Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1882-03-14
Ihe murder or John o. Massie and wiz
In Abemarlo.

~OE Oh S00u U. A8801o anu W n0
I In Abemarle. o.
On last Tuesday night Mr.. John o.
4assie, highly-esteemed citizen Of
i SemarIe. and his wife were foully
fdered in their house. A telegram
I le Daspatch the next day says
20 far as the facts have been ascer.
eo 1t appears that Mr.. Massiss
8e was entered In the early part OF
i plight by the murderers for the pnr-
"a or robbery before Mr.. and Mn.
#sie mad retired. They, with . lit.
EAnegro girl, perhaps four years old.
&e the only persons In the house.
ring q noise in the hall, it 10 pre-.
ed that Mr.. Massie went out to see
Fat the matter was, followed by his
H with Q lantern, where they were
1ently confronted by the scoundrels
@ murdered with an axe which be.
ged to the premises. Mr.. Massie's
gins were scattered over the hall moor
fEs found near the back door with 9
rib!e cash across her head. Both
IRE dead.
Ehe little colored girl remained in
HI house all night, and when the boy
Bne in from the office In the yard to
IKE the fires In the morning the bod
III were discovered: weltering In their
fn blood.
AFTER the murder had been committed
- robbers went through the house and
Gured all the money, the place where
IN was known to have kept his money
|fyng rided and the papers scattered In
cry direction.
h The nearest house to the scene Of the
Esgedy was the oversesr's, perhaps two
pndred yards away
The boy who discovered them In the
sorning had gone fishing on the creek,
lid thus left the way clear to the viii
ms. who evidently knew the pr emil
III well, as they entered from the base
sspt.
IN. Massie lived on Buckeyeland
I.ekS, ABOUT eight miles southeast Of
,arl\ ottesville, and was in independent
.cunhstances. He was q careful, pru-
Ant man, good liver. and was known
Nj have money III his possession always.
|se was highly esteemed, as was his
fe, for integrity of character and
Rndly disposition"
James and Leroy Rodes, sons of Mrs.
Esrgaret Rodes, living about ten miles
apm the scene of the horrible tragedy,
lie suspected of being guilty of the
saurders. Leroy and his mother have
Ven arrested, but James escaped by
Anning to the woods when he saw the
sfrty approaching who had gone to
Jake the arrests. He was fired upon,
1t succeeded in getting away. i''s
,lLee Rodes was in Charlottesville on
ednesday, spending money very
|bely. which caused him to be suspect.
u. james Rodes. the escaped brother.
rs been. it is said, absent from that
|sunty for several years, aud it was not
&nerally known that he had return
y The murdered couple were about 70
Sfars of age.
7Great excitement exists In that coun.
|, aud no efforts will be spared to ar
Sst ia. Rodes who escaped in the
loods.
Up. S.-The latest news we have in re i.
iEence to the attempted arrest of Jas.
Ate a is contained in the following
alegram to the Richmond Wing from
under date of last Sat
lrday:-
"All efforts to capture James Rodes
nave availed nothing. Yesterday morn
ng he was holly pursued, aud several
lines fired upon by u detachment Of his
J1rsuers, near Carter's bridge, but he
escaped into bushy cliff and thus
sluded the pursuing party. BE then
made his way to Red Hill depot, on the
Midland railroad. where, wait
Dg in the woods until night, be boarded
. southern bound freight train. Moth
ng reliable has been heard of him since
.hough he is reported to have left the
rain at q water tank near Rock fish.
The authorities at points along the Mid
and road have been notified to keep on
he lookout for him. The searching
party, which has been securing the
woods for several days.
mas broken up. Detective Wren and
.everal of the posse brought In this ev :
,ning q younger brother of the R0des,
who says he saw the brothers James
md Leroy divide the money on the
night of the murder, aud burn the
pocket book. James gave Leroy his
share, and charged him never to say
anything about it. The guilt of the
Rodeses is unquestionably established"