell Mas'r BurwelI,
y said Dinah.
Il