The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1878-06-05
4 TERRIBLE TRAGEDY IN THIS
UNITY!
MURDER ON SOUTHLAND MOUNTAIN !

On last Thursday morning about 2 o clock, a
terrible tragedy took place on Sourland Noun
tain, about seven miles from Pennington,
in this county The particulars are as
follows
There has lived for many years, on Sourlan
Mountain, Ia place somewhat noted in the
past for the rough character of some of its in
habitants and the number of outrages perpe-
trated there a coored man by the name of
Peter Nixon, aged about forty. Nixon's house
stands a considerable distance from the road
in an out-of-the-way place, and quite dist
ance from any other house. Nixon being a
widower, has had for some time young COL
ored woman to keep house for him. This
woman was the daughter of Benjamin Peter
son, who lived in Buckingham, Pa, about
four miles from our neighboring borough Of
New Hope.
Recently the mother of the girl had also
been staying at Nixon's house. She had not
lived with Peterson for some time as she was
afraid of him, he having made threats against
her life.
Peterson, since,hs wife's departure had been
living with the Emmons' family, brothers of
his wife,, near Buckingham meeting house,
Bucks Co., Pa. 1t is stated that he had heard
that his daughter was living with Nixon as
his wife, and was incensed on that account ;
but it is more probable that he was jealous
because his wife was staying at Nixon's. He
had been jealous of her, however, for long
time.
On Wednesday last, latter receiving pay for
some work he had done in the burying ground
at Buckingham), Peterson started for Sour
land mountain. He came to New Hope,
where at about noon he bought gun caps,
stating that his gun, (which he had with him)
was already loaded. He wanted waterproof
APPS, but could not obtain them.
Peterson arrived at Eixon's house about 2
o'clock on Thursday morning. 1t is reported
that he purchased some whiskey on the way
with which to nerve himself for the act he
contemplated. He called for Nixson, who
lighted lamp and came down to the door.
While standing there, Peterson fired at him,
the load striking Nixon on the skull and blow
ing off a piece two or three inches in diane
ter, part of which flew across the room, a
distance of eight or ten feet and landed on q
chest-another part turned over on top of the
head, still fast to the skull by the skin. A
part of the brain was also removed. Nixon
fell to the floor senseless and did not move, it
is supposed, afterward. Peterson's wife and
daughter heard the gun go off, and surmised
who it WAS The daughter crawled through
second story window, jumped to the ground
and ran to the nearest neighbours, half mile
away, but they could not be induced to go to
the house until morning.
Hearing Peterson coming into the house, a
candle which was burning, was blown out,
and the mother crawled bntwean tho nae.
tresses of the bed. Peterson CROPPED his way
to the bed and found his wife under the mat
I'll shoot you right there {" For Gods sake,
don't shoot me here, )" she pleaded. "Get out,
then where | can see you -
Mrs. Peterson sprang to the floor, darted
past her husband, and ran into the field. Pet
erson was at her heels, and she had run only
a few feet before he seized her and threw her
violently to the ground.
"Save me, for heavens sake. Don't
shoot " she shrieked but just as she said
the words the man fired. His aim was bad +,
and the charge grazed her forehead and cheek
making flesh wound, but the muzzle of the
gun was SO near that her eyelids were burned
off and the hair singed. Peterson saw that
he had not killed his wife. Pressing on her
body with his knoe he tried hard to reload his
gun, but could not, for Mrs. Peterson strug-
gled violently. He several times got powder
into his hand, but could not hold her firm
enough to put the powder in the gun. Mrs
Peterson saw what he was doing, and made
desperate efforts to foil him. Thus husband
and wife struggled for several minutes Then
Peterson's hand touched the flesh wound on
his wifes face, aud he evidently learned for
the first time that his wife was wounded. He
then threw the gun down and took a knife
from his pocket, opening both blades, one at
each end, and said Well we may as we'll
die together" just as he said this Mrs. Pet
erson got away, and although he followed her,
he was not able to catch up with her before
she got out of sight in the darkness Then
he thrust the larger blade of his knife into his
throat, severing the wiudpipe, but cutting no
artery. He fell back to the ground and lay
there until he was found by neighbors at 6
o'clock in the morning.
The neighbors when they visited Nixon's
house early in the morning, found Nixon ON
the floor, but he was not dead He was en-
tirely unconscious and but for a very faint
pulse and few convulsive twitchings of the
legs gave no sign of life. Peterson was found
wet with rain and bleeding, but conscious and
even able to speak. On his person were two
letters addressed to the public They were
short and expressed the hope that God would
render judgment to those who broke up his
home, and would bless his soul. Reviving a.
bout noon, Peterson talked a little. He said
that he started from New Hope with the in
tention of killing Nixon, Mrs. Peterson, Jack
Phillips, colored man, whom he suspected
of intimacy With his wife, and of then going
to Pennsylvania and killing Jim Guess, anoth-
er man whom he suspected. Then he was
going to kill himself. He was not sorry for
what he had done, and manifested no interest
in the condition of Nixon or his wife.