Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1880-12-25
A HORRlBLE CRIME.

Last Sunday Mr.. Thomas Kennedy,
living near Salem, S. e., intending 10
visit Charleston, went over 10 his faith
ers house, short distarce from his
own, to ask his mother to stay with his
wife during his absence. Mr.. Kennedyis
wife was formerly Miss A,!a Wright, of
Darlington, and had only been married
about year. She was a young lady
of only l9 or 20 years of age, intelligent,
refined and highly respected. Whrn
her husband LETT she shut the door and
sat by the window 10 write q letter Ia
her mother, little dreaming OF the ter
rife fate that awaited her. As she sat
there she saw in the yard Joe Barnes,
colored boy, about l6 years old, who
had been employed by Dir. Kennedy the
previous week, and she asked him Ia
bring her All armtul Of wood. This boy
had been induced by two negroes living
near by-Vance Brandt and his sister
Julia, aged respectively Is and l5-tn
hang around the premises, ard when
MIR. Kennedy left the place give the sig
nal TO Vance and Julia, who kept them
selves concealed in a tbicket. This
couple had heard of Mr.. Kennedy's IL
tention to visit Charleston, and, think.
ing that he would have good deal of
money in the house, determined TO break
in aud get it. When Joe turned 10 go
for the wood he gaze the signal and
soon met Vance coming into the yard.
Vance asked him where Mrs. Kennedy
was, and went Immediately % the win.
dow and three times tried to get in. and
each time he was showed out by Mrs.
Kennedy.
Finding that he was determined 10
get in she opened the front door, ran
through tho yard and was just going
through the gate when Van& snatchcd
up hoe b iny in the yard, overlook her
at the gate aud Knocked her down. She
implored mercy aud told him she wonlI
give him all the money she had 1t ha
would only spare her life. lie cursed
her, and said Use been waiting TO kill
you long time, and at that struck her
two more blows in attempting 10 avert
which il is supposed her hand was bro
ken. Just then Julia came up with an
other hoe and severed her head. When
Mr.. Kennedy returned, about three
hours afterward, he found his wife lying
outside the front gate, mullatel, cold
and still, her head almost severed ip
twain. The entire cranium was cut of
from ear to ear, leaving the brains scat
tered around on the ground. A jury OF
inquest being bad returned verdict OF
"murder in the highest degrees by un-
known hands" Several colored persons
were arrested on Monday, but no clue
to their guilt being obiaiped they were
promptly released. On Tuesday tho
colored boy, Joe Barnes, was arrested.
He showed so much confusion on being
questioned rs to his whereabouts on
Sunday that only q lew questions served
10 bring out his full confession; FROM
which the above account was taken.
Vance and Julia denied having any
thing 10 do with 1t. bni the clothes
which they wore on Sunday were very
bloody with small particles of brains up
on them. The money and pistol Of Mr.
Kennedy, found in their possession,
were bloody, and on being questioned
about the blood upon their clothes tho
woman said she had killed chicken and
the man said be had killed some par
tridges On cross examination the
bloody finger prints on the hoehaodls
corresponded precisely with those on
the shawl worn by the woman on the
day of the murder, which circumstance
had as great weight to convict her as
the testimony Of the boy. The horrible
character of the murder awakened M
tense indignation in the neigllborbood
and crowd Of $50 white men and SD
colored men assembled 10 punish tho
murderers. a further examination es-
tablished the truth OF the confession OF
Barnes. The negroes begged the whites
TO perdiit them to take the prisoners
and burn them alive. This vas refused,
but vote was taken whether they
should be jailed and await the court or
be lynched. Only twenty. three voted
TO await the law, and il was determined
TO hang them 10 the tree nearest the
scene OF the crime. lIalters were OBJ.
tained ami fastened to limb Of tho
tree, cart was placed under the limb
and the prisoners ordered to mount.
Just then Joe Barnes beg Ied to be sl-
lowed 10 pray, and commehoed by say
ing he had never prayed before, ami
never expected TO pray again. Nothing
was said by either OF The others except
groan aud Lord, have mercy frop,
Vance. Handkercb;rfs being tied over
their faces, the cart was pushed away
and the trio was soon dangling 10 fhe
air. Their victim at the time Of tho
murder was eneie"n with twins, and
was near her confinement. ..,..'