Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-10-08
MURDERERS MERCILESS WORK.
CoId-Biooded R1tcheries Perpetrated
BY ViiliaGous Negro, at Anstin,
Texas


One of the most horrible tragedies
on RECORD was enacted at Austin, Tex,
one night last week IN which a negro
man and three negro women were
brutality murdered by having their
skulls crushed with an ak. They we're
servants IN the family of Mr.. w. B.
Dnnham, editor of The Texas Court
Reporter, and occupied shanty in
the rear Of his premises on Guadaloup
street. The names of the victims are
Orange Washington his wife (known
as Grace vance,, Patsie Gibsos, and
Lucinda Boldly. From the testimony
and surrounding circumstances it ap.
pears that the assassins entered the
room Of the sleeping occupants
through window, and before any Of
them awoke, succeeded in striking all
four OF them on the head with an ak
Selling Grace Vance, they dragged
her through window, threw her over
a fence, then pulled her through the
weeds across vacant lot 10 g. rear
stable. At this place she must have
recovered consciousness, as evidences
OF death struggle were abundant
She was, however, overpowered, and
her head battered to a jelly with
brick. and apps rently while she was
struggling between life and death was
criminauy assaulted.
While the fends were committing
this horror, Lucinda Boldly, recover
ing somewhat from the blow which
she had received, regained sufficient
strength to
GET UP AND LIGHT LAMP
in the shanty. One of the assassins,
seeing the light, returned ana shak
ing his head IL the window, cursed
the woman and ordered her TO put out
the light. On seeing him she scream
ed and ran from the building. He
leaped through the window, put
the light out, followed and overlook
the fleeing woman. Just as she got
to the front gate there was another
desperate struggle, during which Mr..
Dunham, who was awakened by the
woman's screams threw open his
front door. Not knowing that murd-
er had been committed, and thinking
the disturbance was a simple row,
he leveled his gun at them without
intention OF shooting, and ordered
them to cease their noise. The WON
an, by desperate struggle freed her
self from the assassin, and, running
to Mr.. Durham, threw her arms
around him and inlplored his protec>
ton, saying the man had murdered
every one in the shanty. The murd
erer ran as soon as the woman ran to
Mr.. Durham, who at once called his
nelghbors to assist in catching the
murderer, who was now running
through the thicket few blocks back
of the house. He was followed by
several persons, and several shots
were fired at him without apparent
effect, as he gained the thicket and
made good his escape, The officers,
however, think they will capture the
murderer, as they have several clews
and descriptions obtaiued from Lu-
cinda Boldly. If caught
He WILL BE LYNCHED.
Grace Vance was dead when found.
Orange Washington died Patsie Glib
son and Lucinda Boldly are in the
hospital. There are hopes for Lucinda,
but none for Patsie to recover. All
the victims are terribly gashed in the
head and face. The entire details of
the crime resemble closely that OF the
murder of Mary Rainey and daughter
few weeks ago. and it is generally
believed that the same fends commits
ted both crimes. Two negroes are
under arrest on suspicion, and officers
are in pursuit OF a third who answers
the description given by Lucinda
Boldly. Intense excitement prevails
among both whites and blacks at the
repeated occurrences of this nature in
the capital city, which seems to be
directed against white and colored ser
wants. The authorities are using
every effort available to ferret out the
fends.
At the coroaer's inquest, the jury
rendered a verdict against a negro
named Doc Wood. He was captured
by officers in Baird's cotton field, eight
miles from town. Blood was found
on the lower part of his shirt and on
his sleeves.