The Chickasaw messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1880-1900, 1881-01-06
From tho Aberdeen Eraminor
TuE BIsRY PORK TEsAGEDE.
Aberdeen Miss Dec. 2lst, 1850

Aberdeen Miss Dec 21st, 1850
EDIroEs ExAurNEa :-Oa Frida,
night last, in Bigby Fork in this
county, most brutal trag gsdy was
/ performed hy one ALVIN Mckanna,
alias Miller. and his accompiice, one
John Gilmore, alias John Howard
The man Alvin McKanna had been
in tie neighborhoOd Of the place
several days, perhaps over week
prior TO the act, protesting to be q
laboring man, and bad on one Occa
sion hired to a Mr Lee for a day or
two, aud in the meantime had called
az several houses to spend the hight,
at some Of which he vas permitted
to do so. Among other places az
which he asked for lodging was the
house of William BroEn Ridings.
about one week before the tragedy "A
Occurred, and was denied.
On last Friday evening, Dec 17th,
this man again called at Mr. Ridings
and asked for quarters Tor the night,
and was permitted TO stay Mr.
Rdings Was young man whose
family consisted Of himself, young
wife ane little infant About eleven
or twelve o'clock at night Mr.
Rulings father, Mr.. David Rulings,
who lives some three or four hundred
yards from his son, discovered his
sons house on fire and went to the
place, but finding It too far gone to
be saved, and seeing no signs Of any
one in the house, returned home to
inform his wife that the family, as he
supposed. had gone of on a visit and
was safe; after which he returned to
the burning house BY that time the
building was so far consumed as TO
discover the charred remains Of his
son, his vile and child among the
ruins. He gave the alarm and next
morning the neighbors In large mum
bers collected at the place and on
consultation with the father, it was
ascertained that the young man had
been to Eureka that day to sell some
cotton, and that, together with other
money, he had brought home a few
dollars in silver; and that be als)
had a silver watch, neither of which,
nor any trace Of them could be dis
covered, although the steel clasp Of
bis pocketbook was found among the
ashes This excited suspicion of
foul play and search was Immediately
instituted for other evidence. Very
soon, foot prints were discovered
near the place, going into the woods,
which were adjudged by those who
had known McKanna, to be his
tracks. Inquiry was then made as to
McKanna's whereabouts when it was
ascertained that he had not been seen
since the day before in the morning,
aud at that time was ia the woods
alone, some mile or mile and half
from the place where tile burning had
occurred. Very soon a number Of
resolute young men started out IN
different directions 10 search OF the
supposed murderer. A party over
took and found him Saturday on
the William b. Hogan place, in this
county, some twelve miles from the
scene of the murder, with a new axe,
which he said he sent negro to
Cotton Gin to buy for him. He was
carried back, and on bis way con
tossed to having been a party to the
murder aud arson, and took his CAP
tors to the place where he had con
oealed the money, and watch and
boots, and other apparel Of Mr..
Ridings, aud everything which he
confessed to having gotten was there
found and recovered, he giving an
account of the whole tragedy about
as follows:
He said that he had an accom-
plice named John Gilmore, alias
John Howard that Gilmore kept
himself in the back grounds and was
seldom. if ever seen about the scenes
Of their contemplated operations, but
that bis, McKanna's, business was TO
go about the country under the guise
Of one seeking work, but really hunt
ing victims. Sometimes be would re
main in q neighborhood for several
days working and visiting about at
different houses aud making inquiry
OF the eolored and unsuspecting
whites as to who had most money.
and when he selected the party to be
victimized, would report to bis part
ner aud 3 night would be fxed for
the accomplishment Of the deed.
McKanna was to 20 to the house Of
victim to spend the night, and
when the family got asleep, If he was
in the room with them as was the
case in this instance) he was to apply
chloroform to make them sleep
souadly, and then give 4 signal for
bis accomplice, Gilmore, aud they
would then rifle the house and rob or
commit such other crimes as their
cupidity or lusts might suggest
He says that in this instance be Sc
lected Mr. Rulings as bis frst victim
in the neighborhood, aud notified
Gilmore and placed him IN position in
the neighborhood Of the house so that
he could signal him when be should
be prepared for him; that after Mr.
Ridings and family had gone to sleep.
be arose and applied chloroform, and
AFTER they we're heavily under its in.
luence he went out oi Tue door and
Whistled, and Gilmore came to him
with on axe, with which he struck
Mr.. Ridings on the head, killing
him; that he, Gilmore, violated Mrs.
Rulings and tore ring oifh finger
then killed her with the axe; then
took down a can Of kerosene oil
which was found on the mantle, and
poured Il on the parties and bedding
and floor Of the house, aud with a
match set Gre to the building that
as they left the scene they heard the
screams Of the little burning infant
whom they had even deaied the mer-
cy they had extended TO the father
and mother, Of killing Il with the pole
OF The axe before saturaling its little
garments and bathing lis skin with
kerosene oil and setting it on FIRE.
McKanna gives this account Of
himself (and il ia In part corrobo