The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1884-08-28
AN OLD-TIME TRAGEDY.
A Vireinien Sensation Re-
called by an Epitaph.
Horrible Revenge Of Husband When
His Villainy was Unmaskel

1890 '-J ''"S SN
, -
A correspondent, who is travelling
about in Virginia has found among
the numerous moss-grown old tomb
stones in the graveyard Of Williams
burg one which bears the following
inscription:
Sacred to the Memory Of
Sarah Semphill,
Who died at the aye of twenty five, slain,
with her two infant daughters, by
her own husband.
She was fair to look upon, pure as snow,
and beloved by all who knew her. Di-
vine Providence alone knows why
she had to perish so m;serably.
This epitaph, some of the words OF
which are hardly legible any longer,
is the only record left of one of the
most terrible tragedies that ever took
place in the Old Dominion.
1t was in 1898 that John Semphill,
young man who said he was from
Santa Cruz, in the West Indies, ar.
rived at Williamsburg, and settled
there rs t blcco planter. He had
pleLrY of money, and was able to pur-
chase 1000 acres of the finest soil with
in ! Snort olst"nce Of the old town.
Being appa emily gentleman in
every sense Of the word, Mr.. Semphill
YVES admitte to the best society in his
new home, ahd a year later was mar
ried to Sarah Jones, a beautiful heiress,
the wedding festivities being celebrated
with extraordinary pomp and splendor.
In the course of time two daughters
were born to the young couple, and
everybody predicted a long career of
cloudless happiness for them. Alas!
How terribly those bright anticipations
were to be disappointed. 1t was on
Christmas eve, 1901, that a strange
looking man, in sort Of military uni
form, appeared at the house of Mr..
Semphil, who was in Richmond at the
time. Mrs, Semphill received the
stranger In the parlor.
do you speak French, Madame?'
he sa,d to her in very broken English.
She replied in the affirmative.
"Then, Madame, please send your
two nurse girls with the children out
of the ROOM"
/, She did so, and looked interrogative-
ly at her visitor. The latter hesitated
a moment. Then he said in tone of
deep emotion:
-"Poor lady. I have terrible tidings
for you"
"Heavensw she cried. turning very
pale. my husband"
Your husband is an infamous vii
liam"
Sir" she exclaimed Indignantly.
HE has basely deceived you. He is
an escaped galley slave, thief, and a
murderer
She uttered heartrending scream.
"Do you tell me the truth?" she
gasped.
>'He is a Spanish thief, and was sent
to the galleys of Barcelona for life
He made his escape from thence and
fled to Cuba, where he robbed and
murdered rich planter. l am here to
take him to Cuba, where the scaffold
awaits him."
The afflicted lady had become
strangely calm.
Sir" she said to the stranger, "be-
fore you arrest him, will you permit
me to hold private interview with
with"
Ellis true name is Juan Cefirio. If
You will let me remain in an adjoining
room until he returns from Richmond,
where he has gone, l understand, you
may see him privately"
81 expect him back every moment"
Half an hour later Ce6rio, alias
Semphill, made his appearance His
wife briefly told him everything. He
slew into a terrible rage. He shot her
through the heart and rushed out of
the room to tho nursery, where he
stabbed his two little daughters.
The next moment the Cuban officer
who had rushed after him, grappled
with him, and succeeded after des-
perate struggle in Stacking him.
The news of this horrible tragedy
sprea like wildfi,e through the town
and in less than twenty minutes large
concourse Of people had gathered in
front of Semphill, alias Celirio's house.
Ycciferous threats to lynch the MUIR
derer ere made, and the deputy
sheriffs, Who were promptly on hand
to arrest him, had the utmost difficulty
in taking him to Jail, where he was
chained to the floor, having threatened
to commit suicide.
The villain was hung on the 18th OF
May, 1903.
1t Made the Engineer Cry.
Eyes, indeed, we have some queer
incidents hannen to us +" said tho an