The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1878-06-25
A Story that Reads Like a Chap
ter from Lies Miserables.
From the Cincinnati Enquirer

Among the numerous moss-grown
old tombstones in the graveyard OF
Williamsburg, Virginia, is one which
bears the following inscription:
Sacred to the memory of
SARAH sHaPHILL.
Who died at the age of twenty-five,
slain with her two infant daughters,
by her own husband.
She was fair to look upon, pure as
snow. and beloved by all who knew
her. Divine Providence alone
knows why she had to perish
so miserably.
This epitaph, some of the words of
which are hardly legible any longer, is
the only record left of one of the most
terrible tragedies that ever took place
In the Old Dominion
Ii was IN l19S that John Semphill, a
young man. who said he was from Santa
Cruz. IN the West Indies, arrived at
Williamsburg. aud settled there "a
tobacco planter He had plenty of
money and was able to purchase about
one thousand acres of the finest soil.
u
Being apparently O gentleman in
every sense of the word. Mr.. Semphill
was admitted to the best society in his
new home, and year later he was
married to Sarah Jones, beautiful
heircss. the festivities being celebrated
with extraordinary pomp and splendor.
In course of time, two daughters were
born to the young couple. and every
body predicted long career of cloud
less happiness for them Alas How
terribly those bright anticipations were
to be disappointed.
1t was Christmas eve, 1901. that a
strange looking man. IN sort of mill
tary uniform, appeared at the house of
Mr. Semphill. who was at Richmond
at the time. Mrs. Semphill received
the stranger in the parlor.
Do you speak French. madam 2 he
said to her in very broken English
She replied in the affirmative.
Then, madam. please send your two
nurse giI with the children out of
the room
She did 50, and looked interroga-
lively at her visitor. The latter hesi-
tated moment. Then be said in a
tone of deep emotion:
Poor Lady. | have terrible tidings
for YOU
Heavens she cried. turning very
pale; my husband
Your husband is an infamous
william
Sir, : she exclaimed, Indignantly.
He has basely deceived you He is
an escaped galley slave, u thief and a
murderer
Sbe bs eon hshasytilsspdtiRG2t hs tie fqrea%s
gasped. /
lie is Spa ish thief. and was sent
to the galleys of Barcelona for life. He
made his escape from there and fled to
Cuba, where 10 robbed and murdered
a rich planter am here 10 take him
to Cuba, where the scaffold surely await /
him
The afflicted lady had beco.ue
strangely calm
Sir she said 10 the stranger, be-
fore you arrest him. will you permit
me 10 hold private interview with
with
His true uame is Juan Cetirio. Ii
you will let me remain in an adjoining
room until he retarns from Richmond,
where he has gone, I understand, you
may see him privately
| expect him back every moment
Half an hour later, Cehrio, alias
Semphill msde his appearance. His
wife briefly told him everything. He
aew into terrible rage. He shot her
through the heart. and rushed out OF
the room to the nursery. where he
stabbed his two little daughters. The
next moment the Cuban officer. who
rushed after him, succeeded after a
desperate struggle in shackling him.
The news of this horrible tragedy
spread like wildfre through the old
town, and in less than thirty minutes
large concourse of people had gathered
in front of Semphilfs, alias Cehrio's
house. Vociferous threats TO lynch the
murderer were made, and the Deputy
Sheriffs. who were promptly on hand
TO arrest him, had the utmost difficulty
in taking him to Jail, where he was
chained TO the floor, having threatened
TO commit suicide. :.
The william was hung on the 18th OF
May. 1903.