Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1884-01-05
From the Chatham Record, Dec.
9th, 1881
HQPEIRIE MERDER

IN O
and found his mother dead in one
bed. and in another his sister, and
lying by her side was his little
daughter (who bad gone there to
spend the night barely breathing.
He at once called in son,e heighbo,s
and what a horrible sight met their
eyee! The women's heads were
badly crushed aud gashed, their
brains oozing out aud their blood
smeared on the bed-ciothes, and
both cold in death. The little girl's
head was fractured and bloody, but
she was still breathing, though un-
conscious. All of them were lying
on their sides 10 a natural sleeping
position, and apparently were muir
dered while asleep. Near the gate
was found a bloody axe, which un-
doubtedIy was the instrument of
their deaths. There were no signs
Of robbery, nothing was missing. A
messenger was Immediately sent for
the coroner, and soon a crowd of
excited neighbors was assembled.
Upon the arrival OF the a
jury of inquest IA empanelled and
viewed the dead bodies. A few
witnesses were examined and be-
cause of the suspicious excited by
their evidence, three negro men liv-
ing 10 the neigbborhood and named
Lewis Farrer, Fred. johnson and
Frank McClenahan were arrested
and confined here in Jail that night
to await a further examination next
day. Next day the jury of inquest
met again, and, after hearing all the
evidence that could then be obtain.
ed, decided that there was not sufi-
cient cause tor the further detention
Of the prisoners and they were &C
cordingly released. The jury con
tinued their investigation yesterday
but could not find sufficient evidence
to justify the arrest Of any one, but
murder will out" and we confident
ly predict that the author of this
most atrocious crime will yet be
convicted.
OF course the preparation Of sc
shocking a murder has sent a Thrill
of horror throughout all this section
and has produced intense excite
lnent. We are pleased to hear tina,
J on yesterday, there were hopes en-
terlained that the little girl NIGH
recover, and, if she does, she may be
able to clear up the mystery. Piece:
OF her skull were removed and he1
bead skilfully %trepanned by Drs
+ Budd and Hanks. 1t is thought sht
. was awakened by the murder Of he'
grandmother and aunt, and, as sh.
raised up her head, was stricken
with the murderous axe. The ide;
of SO fiendish a crime being commit
, ted in our quiet and peaceful county
A special dispatch to the, Raleigh
Necs and Observer, from Moncure
Chatham county, Dec. 2S,h, says
1t was stated IN last evenings spe
cial that news had been received
here of the arrest of a relative of tn,
Gunter family, charged with being
the perpetrator of the great crime
+, The man turned out to be Baxte,
Gunter, the son OF Mrs. Olive Gun
ter, the same person who made thu
terrible discovery of the murder
lie is the father of the little GIRL
; To-day he was examined by the cor
oner and proved his innocence of tn,
crime. Rumors were current OF hi.
guilt, and that he had committed
the crime to obtain property, te
which in case of the death of tn,
I, three members of his family h,
: would fall heir. But these are al
false, as has been most clearly found
Mr.. Gunter is we'll nigh distracted
with grief.
SO the search for a clue goes on
The people are using every effort tt
5 find one. The little s year old girl
so terribly wounded, continues tt
improve, and prospects of her re
; covery grow brighter. The physi
clans removed fragments of her bro
!, ken skull, and relieved the pressur,
OF other portions upon the brain
She is not allowed TO speak. Whe,
she 4 do SO, as people pray sh,
may, she will doubtless make som
revelations which will tas,en tn,
crime upon the perpetra,or or per
, pe,rators. 1t is believed bv man,
that special efforts were made 10 dc
stroy the child, and it is said tha
$ her skull showed no less than seven
teen fractures. II she RECEIVERS i
viii! be we'll nigh miraculous. Sh'
Is closely watched. and q, the %earlies
moment possible the vii! D,
doubt take her testimony.
TIE TERROR OF THE SOUTH
JASPER, FLA.-Mr. Boardman W