National Republican., 1881-08-08

tOWntu tne stone mouse, The dogs were barking,
and we looked up and saw the old woman. did
not know her-that is I am not acquainted with
her. Am certain, though, that she was the woman
who lives at the little stone house at the gate"
AT this point the inquest was adjourned till
wednesday noon, at Lieutenant Johnson's station
house, to enable the authorities to secure II posi-
bic, more positive testimony.
DUSDAs FARM, THE SCENE OF TIE TRAGEDY,
is situated on the Fort Bunker Hill road, about
one and aquarter mile from the railroad cross.
ing known as Brooks Station. For the past six
years the farm has been titled by Mr.. Joseph
Fisher, who immigrated to this country from Ger
many with his brother. Both men married sisters
but Josephs brother died the ID Of July,
1873, leaving an infant son n few months
old and a daughter about three years Of
age. Joseph, not having any children Of
his own, decided to adopt his brothers
offspring as their mother was unable TO provide
for them, owing to her straightenedclrcumstan
She has been living out in service since her NUS
bands death, and is now In the employ of MIR.
Chris Horner. She was not living at her brother
in.law's house and knew nothing of her bercaye.
ment till several hours after the discovery OF the
dead bodies Of her little ones. She has been in.
consolable ever SINCE and her anguish is
MOST rITEous SPECTACLE.
II is impossible to kceb her quiet and she PAGES
the floor, wrlnging her hands and moaning in a
manner which creates the deepest sympathy
among those endeayoring to minister to her In her
alliotion. The family has been singularly un-
fortunate, for about year before the husband
died their eldest child, girl eleven years old,
was burned to death by coal oil explosion in q
house about two hundred yards from the spot
where the brother and sister were killed Saturday.
The house in which Mr.. Fisher and his family re-
side is two-story cottage, facing south,
on the crest Of hill, surrounded by walnut
and oak trees, and 1t has been customary
for himself and wife TO leave the little ones in
charge of the premises when they went TO the city
to attend market. Tho house is so situated that
the men who were working in the cornheld in
the valley, at its southeast extremity about two
hundred yards from the scene, did not hear any
noise, nor did they know Of the proximity of any
one until the old woman was discovered coming
away. The bodies were behind the house, which
completely hid the operations of the murderer,
and If there was an outcry II was not heard.
MR. FISHERS STORY OF THE CRIME.
as related TO a representative Of TIE REPUBLICAN
yesterday afternoon, was substantially follows:
Saturday morning between ten and eleven o'clock,
Mr.. Barnes, the two children, my wife, and l ate
dinner, and shortly after Mrs. Fisher and myself
started for the city. Before leaving my wife told
Lizzie, the little girl, to sweep out the dining room
and kitchen and have basket of chips ready to
seemed very cheerful, and followed us halfway
down the entrance of the grounds, waving their
hands and telling us not TO forget to bring them
something from the city. This was the last time
we saw them alive. When VIC reached the city We
disposed of some of our stock of vegetables and
returned home, leaving my wife at the Street
Market to sell the remainder 1t was between five
and six o'clock when l reached the farm. drove
up pust the house to the west and saw the two
children lying on the grass,
As THOUGHT, ASLEEP.
/ concluded not to wake them until had stabbed
my horses; so ] kept on down the road to the
stable, which is about fifty yards north Of the
house. After had finished this job put the har-
ness on my arm and started back toward the
house. Tho children still remained quiet but
this did not create any uneasiness, and was Just
on the point Of going up the back steps into the
kitchen, when a sudden impulse seized me.
dropped tho harness on the porch and went
closer to the spot where Joseph and Lizzie were
lying. 1t was somewhat dark and thus far had
not noticed anything unusual in their appearance.
l walked up to them, and to my horror discovered
THEIR FACES COVERED WITH BLOOD
stopped quickly and picked up the boy. Hewas
limp, but dead, and some of the blood on his face
dripped Off on my shirt-sleeve. did not know
what to do. The little girl was lying in pool of
blood, and her brains were slowly oozing out of a
terrible cash In the head. Her body was cold and
stiff She lay with her arms folded, her head to-
ward the west and feet TO the east while Just be-
yond her head was piece Of cedar, which had
been used last Christmas as n Christmas tree. The
boy, when l found him, was lying with his head
to the east and his feet pointing toward his
sisters head. They were pretty close together and
the little fellow had his right wrist resting on his
forehead, as though he had raised his arm
TO WARD OFF A blow,
few feet beyond them lay an AK, which be-
longed on the wood pile in the rear of the house.
II did not appear to be blood stained but was not
in the position II had been left in the morning.
AS soon as l could collect my thoughts | ran
around to the front of the house and called to the
men working In the field, and they quickly came
to the spot. l asked them who had been to the
house during my absence. and they replied that
the only person they had seen was Chrstiana
Taylor, the old colorcd woman who lived in the
stone house near the gate by which you enter my
farm. While we were talking the old woman came
up and when asked her If she had committed
the murder she stoutly denied H. and said she had
only been UP to the house TO return washboard
she had borrowed from my wife. The men said
that she had been chased away by the dogs, for
they had seen her stop and throw a stone at one
ofthem and scare him back. l was so cnraged
when heard this that
SEIZED THE OLD WRETCH
and dashed her against that peach tree yOnder'
pointing to tree about ten feet from the spot
where the bodies were discovered "She then went
off toward her house, and the next heard about
her the police had her in custody. The old woman
and her daughter Rose had been living in the
house as my tenants for about six months Another
daughter, who is married and goes by the name
of Mary Goff, agreed to pay 50 per month for the
house, but thus far ! have not received u cent
from any OF them, and the old woman has worked
out her rent by doing odd jobs about the farm.
i do not know OF any trouble between her and my
family, for she always appeared very friendly dis
posed toward u.s." This conversation was carried
on within few feet of the spot where the bodies
were discovered, and the following isa
SKETCH OF THE SURROUNDINGS:
As has been stated, the house faces south. The
bodies were lying at the extreme northwest corner
of the building, midway between two small trees,
a walnut and cedar. There were no signs in.
dcativc of struggle but the ground for fully two
feet In circumference was dyed with the blood OF
the innocent Victims and large Stone near by
was also bespattered. These were the only evil
dences of the dastardy deed and by nightfall they
were nearly ctfaced by the feet of the throngs who
visited the scene during yesterday Al the con.
cuslon OF the inquest the bodies were turned over
to an undertaken, who placed them in an ice box
preparatory to their being arranged for nterment
The prisoners, consisting of the old woman, her
daughter and grandson, were then removed in a
wagon to the Second Precinct Station house.
DESCRIPTION OF THR PRISONERS.
Chrstiana Taylor, one of the suspected parties,
is avcious looking brutal old hag, with retreat
ing forehead, shriveled features, and apparently
about sixty years age. She is very sulen in her
manner. md not Mt all inclined 10 he rommnnioa-