Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-11-16

SHOCKING TRAGEDY.

Alice. the fourteen.year. daughter of
Of Charles ID. Powell, a we'll lido farmer in
Princess Anne county, residing about two
miles from the village of Kempsvile, went
to school as usual at that place Friday
morning. When she did not return at the
proper time her father and brothr became
uneasy and started out to look for her.
Darkness having come On, party was or
ganized in Kempsvilc, and the search re-
suited about II o'cIoci. in finding the body
of the girl in y thicket about twenty yards
from the road, her head nearly severed from
her body. She had also received three stab
wounds, but it was not positive that she
had been outraged, although it was gener-
ally believed that murder had been resorted
TO to conceal the moore atrocious crime.
Powell had in his employ negro man
named Cherry, about eighteen years Of age,
coal black, who was driven from the prem
ses a few days ago because Of difficulty
with one of Powel's sons. He is believed
TO be the murderer, and was caught Satur
day morning. The excitement is intense,
and If the crime is fixed on him his time on
earth will be very short. The belief is that
outrage was intended, but becoming fright
cned by the sound of approaching voices he
murdered the girl and fled.
The details of the terrible crime are hor
rible. The body was traced by the discov-
cry Of the little girls lunch basket, delicate
ly prepared by loving hands in the morning.
The contents Of the basket Wero scattered
along the road, after having been partly
eaten by the murderer. Her school books
cannot be found. On the right side of her
neck was q terrible cash, large enough to
insert q mans hand. Ali over the throat, and
on various portions Of The body, were marks
showing that q strugg 10 had taken place.
Her Undertaking was torn, showing that
the murderer had also attempted an outrage
before the murder. An examination, how
ever, showed that the child had not been
violated. When the body was picked up
the head almost dropped of, so deep was
the wound in the neck. Blood besmered
The bushes for some distance, and the body
had been dragged head downward 10 the
spot where found. Noah Cherry, the colored
youth arrested on suspicion, claims to be
only fifteen years of age, but his appearance
indicates that he is at least eighteen. He
has q sheepish look, and bears o very un-
enyiablc reputation. The wounds on the
child show that either an ak or Ratchet was
the weapon used, and that it WAS welded
by left handed person. Cherry is left
handed. On Friday night he told some
friends that he was coming to Norfolk Satur-
day 10 purchase geography, reading and
spelling books. These were the books stolen,
but the geography was found Saturday on
the side Of the path leading from the scene
of the murder 10 Cherry's home. 1t was
wet from the rain of Friday night and COW
cred with the dead child's blood. Cherry
acknowledged that he was On the Holland
swamp road on Friday ut eleven o'clock,
and said he was on his way to Mr.. Powell's
to collect what money was due him. 1t is
reported that positive evidence Of his guilt
was found at his residence in blood-smeared
pants. At the funeral of the little victim
yesterday afternoon the scene was very dis
tressing.