Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-09-30
THElDLOODf LONE STAR.
Flsnds VINO systematicaily Murder
! Austin Servants.
TAREI NEGRO SERVANTS surcaIRID
ABhody Tragedy Enacted Ia the Capital
City Of Texas---clues TO the
Murdersrs.
DlTalLs OF THE soAsrRous AFFAIR

Il GALVESTON, Tex. -september 2s.--The
NerS Anssin special ssYs: a horrible
tragedy was enacted lsst night, in which q
negro man and three negro women were
brutaIly murdered BY having their skulls
crushed with IN axe. They were servants
IN the family Of W. B. Ddnham, editor Of
the Texas Court Reporter, and occupied q
sbapty in The :. sroi his prsnises. on Gaad
aioups stfees u 8anas 81 tbs draims
are: Orange Washington, bis wife, known
as Grace Vance, Patsy Gibson and Lucinda
Boldly.
From the testimony and surrounding cir
cumstances, it appears that the assassins
entered the room Of the sleeping occupants
through window, and before any Of them
awoks succeeded in striking all four Of them
on the head with an axe. Seizing Washing.
toms wife they dragged her through win.
dow, threw her over fence, then pulled her
through weeds across vacant lot to a rear
stable. At this place she must have re-
covered consciousness as evidence Of q
death struggle are abundant. She was,
however, overpoWered and her head battered
TO a jelly with brick.
While the fends we're committing the
above horror, Lucinda Boldly, recovering
somewhat from the blow she had received
regsined sufficient strength to get up and
lighted lamp in the shanty. One OF the
assassins, seeing the light, returned, and,
sticking his head in the window, cursed the
woman and ordered her to put out the light
At 9, eing him she screamed and ran from
the building. BE leaped through the win.
dow, put the light out, followed and over.
took the fleeing woman, just as she got to
the font gate There was another desper-
ale Struggle, during which Mr.. Dunham,
who was awakened by the womsn's
screams, threw open his front door.
Not knowing that murder had
been committed. and thinking the dis
tarbsnce was simple row, he levelled his
gun at them without intention Of shooting
and ordered them to cease their noise. The
woman, by desperate struggle, freed her
self from the assassin, and running to Mr..
Dunham, threw her arms around him and
in mplored bis protection, saying the man had
murdered every one in the shanty.
The Escape.
The murderer ran as soon as the woman
ron 10 Mr.. Dunham, who at once called his
neighbors to assist in catching the murderer,
who was now running through thicket q
few blocks back of the House. He Was
followed by several persons and several
shots fred at him, without spparant effect,
as he gained the thicket and made his
escape. The officers, however, think they
will capture the murderer as they have
several clews and a description obtained
from Lucinda Boldly. II caught he will be
lynched.
Grace Vance was dead when found.
Orange Washington died at an early hour
this morning. Patsy Gibson and Lucinda
Boldly are in The hospital. There are hopes
that Lucinda will recover bat no hopes for
Patsy. All the victims were terribly gashed
in the head and face.
Entire details Of the crime resemble close
ly that of the murder of Mary Rainy and
daughter few weeks ago, and it is gen.
orally believed that the same fends commit
teG both crimes. Two negroes are under
arrest under suspicion, and the officers are
in pursuit of third, who answers the de-
scription given by Lucinda Boldly. In
tense excitement prevails among both white
and blacks at the repeated occurrences Of
this nature in the Capital City, which seem
to be directed against white and cOlored ser
wants. The authorities are using every ef.
fort TO ferret o1t the fends.
Latei-At the coroner's inquest the jury
rendered q verdict against negro named
doc VIZ ods He was captured last night BY
ficers in Bsird's cotton field, eight miles
from TOW n. Blood was found on the lower
taIt cf lis shirt and on his sleeves.