The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1878-06-08
A Story that Reads Like a Chapter
q from Les MiSerableS.

from Les MlSerableS.
Among the numerous moss-grown
old tomb-stones in the graveyard of
Williamsburg, Va, is one which bears
the following inscription
Sacred to the memory of
SARAH SEMrHILI.
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 az snow and beloved by
all who knew her. Divine Providence
alone knows why she had to perish
SO nisrrably.
This epitaph, some Of the words of
which arc hardly !egible any longer,
is the only record left OF one Of tle
| most terrible tragedies that ever took
! place III the old Dominion.
1t was in 1888 that John Scmphill, a
young man, who said he was from
Santa Cruz in tue West Indies, ar
rived at Williamsburg and settled
there as tobacco planter. He had
plenty of money and was able to pur-
chase abOnt one thousand acres Of
the finest soil within \ short distance
of the old town.
Being apparently gentleman 10
every sense of the word, Nj. Semp.
hill was admitted to the society in
his new home, and year later he
was married toSarah Jones, a beauti
ful heiress, the wedding festivities
being celebrated with extraordinary
promp and splendor. Ia course of time
two daughters were born to the young
couple, aud everybody predicted a
long career of cloudless happiness for
them. Alas ! How terrible those bright
anticipatiops were to be disappointed.
1t was on Christmas eve, in 1901, that
a strange looking man, 10 a sort of
military uniform, appeared at the
house Of Mr.. Semphill who was in
Richmond at the time. Mrs. Semphill
received the stranger in the parlor.
"Do you speak French, madam"
he said to her in very broken English.
She replied in the Affirmative.
"Then, madam, please send your
two nurse girls with the children out
of the room."
She did 80, and looked interroga-
lively ut her visitor. The latter hes
itated a moment. Then he said in a
tone of deep emotion.
"Poor lady. l have terrible IT,
dings for you"
"Heavens!" she cried, turning very
pale, "my husband"
"Your husband is an infamous viii
lain"
"Sirw she exclaimed, Indignantly.
"He has basely deceived yon. He
is al escaped galley slave, a thief aud
a murderer !" -
She uttered a heartrending scream.
do you tell me the truth p she
grasped.
"He is a Spanish thief, and was sent
to the ga||eys Of Barcelona for life.
He made bis escape from thence, end
fled to Cuba, where he robbed aud
murdered a rich planter. l am here
to take him to Cuba, where the scat
fold surely awaits him."
The afflicted lady had become
strangely calm.
Sir" she said to the stranger, "be.
fore you arrest him, will you permit
me to hold a private interview with
with"
"His true name is Juan Ce6rio. If
you will let me remain in an adjoin-
ing room until he returus from Rich
mond, where be has gone, I under
stand, you may see him privately"
II expect him back every moment"
Half an hour later, Ce6rio, alias
Semphill! made his appearance. His
wife briefly told him everything. He
flew into a terrible rage. He shot
her through the heart, and rushed out
of tho room to the nursery, where he
stabbed his two little daughters. Next
moment the Cuban officer, who had
rushed after him, grappled with him,
and succeeded, after a desperate
struggle, in Stacking him. The
news Of the horrible tragedy spread
like wildfre through the old town,
aud iu less then twenty minutss a
large concourse of people had gath.
cred in front Of Semphill alias CefIo's
house. Vociferous threats to lynch
the murderer were made, and the
deputy she1iffs, who were promptly,
on hand 70 arrest him, had tho IT.
most difficulty 10 taking him to Jail,
whese he was chained to- the floor,
having threatened to CONT suicide.
The villain was hung on the 18th
Of May, l803.-[Cincinnati Enquirer.