Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1877-08-28
BRUTAL MURDE Z.

a LADY BEATEN TO DEATH-HEH AOSbAND
NEARLY KILLED-A YOUNG WOMAN BADLY
BEATEN JUMPS INTO WELL FOR PRoTEc-
TIoN-THEIR HOUSE, CLOTHING, FURNlTuKE,
&C., BURNED-Two SMALL CHILDREN IN THE
MIDST OF THE FLAMES
From correspondent writing under date OF
August 22nd. we gather the following facts IN
relation to one of the most horrible crimes that
1t has ever been our duty to record. 1t occurred
near Greenfield, in Nelson county, before day.
light on last Tuesday morning, the 2lst inst:
San old man named James Carter, Win one
leg, and his sister, an old woman, named Susan
Harris, a widow, lived together on small
piece of land owned by them; young
woman called "Maggy" Henderson, lived with,
or was staying with them. 1t seems that, a lew
weeks ago. q certain William Fox, Ia neigh
bor,) and his wife came near separating.
he beating her cruelty, on account OF an alleged
intimacy between him and Miss Henderson,
who had declared that he was the father of a
child to which she expected soon to give birth
and it seems that Mrs. Harris had told the wife
of Fox Of it.
"At the above mentioned time, Fox went to
the house of Carter and killed Mrs. Harris by
beating her to death with a club or something
of the kind. Miss Henderson attempted to pre-
vent him; he then turned on her, and attempt
ed to kill her, saying that he intended to kill
them all. Mr.. Carter, who was in an upper
room. being aroused, came down, and Fox
turned on him, knocking down and beating
him almost to death. Fox supposing he had
killed him, then turned on Miss Henderson,
who had gotten into the yard, and in a scuff1e
she escaped his grasp and threw herself into an
old we'll in the yard, which had been partly
filled up. Fox appeared unwilling to venture
in there, and she thus escaped with her life.
though badly beaten. 1t is thought she will
recover. He then set fire to the house and it
was consumed, with all the furniture, and
clothing-except their night clothes which they
had on.
"A near neighbor reached the house before it
was consumed and found two small children,
who had been taken there, sitting on the floor,
screaming and trying to push the Goals and
pieces of burning wood from them. not being
able to get to the door through the flames.
"Mrs. Harris is a very respectable woman,
and has been member Of the Baptist Church
for many years. She was buried on the same
day at the Church.
"Mr. Carter is also respectable man.
"Fox was arrested and committed to jail
The excitement is very great"
Since the above was put in type we have re-
celved the following from our correspondent at
Alton:
ALTON, VA, Aug. 18th. 1877.
Editor Spectator This peaceful and quiet
portion Of our country was aroused last Tues
day by reported murder some or miles
from here. down the Rockfish Valley. It seems
from the inquest held by Squire Martin, that
one James w. Fox went to the house of Mr..
James Carter on Monday night or Tuesday
morning just before daylight, and attempted to
kill the whole family, which consisted OF Mr..
Carter, 80 years old, his sister Mrs. Harris, 70
years old, and Mrs. Margaret Pannell and her
children. TIE lend first killed Mrs. Harris
with club. and then seriously wounded Mr..
Carter and Mrs. Pannell, striking them about
their heads and faces, and leaving them for
dead. He then fired the house to conceal all
traces Of his crime. Mrs. Pannell was able af-
ter q time to give the alarm, and with the as
sistance of the neighbors the body Of Mrs. Har-
ris and Mr.. Carter and two children were res
cued from the flames. The building which was
small being entirely consumed.
Family difficulties and revenge are supposed
to have instigated this fearful crime; the fami-
ly being too poor for robbery to have been any
object. 1t is to be hoped that the guilt will be
proven and the offender brought to speedy JUS
tice Fox is now in Jail, at Lovingston, await
ing his trial,-which will be next week, sup
pose, as County Court meets Monday.
We had fine rain this which was badly
needed.
There still remains quite a crowd of visitors
at the Alton House and the "cry is still they
come" H.
NoTE.-On yesterday evening we learned the
following additional facts in connection with
i the ahOva ri Mr. uol,
who lives in the neighborhood where the MUIR
der was committed:
The "Maggy" Henderson and Mrs. PANEL
mentioned In the accounts above are and
the same party. Her maiden name was Mag
gle Henderson, but she was married to a man
named Tip PANEL some three or four years
age, from whom she was separated in about
one year. The two children spoken of belonged
to Mrs. Pannel, one being by her husband anC
the other by anegro man. About the time Fo1
| came near separating from his wife he had
ground a butcher knife. declaring his purpose
| to kill Maggie Pannel. She gave birth to twins
| on Tuesday night Of the same day of the trag-
| edy-both boys. It is supposed that he had set
fire to the house before he attempted to kill any
| of the parties but being discovered he attempt
l ed to kill them all. Old Mr.. Carter did not re-
cognize the party who struck him, as it was
dark and the man did not speak.
The house was on fire when he came down
stairs and the man met him at the door and he
Carter grabbed hold of his arms and held
him for some time, but having but one leg, his
foot slipped and his assailant got the advantage
of him and dubbed him very severely. The
first intimation that he had that there was any
thing wrong, Mrs. PANEL came up to his room
and threw herself on his bed and told him that
some one was in the house and had killed Mrs.
Harris and was going to kill her and her chill
dren.