The daily gazette., 1881-09-09
From Yesterdays Late EDITION,
A BRUTAL MURDER.
BODY OF AN OLD FARMER rouxD
IN THE ELK RIVER.

In THE ELK RIVER.
Ths Remains Anchored in the
stream BY the Murderer-suspa.
eiens - t. the Guilty Party.
NORTH EAST, Nd, Sept. 7.-Ceoil
county ID all ablaxe w1Gh exoitemant
produced by the commission OF one os
the most brutal and horrible homi-
ctdes ever perpctrated within It's nor.
ders. The circumstances are as foj.
lows: A well to do farmer named
Nicholas Vsolker, aged ~ years. and
who for period of more than thirtv
years has resided on little farm sit
nated about seven miles below North
East, and bordering on the Elk river.
was the victim Of this flendish outrage,
he mysterieusly disappeared on MSn.
Gay evening aud was found on TUESDAY,
2. m. BY three boys, Preston Acre.
John Futty and Chas. Arrauts. an,
chored about two hundred yards out
In the Elk river near the shore, which
constitutes q part Of the farm adioin.
Ing deceased's property. The anchor.
which weighed about twenty-fiye
pounds, had q chain nearly 10 feat
long attached to 1t, which was wrap
ped around Veolker's neck four times.
A rope about 8 feet long was also en-
twined around his neck, tied securely.
They Immediately announced their
discovery 10 others who had been
searching for Veolker during the day.
and the body was soon recovered.
Justice Benjamin, of North East.
was notified, and summoning q Jury.
fastened to the spot where the body
was laid out for examination. In the
meantime. States Attorney Crothers
received telegram notifying him of
the tragedy, and he ct once started to
the soene with Justice SCOTT, Of Elk
ton. Before their arrival Justice Ben.
jsnin had examined two witnesses,
and was again making an examination
OF She premises. All Of the aulhorities
commenced . further search, The
house and barn where the murder was
done 10 situated about three quarters
OF . mile from the western snore of
tho ELK river, Ia spot secluded and
solitary. Here Veolker lived with his
tenant, William j. ArrAnts, who from
the character of surrounding circum-
stances, bears the burden Of suspicion.
Arrants has had during tho past six
months several difficulties with Veol-
ker, and two lawsuits are now
pending In our Circuit Court, in which
vsolker In plaintiff. On examination
further blood was found upon the
fence rails which surround the cow
yard, which 10 situated about 20 yards
from the house, and after crossing the
fence track or path blood was appa-
rent, a. though made by body that
had been dragged along the ground
This path passes through an apple Or
chArd, winch adjoins the barn-yard.
ana then continues down through o
field about 100 yards 10 Q dense
swamp. 1t then runs through the
swamp, up q hill to o lane, distance
about 100 yards; then across O stubble
Held to the fence Of . corn fell, Here
all traces Of dragging cease. After
crossing the fence that SUR ounds the
corn field prints Of o horses feet are
APPARENT which also continue to the
waters edge Of Elk river, where the
body was found.
Upon further examination half fence
rail- four feet long ws9 found with blood
upon the heavy end. This In supposed
70 90 the instrument which caused the
death OF deceased. Upon examination
OF the body BY DR.. Housekeep Of
North Eat, the skull was found TO be
masned aud several fragments Of bone
nad penetra,ed the brain. His head was
fuil ofsand burrs which arc very abund.
ant In the fields through which h. md
been dragged. His intestines were AZ
most all torn from his body, and his
whole body much swollen and dscom-
posed. Arrants wife WAS OF amInsd and
tsst, lied that her husband came home on
monday evening and retired about .
O'Clock. The next morning, before day
break, he arose, cooked bis breakfast,
and made Preparations to 60 to WiImin-
Ton market to sell some peaches. She
noticed nothing unusual In his deme an.
or. When he fed the stock In the even
Ing Veolker was In the barnyard with
MIN, and since then no one has seen
Ve0lker alive.
IL 10 reported that rrants had some
angry words with veolksr about the ow-
ncrshtp OF an unthreshed stack OF wheat
ghich was TO have boon threshed on
Iuesday morning, the same morning
that Veoikcr disappeared. Arrants has
not yet returned At thus writing from
Wilmington. but Sheriff Logan, with
bis attendants. are on the watch for him.
States Attorney Crothers will hold q fur
shsr investigation to morrow, and surai-
cal exserts will examine the remalns.-
Arranu 10 about ~ years Of age, mar.
Red, and has one child. His wife Is / Q
critical condition, due from excitement
snd reoent severe spell OF sick ness
Detectives will be engaged 70 still far
shsr prove tbs guilt OF this man Arrants,
who 10 looked upon By his neigh bors ~
bully and very passionate. He has
been threatiDg to all who do not comply
with his wishes. This homicide has but
lev parallels for extreme brutality.
Arranu was arrested yesterday after.
noon and lOdOad In EIktnn iaiI