The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1880-05-19
HORRIBLE BRUTALITY AND MURDER
BY 4 NEGRO FIEND.
HE IS DRAGGED TO A PIBCE OF WOODS, SWUNG
Up, AND MS BODY RIDDLED WITH BULLETS.
THE ATRocIoUs CRIME FOR WHICH re SUI
FERED-

| Special TO the Courier-Journall
ELKToN, KY, May "A terrible outrage
and murder committed upon the person
| of Mrs. Salmond, wife of George Salmond, a
respectable and well-to-do farmer, who sides
| SIX miles from ElktOn, on the Falrylew road.
! The murder was committed about 9 o clock this
| morning, and the particulars which am able
| to CLEAN, amidst the great excitement that
prevails, are about follows:
| Early this morning Mr. George SalmOnd left
| home to look at some machinery several miles
| out in the country. He was to be gone the
| greater part of the day, and his wife was to
about 300 yards from her house. In passing
| from one house to the other it was necessary
| for her to pass through a willow thicket and a
| spring directly on the path, and it was in the
| thicket by the spring that she met her hOrTi-
bic fate. From the evidence it appears
that negro nance Joseph Johnston, who
has been IN the employ of the Salmond family
since last January, was aware OF Mrs Sal
mond's intention of spending the day with
her parents and, knowing that she would
pass through the thicket, he waylaid her,
knocked her down with club and accom-
pllshed his hendlsh designs. There Is every
evidence in the thicket of fearful struggle
The club was found there bespattered with
blood aud hair, and blood leading all the way
up the house, which gives rise to the suppo-
stion that the negro, after accomplishing his
designs allowed Mrs. Salmond to walk to her
home and there fnally killed her with ak,
was found covered with blood, andNrs.
manner. She either walked from the scene of
the outrage at the thcket or was carried from
there to the scene OF the murder by the negro.
After the killing the negro ran over to Mr..
Alien Stokes residence and informed him
that somebody had killed Mrs. Salmon Mr.
Stokes is Mrs. Salmond's father The alarm
was given, several neighbors summoned, great
excitement prevailed. Suspicion pointed at
once to the negro, owing TO his strange actions,
and many were in favor Of shooting him on
the spot but wiser counsel prevailed for the
time being and he was allowed 10 tell what he
knew about the affair, which was IN substance
that he had heard Mrs, Salmond scream, and
rushing over 20 the house, discovered her ly-
ing dead in a pool of blood and that two men
were running away from the scene.
This statement had no weight upon the
minds of those present, as a subsequent search
of the surroundings disclosed the fact that the
lady was first attacked in the willow thicket
as above stated, and the tracks of the negro :
brogans were plainly discernible in the soft
ground surrounding the spring; added to that,
before giving the alarm, he had thrown away
his brogans and appropriated pair of boots
belonging TO Mr.. Salmond. He also threw
away some of his clothing, which, it is
supposed was covered with blood. His shirt
was also torn almost to shreds. A verdict
of guilty was rendered, and Sheriff A.
H. Armstrong and deputies started with
their prisoner to Elkton. They had proceeded
but bout two hundred yards when large body
of armed and determined men confronted them
and demanded the prisoner. Resistance was
out of the custom, and the Sheriff was com
PEELED to allow them to take the prisoner.
They imme ately put a rope around his neck
and dragged him into strip of woods close
by, where they swung him up, and then rid
died his vile carcass with bullets. 1t is stated
that a least twenty bullets were buried in his
body. As L write this the widest excitement
prevails in Eikton. The Sheriff 4. H. Arm
strong, and large party, have just reached
town. and to him am indebted for this com
pIete report.
The Elkton Register will issue an extra to-
morrow Saturday giving particulars in de-
tail Mrs Salmond was twenty-five. She
was lady Of great beauty and refinement,
ana member of one of the first families in
Todd county. She had been married only
about one year; had no children Her fate
was certainly horrible one. Tire cor.
lures of the inquisitior cannot be compared
70 it. Had she lived after the outrage
fate worse than death awaited her