Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1878-06-05

Which Reads Like Chapter sat o.
stLey ulserables."

which Reads Like Chapter ut 81
"Les Mlserables."
Among the numerous mossgrown old
tombstones in the graveyard Of Viii
lliamsburg, Va, j. one which bears the
following inscription: bht4k
SARAH sSHPHiLL.
Who died At the age Of 9, slain. with her two
infant daughter; BY her own
loved BY eli who knew Scr Divine Provi-
dsnce alone knows why che Lad to
perish 90 mlsefably.
The epitaph, some of the words Of
which are hardly legible any longer, is
the only record leh Of one of the most
terrible tragedies that ever took place
in the Old Dominion.
It was in 1898 that John Semphill, q
young man. who said he was from Santa
Cruz, in the West Indies, arrived at
williamsburg and settled there as . to-
bacco-planter. He had plenty of money,
and was able to purchase about 1000
acres of the finest soil within short
distance of the old town.
Being apparently gentleman in
every sense OF the word, Mr.. Semphill
was admitted to the best society in his
new home, and a year later he was mar
rien to Sarah Jones, q beautiful heiress,
the wedding 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 these bright anticipations
were to be disappointed. 1t was on
Christmas eve, in 1901, that strange
looking man, in sort Of military uni
form, 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, madame -
he said to her in a very broken Ian
guage.
She replied in the affirmative.
"Then, madame, please send your
two nurse girls with the children out OF
the ROOM"
She did 80, and looked interrogatively
at her visitor. The latter hesitated q
moment. Then he said in tone OF
deep emotion
"Poor lady, I have terrible tidings
for you" :,
Heavens p she cried, turning very
pale, my husband"
"Your husband is an infamous VII
lain"
"Sir |" she exclaimed, indignantly.
He has basely deceived you. He
is an escaped galley slave, thief, and a
murderer
She uttered heart-rending scream.
''Do you tell the truth ?" she gasped.
He is Spanish thief, and was sent
to the g.,lleys Of Barcelona for life. He
made his escape from thence, and sailed
to Cuba, where he robbed and murder
ed a rich planter. / am here to take
him to Cube, where the scaffold 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 Cefirio. If
you will let me remain in an adjoining
room until he returns from Richmond,
where he has gone, understand, you
may see him privately" .
~ expect him back every moment"
Half an hour later Cefirio, alias
Semphill, made his appearance. His
wife briefly told him everything. He
flew into terrible rage. He
shot her through the heart, and rushed
out of the room to the nursery, wh' re
he stabbed his two little daughters. The
next moment the Cuban officer, who
had rushed after him, grappled with
him, and succeeded, after n desperate
struggle, in Stacking him. The news
of the horrible tragedy spread like wild
fire through the old town, and in twenty
minutes a large concourse Of people had
gathered in front of Cefro's house.
Vociferous threats to lynch the MUIR
derer were made, and the deputy sheritis
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 sui
eide.
The villain was hung on the 18th of
May, 1903.