The Hillsborough recorder., 1878-06-12
Al FEARFUL TRAGEDY.
n Blrk Lesy from Me Criminal History
III Of pityfnio. ~

A 0Wh Leey .ltOUt 6tt IIfHttuH ItstOiy
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II Among the numerous moss grown old
tombstones in the graveyard az Williams
burg. Va. Is one which bears the following
inscription
Sacred TO the Memory Of
SARAH sEMfliLL.
Who died at the aye Of tweIity five. slaih
with her two infant daughters by her s
set own husband. a,
She was fait to look upon. pare as .now,
and beloved By al that knew her.
Divine Providence alone knows
," Why she had TO perish SO nj.
7 serably. sa.. Aat. >,..,
This epitaph. some Of the wofds Uf which
are hardly legible any longer, is the only
record lett Of one Of the iiiust terrible do
nestle tragedies that ever took place in tho
Old Dominion. a
1t was in iT6s that John Seibbhili. 4
young Than, who said that he was from San
Ia Cruz, in the West Indies. arrived at
Williamsburg, and settled there as a to-
bacco planter. He had plenty Of money.
aud was able to purchase about 6uB tbous+
and acres OF the fuest soil within short
distance Of the town. .ss.,.. ..... ,..,.
Being apparently gentlemaii in every
sense Of the word. Mr.. Semphill was ad-
mtted to the best society in bis new home.
and year latsf lie was Iiiaffied to Sarah
Jones, i b. :; .ess.,r- $751;. s#t ..+t .sm
A BEAUTIFUL HsIRgss,
the wedding festivities being celebrated
with extraordinary pomp and splendor. Id
course Of time two daughters we're born to
the young couple, and everybody predicted
a long career Of cloudless happiness for
them. .... go. ..~. So. s-se.as.......-....
Ahs! how terribly these bright anticiha-
tious were to be disappointed. Il Was on
Christmas eve. in 1901. that Strange looks
ing man, in a sort of military uniform, aps
peared at the house Of Mr.. Semphi!... who
was in Richmond ut the time. Mrs Ssmr-
hull received the stranger in the parlor. -
Do you speak French. madam 7 lie said
to her in very brokeii English.
She replied in the affirmative. ...
Then. madam, ple,se send yoiir two
nurse-girls, with the children. out Of the
ROOM
She did so, and looked interrogaiiyely at
her visitor. The latter hes:tated mo-
ment. Then said 10 tone of deep emo
ton: --. >. r.s-ss
Poor lady, I have terrible tidiugs for
you
'IIeavensr she cried. turning very pale.
My husband
Your husband is an
INFAMOUS VILLAIN
'Sirr sue exclaimed. indignantly
lie has bssely deceived you. lie II an
escaped galley slave. thief and murder.
err e... ... IT,
She uttered aeartrending screafi.
do you tell me the truth . she gasped.
'lie Us Spanish thief. and was sent To
the galleys Of Barcelona for life. He made
bis escape from thence. and hed to Cuba
where be robbed aud murdered rich plan
ter. l am here TO take him to Cuba. where
the scaifold surely awaits him. ...-@.t....
The afflicted lady bad become strangely
calm.
Sir she said to the stranger, before yoa
arrest him will you permit me to hold u
private interview wiih--with--' ...--
His true o mo L. JaaL Ce6,io lf yoa
will let me remain in an adjoining roUua
until he returns from Richmond. where ha
has gone understand, you may sev him
privately ser b.. i. -T.,
I expect him back every moment
Half an hour later. Cetriu alias Senp-
bill. made ais appearance. Ills wife brief;
ly told hun everything. He few into
A TERRIBLE RAGE.
lie shot her through the heart. and rush :
ed out Of the room 10 the nursery. where be
stabbed bis two little daughters.
The next moment The Cuban officer, Who
bad rushed after him. grappIed with him.
aud succeeded. after desperate struggle.
in shsckling him.
The news Of this horrible tragedy sJread
like wild FIRE through the old town. aud in
less than twenty iIinutes large concou-ss
Of people had gathered iu front Of SemphilI
alias Ceti,io's house. =
Vos'ferous threats 70 lynch the tfnrderer
were made. ard the deputy sheriff.. Who
we're promptly on hand to arrest him. had
the utniust difficulty in tsking him % Jail.
whore be was chained 10 The focr, having
threatened to commit suicide.
The villain was hung ou The f5ih o. Nay.
1913.
l. ..- .-l-~-l>~><ss~~s- r.. ..s.a.
Can any ono in The school isIl me shy
| n shi,{ 4 S.lfaJ az .sL.t /. t...I... - !.