The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-02-21
WHOLESALE ATTEMPT AT MURDER.


An Effort Made TO Burn Seven People.
| Within the last day or two a case ha
developed out the Hempfeld railroad
near Claysville, Pa. that for deylish de
Liberation, and coolness Of execution, en-
title it to high place among the cause
celebres.
A young man named James Worrel
lived with his father, Thomas Worrell, al
old and respectable farmer, together with
five sisters and brother.
The young man some time ago became
enamoFed of young lady in the neigh
borhood and she was not averse to his
suit, but objected to him on the grounds
that he was too poor to support a wife.
The young man became moody and like
"0rtogrul" wished that he might suddenly
become rich. Days and nights were
given TO consideration OF the subject, but
still he was poor. His passion only
increased as the prospects for grow
ing rich became each day more re.
mote and the girl was obdurate. He must
be able to support her and that comfort
ably, before she would consent to marry
him. A horrible plan suggested itself 10
him. His father owned a large and
valuable farm, but the great number Of
heirs rendered his interest in 1t very
small; II they were removed he would In
herit the farm and his wishes
would be fulfilled. No sooner had
the idea entered his brain than It
became tangible. He would by one blow
destroy not only the brother and sisters,
but also his father, and thus at once step
into his fortune. One night about amonth
ago the family were all at home and
asleep, and taking advantag Of this fact,
he locked the doors Of their sleeping
apartments, and the one occupied by his
father he tied with strap in order that
no avenue Of escape would remain. There
is something horrible TO contemplate in
the calmness and deliberation with which
this novice in the art OF crime went
about his diabolical preparations. Moth
ing was neglected TO make his
work sure, and the thought OF the awful
crime that he was attempting never
seemed to once enter his mind and he
was not deferred for moment from It's
execution. Wealth was the central idea
and human life was not even trifling
secondary consideration. When every
supposed avenue Of escape was closed he
threw oil around in the building and then
Rrod It. Tho houee was frame one, iso-
lated as farm houses usually are, and the
young man knew the chances OF escape
were very remote, but he was mistaken.
The smoke and cracking flames aroused
the family, and one after another, after
desperate struggles, succeeded In escap.
ing unhurt from their burning home, one
Of the sisters running mile In her night
clothes and bare feet 10 alarm neighbor
and invoke assistance. The house, a new
one and just erected at the cost OF 5000.
was totally destroyed.
The young was notsuspected al the time
and the origin OF the fire was only mat.
ter Of conjecture, and for several weeks
nothing more was said OF the matter un.
I'll little circumstances began to point to
him as the guilty party. He disappeared
from the neighborhood and, 1t is su uppesed,
followea the young lady to Ohio, whittier
her folks recently removed.
The affair has created profound i'm.
preston in the neighborhood, as the
magnitude OF the crime and its heinous-
ness are novel to the good people OF that
county. An effort is making 10 appre.
hend Worrell, when all the facts will come
out.