The New York herald., 1878-03-01
TERRILL'S AWFUL CRIME.
THE MURDER OF THE WELDON FAMILY IN
JUNE LAST COMPLETENESS OF THE CIRcuN-
6TANTIAL EVIDENCE.
From the Cincinnati Gazotte

JUNE LAST COMPLETENESS OF THE CIRQUE.
sTANTIAL EVIDENCE.
From the Cincinnati Gazette
LOGAN, ONO, Feb rs, 1S7S
or all the many atrocous crimes that have been
chronicled of late years mono exceed Ia cold
boodcd atrocty and mysteriousness OF motive the
murder OF the Weldon family In last June, for which
William " Terrill Is TO DO tried Tor his life John
Weldon, q bachelor OF for,y-eght, lived near Gore,
some eight miles from Logan. With him lived his
sister and nousok eeper Susannah McCiurg aged hny
and her daughter by former husband, Nancy A. Hite
pretty intelligent girl OF The family pos.
sesscd competency AID were more than ordinarily
quiet, industrious, intelligent and refined, and
PROBABLY not one OF them had an enemy in tho
world. On the evening OF Friday. June 23 all
were most deliberately and hendishy murdered.
About supper time shots and cries heard by tho
tracted no attention. All the next balmy June day
mute evidences Of murder lay exposed the hot
awaiting discovery and the avenger OF innocent
blood, and not I'll the afternoon was anything known
oil the crime. Then negbDor boy an errand
stumbled on the discovery. The body OF John Weldon
was found "a quarter oil mile from the house, in tho
edge OF n field, and by strip Of woods. Four pistol
wounds aAd two cuts IN the head, any one of which
SIX wounds was mortal attcsted the earnest
OF his murderer The ground bore evidence OF q
long and hard death struggle. OUTSIDE OF tue house.
the flower gemmed yara lay the bodies OF his sister
IRON that lett lying near whilo each head
was nearly severed from the body by cut from
worms were already rioting. Thc quiet farm house
owed no especial signs OF having been plundered.
The community was terribly wrought up. But that
same evening, before search had
organized Terrl was arrested Tor dsordery conduct
IN Logan saloon. That night, aiicr the return OF
officers the scene OF the norrid tragedy, some-
thing caused Tcrrill to be suspected. An examina-
ton while he was still asleep IN drunken stupor
showed scratches and slight wounds GU his person.
He was waked up ana charged with The crime. Then.
evidently under the impression that he would be re-.
leased II he told wnat he knew he confessed TO tho
Ma hat hu was
present and saw the killing which was dono by ono
Knp. The later was ut once arrested Public indlg
nation to white heat. Tho Sheriff had Ia
take his prisoners To Lancaster on locomotive
to save them from being lynchcd Az
tho preliminary examination King proved an
abb by scores OF witnesses, and was as
oncc released. The inquest occupied several days
Bloody tracks on the moor Of Welaon,s house could
have beon made by wound In Icrrls foot Hia
bloody clothing was found at his home Blood.
stained money was found In MS pocket Ills
description OF the position oil the bodies, left by
the murderer, was entirely accurate, though It was
Impossible that hc should nave heard single dotal
IRON any one. lie had changed countsnanco notice.
ably when the news first brought to Logan and he
heard II in store. ana he nad saturday
morning 70 g0to point from which ho could SEQ tho
house, and remain there some time without known
motive. The verdict was that ho was lne murdorcr
At the November term OF court he was Indicted,
arraigned anu the trial sol Tor February 70. Terr
was nineteen years old on the 29h OF January, is
medium height slender, with full head and rather
good looking countenance, but with an eye seeks
10 avoid anohers and an air oil reckless bravado tha
Is the only evidence OF criminal one can
ABOUT him. HIS tather Is small farmer living near
Gore, and William was brought up only mile from
the house Of the man he Is charged with having so
cruelty murdered. The father Ia a steady, rollabla
man, the mother good, Christian woman. The only
son an the youngest child, William was probably so
INDUCED in early youth brook restraint as he
grew to anhood, ana gave his passions rein. Always
disinclned 10 study, ne can now read but little
scarcely write his name, and Is wofuliy ignorant on
most subJects. Within a year or Two had become
very reckless and hardened, anu more once had
been ned Tor mis- misdeeds, once borrowing money
from WeluO to IL
CONCEIVE his motive That mystery has not yet been
exactly lifted by any theory proposed. An experI-
enced deteolive failed to find any clcw 10 possible
accompce. Tho youth has borne his long coniine-
ment moderately we'll. Only within u fcw weeks has
he shown any signs OF realizing his situation and
whom disposed TO he viii talk freely Of the urdor
a. u any trivial oocurrencos