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

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tells the following terrible story
One Vf 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
seveuty-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 a long time had present
ment that he would be murdered for his
money. Recently he called in Jack
Bcggs, a 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
aud 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 q
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 search fol
money. While thus engaged, the ole
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 towart
the outside door and his head by the
stove.
The shot awoke the wife, who did no
comprehend the situation, but, hal
asleep and bewildered, she left her bee
and followed her husband to the grocery
and to death. AS she passed through
the door the murderer coolly put hi
pistol to her head and fired. He aimee
too low, however The ball entered the
face near the right cheek bone, passed
through and came out on the left sidt
under the temple. The shot was no
fatal, and the girl heard her grandmoth
er cry: "Save me, for Gods sake
Save me !" The venerable victim wa
seized by the rufiians and forcedinto {
chair near the stove. Placing the pisto
about the right breast the fatal shot wa
fired, the ball passing through vita
part and silence ensued. The fiend
then deliberately continued their searcl
for money.
The poor girl, awakened and alarmed
by the shots and screams, jumped NJ
and crawled under the bed. In mo
ment after her concealment she saw
tall man, wearing long coat and blue
Jeans pafltaloons, enter the room with
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 tn,
clothes against the door, set them OF
fire, and left { Iarpom, closing the doc
behind him. his iuncture the gir
left her place ofVconcealment, and, es
, Gaping from her chamber, fled on tn
/ wings of fear to Cryder's house and tol'
her story.
There were six men at Cryder's hOus
, who Immediately hastened to the seem
/, of the murder. On the way one of then
!. fred a shotgun, and this alarmed TN
. villains, who hurried to the woods. Tn
, door was on fire and the bed was nearl.
burned. Among the bedclotheS wa
found watch and pOcketbook contain
ing S38. 60, which escaped the notice q
the thieves. The alarm was give
throughout the neighborhood, and me
" started in pursuit in every direction
About daylight this morning two me
we're seen passing down the road towar
8 Kingston. They were oyertaken by