Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-11-25
4 COLD-BLOODED MURDER.
The Brutal Slaughter OF an Inoifensive Qua

The Brutal Slaughter OF an inoiiensive uua-
ker.
AChester PENN special says John
Sbarpless, one Of the most prominent
of the orthodox Friends in Delaware
county, was brutally murdered at his
farm. in Neither Providence township,
about two miles from this city, last
night. His farm is part of the origl-
nal tract of the pioneer John Sharpless,
of whom he is lineal descendant, and
is approached by lonely road. AT 9
O'Clock last night strange colored man
called at the house while it was rain
ing. He found Mr.. Sharpless sitting
with his family, his wife and two ladies
and nurse, and induced him to go to
the barn with him for some straps, I'M
der the pretext that carriage, in which
were three ladies, had broken down in
the road. When in the stable the negro
struck Mr.. Sharpless in the back of the
head with Ratchet, crushing his skull
and killing him instantly. After
taking his watch the negro put out
the lantern and returned to the
house, for the purpose, it is thought,
of killing Mrs. Sharpless and the
three other women. In reply to a
ton, he said that he wanted money,
and advanced toward one of the women,
at the same time asking what had be-
come of a young girl whom he missed
from the company. Upon learning that
she had gone out, and the colored ser
want being sent for, the villain left. lie
went across the fields in the direction of
John Lindsay's farm adjoining, and it
is supposed fired the barn to distract
attention, for it was burned down a
short time after the murder, with all
the crops. farming implements, and four
horses. The loss on the barn will be
about s., 900.
The body of John Sharpless was
found in the stable where he had fallen.
lie was a very plain, generous, honest
man a well-to-do farmer, without an
enemy in the world. Money is sup
posed to have been the object of the
murder, but Mr.. Sharpless, while he
was a wealthy man, kept little about
the house. He was in his siXty-seyenth
year, and leaves a widow. lie was
looked upon by everybody as the
most conscientious man in the
county, whose word was as freely
taken as his bond. lie was president
of the Sharpless Bi-Centennial Associa-
ton, and took an active part in the af-
fairs of his community and his religious
society. No tidings Of the whereabouts
of the wretch who killed him have been
received, but the authorities think he
will be apprehended before many days.
The murderer was black man Of me-
dunn height, with prominent nose aud
teeth, peculiar speech, and dressed in
dark clothes and black hat. He wore
a handkerchief about his neck.
The Sharpless family have offered a
reward Of $500 for the arrest and con-
viction Of the murderer. The post
norton shows that the back of Mr..
SharpIess's skull was fractured in five
places and that the wounds must have
been inflicted with some heavy blunt
instrument. The country around is
being carefully searched for the muir
derer. Coroner Fairchild began his in
yestigation this afternoon, but no new
evidence was obtained. The county
authorities have offered $500 reward in
addition to that offered by the family
for the arrest Of the murderer.
A Philadelphia special says The
police of the Twenty-third district this
evening arrested negro answering the
description of the murderer Of John
Sharpless at Chester, and he will be
given a hearing tomorrow morning. He
| gives his name as Isaac Lewis, and
| saws he has no home.