The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1878-08-22
AN ENGLISH MURDER.
An Arrest That Shows the Value Of ClrCumstan.
tial Evidence.

An Arrest That Shows the Value Of ClrCumstan
tisl Evidence,
One of the most atrocious murders re-
corded in modern history was commit
ted at Llangibby, Monmouthshire, Eng
land, on the night of the 18th of July
A family of quiet farm laborers named
Watkins, consisting of father, mother,
two daughters and son, were murdered,
their persons plundered, and the little
cottage they had occupied set on fire.
The flames, however, died out, leaving
the traces of the murderer's work. The
cottage door was open on account Of the
oppressive heat. The three children
had been put to bed. The parents were
eating frugal supper by the light of a
candle. The assassin first stunned them
by blows on their heads and then cut
their throats. The noise probably awoke
the eldest child in the chamber, little
girl of eight, who apparently went to
the window to call for aid, She was
stabbed in the back and fell to the floor,
The villains attention was then attracted
to the other children, whom he stabbed
and rolled eff the bed. He then ran.
sacked every part of the house, carrying
away such articles as pleased his fancy
Among the things he took with him was
a loaf of bread, some of the works of a
clock, and several articles of clothing.
He even carried off scarf that was about
the neck of the murdered husband and
father, through which was a cut made in
stabbing him in the throat Having col
lected his booty, he set fire to the cottage
and departed,
Beyond question the murderer was a
Spanish sailor named Joseph Garcia, who
had been released from the Usk jail the
morning before the tragedy. He hastily
left the prison on foot, though the war.
den offered him money to pay his fare
to aaaseaport if he would wait few mo.
ments at the gate. During the night and
day after the murders were committed
he wandered about the country asking
for water and food and inquiring the way
to certain places. He was suspected of
being dissolute character, and the local
police were asked to watch his move
ments before it was known that an awful
crime had been committed. Arriving at
at Newport at night, he was arrested
while drinking at public fountain, just
after asking policeman the way to
railway platform. AS he could give no
satisfactory account Of himself or bis
business, the policeman took him into
custody. On examining him, blood was
found on his clothes, knife was in his
pocket, while in the bundle he carried
were loaf of bread and several articles
of male and female apparel. At the in.
quest that took place two days afterwards
these articles were fully identified as be-
longing to the father and mother, by the
only surviving child, grOwn.up dau9h.
ter, who was at service in the YiCinity.
The works of the clock found on the
person of the sprisoner fitted those re-
naming in the case, while the loaf of
bread in his pocket contained dents cor
1OopOuuluk w GLlObO III q Ddhluk-Jlu lClb
on the supper-table' In short, the as.
sassin had taken with him sufficient evi.
denCe of his crime.
The details of this tragedy, one of the
most shocking in the annals of crime.
teach many lessons. They show for how
small a reward a person will commit
murder without the slightest provocation.
They also show how great risks will be
run to secure little treasure. Above all,
they point out how strong is a train of
circumstantial evidence. No person saw
these murders committed; no one even
saw the accused enter the humble home
where the bloody acts were performed.
But the indentaions in loaf of home
made bread told story that no one could
refute, and no amount of Cross question
ing could bring in doubt. Such crime
is sufficient answer to whole volumes of
arguments against capital punishment.
The existence of man like this MUIR
derer is no more sacred than that of a
rattlesnake, mad dog, or wild beast
that lives by devouring men. There is
nothing in such a man to reform and the
sooner he is banished from earth the
better for others who inhabit it.