The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1877-11-07
A MIDNIGHT MURDER.
An Old Couple shot Dead in Their Humble
HOme--NnrrOw Escape Of n little Girl.
From the Cincinnati Enquirer.l

One of the most brutal and pitiless
murders ever perpetrated in this vicinity
was committed near the county line of
Pickaway and Ross counties, between
Circleville and Chillicothe, about mid
night. The victims were an aged couple,
named Edward and Ann McVey. The
object of the murder was money, and the
amount procured was 50.
The couple were aged respectively
seventy-eight and seventy-two years.
For some years they have had charge of
the toll-gate on the old Columbus, Cir
cleville and Chillicothe pike, about
twelve miles below this place. They had
saved some money, and it was known in
the neighborhood that the old man, who
was afraid to trust the banks, had his
small earnings hidden about the house.
He had for long time had present
ment that he would be murdered for his
money. Recently he called in Jack
Bcggs, rich farmer on tile Pickaway
plains, and told him that something
might happen along the road, and he
would show him where he kept his
money, SO that if he were killed he
would know where to look for it. There
was living with the aged couple grand
child named Alice Dean, aged fourteen
years. The place where the tragedy oc-
CURED is an humble house, with barely
rooms enough to answer the needs of
the little family, The south end of the
house was used as kitchen, and the
middle was divided int } two bed rooms,
the old folks sleeping in the front room
and the girl in the back room. A door
opened from the kitchen into the old
folks bed chamber on one side and an
other into the grocery on the other
side. The nearest house, occupied by a
man named Cryder, was quarter of a
mile away.
The story of the murder, as CLEANED
from the young girl who escaped, and
from the surrounding circumstances, is as
follows Two men forced an entrance
to the house through the kitchen win
dow. They passed through the bed
chamber of the old folks into the grocery
without disturbing the slumbers of the
occupants. Here they lighted candle
ON the counter, and began a search fol
money. While thus engaged, the old
man was aroused and went to the grocery,
room to see what was the matter. AS he
passed through the door he was met by
one of the robbers and shot through the
heart He fell dead, with his feet toward
the outside door and his head by the
stove.
The shot awoke the wife, who did not
comprehend the situation, but, hall
asleep and bewildered, she left her bed
and followed her husband to the grocery
and to death. AS she passed through
the door the murderer coolly put his
pistol to her head and fred. He aimed
too low, however. The ball entered the
face near the right cheek bone, passed
through and came out on the left side
under the temple. The shot was not
fatal, and the girl heard her grandmoth'
er cry: "Save me, for Gods sake
Save me I" The venerable victim wai
seized by the ruffians and forced'into {
chair near the stove. Placing the pisto
about the right breast the fatal shot wal
fired, the ball passing through vita
part and silence ensued. The fendl
then deliberately continued their searcl
for money.
The poor girl, awakened and alarmed
by the shots and screams, jumped VI
and crawled under the bed. In a mo
ment after her. eoncealment she saw {
tall man, wearing long coat and blue
jeans paftaloons, enter the room with I
candle and begin search for money
He opened and ransacked the bureau
% drawers, and, failing to find what h'
sought, he pulled the bed-clothes from
the bed, set fire TO the bed, piled the
clothes against the door, set them OF
fire, and left Il IDrpom, closing the dool
behind him. his iuncture the gin
left her place ofVconcealment, and, es
Gaping from her chamber, fled on the
wings of fear to Cryder's house and tOl(
her story.
There were six men at Cryder's house
who Immediately hastened to the scene
of the murder. On the way one of then
fred a shotgun, and this alarmed the
villains, who hurried to the woods. The
door was on fire and the bed was nearly
burned. Among the bedclothea wal
found watch and pocketbook contain
ing S38. go, which escaped the notice o
the thieves. The alarm was giveI
throughout the neighborhood, and mel
started in pursuit in every direction
About daylight this morning two mel
we're seen passing down the road towar'
5 Kingston. They were overtaken by