The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1876-02-10
A MANAGES WORK.

] n
FRIGHTFUL ATTEMPT TO MURDER A FAMILY
BY A MADMAN-HE MORTALITY WOUNDS
SON BADLY WOUNDED.
| One Of those frightful and horrible tragedies,
which at times cause communities to sicken
and shuldcr at the contemplation OF Its har
rowing details, occur2etl in this county, on last
Thursday morning, at Just little after day
light. The scene OF it was near the village OF
Mt. Eolon, in the lower part of this county,
and the chief actor was q middle aged and
hitherto peaceful citizen, Mr. Augustus Stau-
bus. farmer For sometime past, the mind
of Mr. S. has been disordered, caused, it is said,
by domestic trouble and financial embarrass-
ments, and on several occasions previous to this
last tragic demonstration, he had given evil
dence OF that dread malady, insanity. Upon
one occasion, about two week ago, he left his
home under pretence OF visiting his daugh-
ter, but wandered out into North River Gap,
where he was found the next day by the neigh
bors who had turned out to look for him. When
questioned, he gave no rational answers. On
the evening preceding the murderous assault,
he had been in Mt. Scion, and conversed quite
sensiby with several persons, though he men,
toned that thieves had tried to rob him. The
same evening two wagoners from Pendleton
had campcd near his mouse, and when he
brought his AK into the room at night, he told
the family that he was afraid that ne would be
robbed during the night by the tcamsters.
Early Thursday morning, Stanbus. who is a
man of powerful frame and strength, got nn,
and after making the fire, advanced to the bed
on which were sleeping his daughter and her
little sen. He asked the child what he (S.) held
in his hand, and the child replied, ''Grand
pas AK" Scarcely had the words escaped his
lips when the naadmap raised the weapon pre-
paratory to striking. The mother shrieked
and threw the bed clothing over the chid's
head, but the az descended, nficting fright
severing the ear and laying bare the Jaw
making a wound four or five inches long.
Turning then upon the daughter he dealt her
J three terrible blows, two with the blade and
one with the pole of the ak. The FIRST was just
behind the left ear, and about three inches
long, the other was above the right shoulder
blade, and the third a terribly confused wound
on the breast bone. By this time Mrs. Staubus,
wife of the maniac, rushed to the rescue of her
daughter and grandchild, and received
CHASTITY wound from the edge OF the ak, which
clipped piece from her skull and exposed the
brain. and another from the pole Of the AK
which crushed the bones of her face, horribly
mangling it. Another daughter and grown
son, who were sleeping i'll the upper part of
the house, hearing the screams of fheir mother
and sister ran to their assistance and we're
assaulted by the mailman, bat they succeeded
in lodging tile blows snd grasping him around
the waist. The AK was wrenched from his hand
and he was securely held until assistance came
and he was quieteds
Drs. j. e. Lockridge and J. T. Clark ar
rived soon after the terrible conflict and did all
that medical skill could suggest for the relief of
the sufferers. Notwithstanding the most care
ful attention, Mrs. Staubus died on Sunday
morning. The Daughter and grandchild, it is
believed, will seeever.
Messrs. II. B. McFal, j. w. Beevers and z.
Dinke, took charge of tie unfortunate mad
man and brought him to Staunton, when he
was taken to the Asylum. he is raving
maniac.
CITY CeUacIL.-A special meeting of the
| City Council was held On Thursday night.
| The following members were present Mcssrs.
John B. Evans, Kayser, Basly, FHltz, Abby,
Witt, Fulkhouscr, Hoge and Burke.
| Sundry accounts, properly audited, were re-
ccivcd and allowed, among which WAS the ac-
count of George Harlan, Oyerseer OF the Poor
for Ward No. l, amounting to s102, and that
of Geo. II. Hudson, Overseer for Ward No. ?,
for $.2s so.
The petition of VIM. Glenn & Co., present.
ed at las. meeting of the Council, asking that
license be issued for Bill Posters, was fayora-
bly, reported upon by the committee to which.
it was referred. An ordinance covering the
case was ordered.
Petitions of Jno. B. Schere...Sr., for relnis-
sion of license tag. and ii j. Sidney Moffet,
for remission of taA on bath, together with
s.lndry other Estitions, were properly referred.
The Question OF the purchase Of the old
Methodist Institute property, OH Main street.
COR the !se of the Public schools, elioited an
animated discussion, and was finally laid on
the table until next meeting.
| A deed of trust, conveying ''Reservoir Lot, -
containing five aeres Cd, lot known as
Pump Lot" containing two and half acres,
and the buildings, engines, ETC., pertaining to
the City Water Works, to A. H: II. Stuart, Jos:
A. Waddell and Thos A. Bledsoe, Trustees to
secure the payment of bonds and coupons Isl
sued for the construction of the new water
works, was presented, and being approved was
ordered to be executed by the Mayor for the
city. The deed of Witt. & Holt, conveying
the Main street lot and water right to the city,
was ordered to be recorded.
Mr.. iaurke offered a resolution requesting the
4 City Engineer to give all needed information
to the committee in regard to the amount Of
land owned by Mrs. Tams in the corporate linn
its, for the correction of tax assessments.
Adopted.
The Committee on Streets reported improve
menfs on Gospel Hill, on the street leading to
Mrs. Jamisons.
Mr.. Kayser was granted further time to in
vestigate the city's right in the old reservoir
lot.
The Treasurer.s report showed receipts for
-. no an1 90