The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1880-10-21
A Fearful Tragedy.

A MONG the numerous moss
~ grown old tombstones in the
SMH graveyard Of Williamsburg,
eMS Va, is one which bears the
following inscription:
Sacred to the Memory of
SARAH SEMPHILL,
Who died at the ago of twenty-five, slain
with her two in FAINT daughters, by
her own husband.
She was fair to look upon, pure as snow, and
beloved by all who knew her. Di-
vine Providence alone knows
why she had TO perish so
miserably.
This epitaph, some of the words
of which are hardly legible any
longer, is the only record left OF
one of the most terrible domestic
tragedies that ever took place in the
Old Dominion.
1t was in 1898 that John Semp-
hill, a young man, who said he was
from Santa Cruz, in the West In
dies, arrived at sburg, and
settled there IS a tobacco planter.
He had plenty of money, and was
able to purchase about one thousand
acres of the finest soil within 3
short distance OF the old town.
Being apparently a gentleman in
every sense OF the word, Mr.. Semp-
hill was admitted to the best soci-
ETY. in his new home, and a year
later he was married to Sarah
Jones, a beautiful heiress, the we'd
ding festivities being celebrated
with extraordinary pomp and splen-
dor. In course Of time two daugh
tiers were born to the young couple,
and everybody predicted a long ca
reer of cloudless happiness for them.
Alas! how terribly these bright
anticipations were TO be disappoint
ed. 1t was on christmas eve, in
1901, that a strange looking man,
in a sort of military uniform, APP
peared at the house of Mr.. Semphill,
who was in Richmond at the time.
Mrs. Semphill received the stranger
in the parlor.
edo you speak French, madam"
he said to her in very broken Eng
lish.
, She replied in the affirmative.
"Then, madam, please send your
two nurse girls with the children
out of the ROOM"
She did so, and looked interrog-
atively at her visitor. The latter
hesitated moment. Then he said
in tone of deep emotion:
"Poor lady, l have terrible It'd
ings for you"
"Heavens!" she cried, turning
very pale. "My husband"
your husband is an infamous
villain"
"Sirw she exclaimed Indignantly.
"He has basely deceived you. He
is an escaped galley-slave, thief
aud a murderer
She uttered heart-rending
scream.
"Do you tell me the TRUTH" she
gasped.
HE is a Spanish thief, and was
sent to the galleys of Barcelona for
life. He made his escape from
thence, and fed to Cuba, where he
robbed and murdered a rich plant
err. / am here to take him to ubs,
where the scaffold surely awaits
him."
The afflicted lady had become
strangely calm.
Sir" she said to the stranger,
"before you arrest him, will you
permit me to hold a private inter
view with"
ellis true name is Juan Cefirio.
If you will let me remain in an ad
joining room until he returns from
Richmond, where he has gone,
understand, you may see him pri
vately."
al expect him back every mo
ment.
Half an hour later Cefrio, ALA
Semphill, made his appearance. Hit
wife briefly told HIM everything
He flew into terrible rage.
He shot her through the heart
and rushed out of the room to thu
nursery, where he stabbed his TIVE
little daughters.
The next moment the Cuban of
ficer, who had rushed after him
grappled with him, and succeeded
after a desperate struggle, in shack
ling him.
The news of this horrible TRACED,
| spread like wildfire through the ole
town, and in less than twenty-five
minues a large concourse of peopl
had gathered in front of SeInphil
alias Cefirio's house.
Vociferous threats to lynch tn
murderer were made, and the depu
ty sheriffs, who were promptly OF
hand to arrest him, had the utmos
difficulty in taking him to jai
where he was chained to the floor
having threatened to commit sui
eide.
The villain was hung on the lit
Of May, 1903.