The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-03-19
Triple Murder Near Norfolk.

414N1O uAuLQOA IVVdA 1NO1 lUlhs
NORFOLK, VA. March IA. One Of
those horrible tragedies, the occur.
ancs of which at irregular intervals
for years past has given the county
of Princess Anne the unenyiable rep
utation of being the "dark and bloody
ground" of Eastern Virginia, occur
red about twilight Saturday evening
on the Gum Swamp road, about
three miles and half from the court
house. The details of the terrible
affair, which reached this city to day,
have created intense excitement, and
are az follows: A wagon, containing
four nen-Messrs. William White.
hurst, an old citizens of the county,
aged 70 years; Edgar Old, Thomas
Mcpherson and VIM. Fisher. the
latter three formerly from North
CaroliDa-was being driven along
the Gum Swamp road, when, with
out warning, the party WAS fired up
on from blind, built to the height
of about five feet and a. half, between
two trees in pine thicket, short
distance from the road. AT the frsts
tire-which was harmless-Mr. Nc.
Pherson jumped from the cart into
the ditch and exclaimed. "Hand me
my gun !" Immediately another
voIley was fired, the charges IF buck
shot killing Messr5. Whitehurst and
Old instantly. Mr.. Fisher has Eot
been seen or heard since. The bodies
of the two men We're horribly butch.
ered-Mr. Whitehurst having the
Top of his head literally blown off.
The traces of buckshot We're found on
the trees in the vincinity, showing
that the weapons We're charged with
shot of that size. The party were
returning from the court house, and
were at tie time within three hun.
drod yards of the house of Mr.. Nc
Pherson. The horse was frightened
at the discharge of the guns and ran
off, and had not been found up to Il
O'clock yesterday. Although it is not
known by whom the assassination
was committed, it is thought that it
grew out OF bad blood engendered by
the mo fence law" which prevails
in that part of the country. 1t is
said that Mr.. Mcpherson, the sur
vivor, had taken down his fences,
and had shot several cattle belonging
to his neighborS which had trespassed
on his grounds. On Saturday he had
case at the court house which grew
out of this occurrence. and the muir
defed men were witnesses for him,
the case being decided in his favor
Whether there is any connection be.
tween this case and the assassination
is not known as yet. A deep feeling
prevailed in the neighborhood against
Mcpherson, and it is supposed that
the scheme of the murderers was to
kill him at any rate. Mr.. Mcpherson
states that at the time Of the first
fire he saw the face of a man with a
white beard behind the blind, but
could not identify him. Intense ex-
element prevailed yesterday in that
part of the county, and there appears
to be strong determination to ferret
out the murderers and bring them to
justice, Mr.. Whitehurst. one of the
murdered men, was well.known in
this city, and was one of the most
inoffensive men in the county. He
leaves large family of grown chll-
diem. The murder took place on the
road from the court house to London
bridge and is near the spot where DR..
McAlpin was shot and killed before
the war by William Ewell. 1t is also
in the same neighbour God in which
occurred the famous Batten tragedies
Of few years ago. A coroner's in.
quest was held, the proceedings being
secret. From information furnished
the jury, they ordered the arrest OF
two men, Messrs. Joseph Murden and
Bari ee, both Of whom are in jail.
Mr.. Murden is well known in this
city, and his friends are confident
that he is not guilty of any compile
ity in the dreadful affair.
Ldter.-Two men named John
Marden and Theo. Darick Bartee
have been arrested for the murder OF
Old and Whitehurst In Princess Anne
county on Saturday.