The New York herald., 1878-03-01
TERRILL'S AWFUL CRIME.
THE MURDER OF THE WELDON FAMILY IN
JUNE COMPLETENESS OF THE CIRCUM-
sTANTIAL EVIDENCE.

JUNE Asr-CoMpLETENEss OF THE CIRCuM.
sTANTIAL EVIDENCE.
From the Cincinnati Gazotte1
LOGAN, ONO, Feb. rs, 1878.
OF all the many atrocious crimes that have been
chroniced OF late years exceed iu cold
bioodcd atrocity and mysteriousness oil motive the
murder OF the Weldon family In last June, for which
William v. Terr Is now 10 be tried Tor his life John
Weldon, q bachelor OF forty-egh,, lived noar Gore,
some eight miles from Logan. With him iivod his
sister and housckeeper, Susannah McCIurg aged nifty,
and her daughter by former husband Nancy A. Hite
q pretty, intelligent girl OF sixteen. The family pos
sesscd u competency and were moro than ordinarily
quiet industrious, intelligent and refined, and
PROBABLY one OF thom had enemy IN tho
world. On the evening OF Friday, June 23, all
were most deliberately and fendishly murdered
About supper time shots and cries were heard by tho
neig bors, the nearest half a mile away, but at
traced no attention. All the next bamy June day
mute evidence, OF murder lay to the hot
sun awaiting discovery ana the avenger oi innocens
blood and Ill the afternoon was AM thing known
oil crime Then ncigbDor boy errand
stumbled on the discovery. The body OF John Weldon
found quarter oil mile from the house, In tho
edge OF field, and by strip oil woods Four pistol
wounds aud two cuts IN the head, any one of which
wounds mortal, atcsted the desperate earnest
ness his murderer. The ground bore evidence OF
long aud hard death strugge. OUTSIDE oi tue house
IN the FLOW gcmmed yara lay the bodies OF his
and her daughter Each had wound in the head
IRON that was let lying near. whto each head
was nearly severed from tho body by cut from
worms wero already roting. inc quiet farm house
ST owed especial signs OF having been pundercd
The community terribly wrought up But that
same evening before search murderer had been
organized Terri arrested Tor disorderly conduct
In Logan saloon. That nigh alter the return oil
officers from the scene oil the norrd tragedy, some-
tplup caused TcrrIll to be suspected. An cxanina.
tion while he WAS still asleep in drunken stupor
showed scratches and slight wounds on his person.
He was waked up and charged with the crime Then,
evidently under the impression that he would be
leased Al, he told he know, he confessed to the
Marshal and aiterward freely tod Others that he
present and saw the killing, which done by one
King The later was at once arrested Pubic indig.
| nation rose to white heat. The Sheriff had Ia
| take his prisoners to Lancaster on u locomotive
| to save them from being lynchcd Al
| the preliminary examination King proved sn
| abb by scores Of witnesses, and was as
| once released. The inquest occupied several daya
| The balls IN Weldon's body ntted rerrul's pistol
Bloody tracks on the hoor Of Wedon's house could
have been made by wound In rerrill's foot HIS
| bloody clothing was found at his home. Blood.
stained money was found in his pocket His
description OF the position OF the bodies, US left by
the murderer, was entirely accurate, though II was
impossible that he should nave heard single detail
| from any one. lie had changed countenanco notice.
ably when the news was hrst brought to Logan aud he
heard in store. and he had boon seen on Saturday
morning 10 goto a point from which he could tho
motive. The verdict that ho murderer.
| At the November term OF court he was indicted.
arraigned anu the trial sol for February 70. Terr
was nineteen years old the Goth January is of
medium neight slender, with a full head and rather
good looking countenance, but with eye seeks
avoid anOhers ana AN air OF reckless bravado tnat
is the only evidence of criminal one can see
ABOUT him. His father Is small farmer living near
| Gore, aud William was brought up only mile from
the house of the man he Is charged with having 40
| cruelty murdered. The father ia a steady, reliable
man, the mother a good, Christian woman. The only
and the youngest child, william was probably SO
INDUCED In early youth as to brook as he
grew TO manhood, ana gave his pascons rein. Always
disnclned 10 study, ne can now read but little.
scarceIy write MS name, and is wofully ignorant on
most subjects. Within year or Two ne had become
very reckless and hardened. anu more once had
been n ned ior his mIsdeeds, once borrowing money
IRON Weldon 10 pay his nhc. Ii guilty IT nard 10
conceive his motive. That mystery has not yet been
| exactly lifted by any theory proposed. An experi-
enced detective failed to find any clcw 10 possible
| accomplce. Tho youth has borne his long conlne.
ment moderately well. Only WITHIN a fcw weeks has
he shown any signs OF realizing his situation and
whom disposed to he Will talk ~ freely Of The marder
1 as of ANY TRIVIAL occurrence