Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-04-09
1T WAS MURDER.
An Entire Family in North Carolina
Murdered and the House Burned

An Entire Family in North Carolina
Murdered and the House Burned.
AsHEvILLE, N. C., April s.-Further
details have been received of the most
brutal murder enacted in the mountains
of this State, which was perpetrated in
the lonely valley Of Hominy, fourteen
miles west of this city, on Saturday morn
ing. A passing neighbOr discovered the
residence of Perrin joyce, an aged citizen,
in ashes, in the midst OF which lay the
charred remains of Mr.. Joyce, 10 years
old, his daughter Margaret Joyce, 80 years
cid, Charles joyce. n grandson, years
old, ana maiden lady, Mary Rice, 50years
OH. The alarm was Immediately given
aud the terrible new spread like Wild
fire. Several hundred excited citizens
were soon on the scene. 1t gradually
became apparent t. at the horrible
tr-geGy wa the work Of human II nds.
and he excitement became unbOunded
The COron6 -aC sent for and, accom-
panied " a correspondent, visited the
scene. Wh7n " min three miles of the
locality the public roads were found
alaost E.erally lined with excited
me 1taineers . foot, on horseback and
in vehicles Who were pushing on, prompt
ed by curiosity pathy, or a desire
20 and IN he investigation. Every class
OF citizens was represented
IN beautiful little CO. Q nesting under
Plsgat Mountains W the scene of this
horrible crime. A jury was empanelled
by Coroner Watson and Immediately en-
cred upon an inv 'sttgatiOn. Witnesses
were summoppd and many crcum-
stances rCcited by them soon warranted
the conclusion of -,urder. The charred
remains of old DIR. Joyce and his family
were found in exactly the places they
vert known by their neighbOrs to have
occupied in the room. The house was a
small frame building one and a half
stories high aud Mr.. Joyce was not ac-
customed TO lock his door at night. He
had a large sum OF money in his house.
which fact was generally known among
the ncighb0rs. In accordance with these
and other circumstances after a days
session the jury rendered the following
verdict:
After a review OF an the testimony To be
procured the jury find that j p. Joyce. Mar
garet Joyce, with Charley Joyce and Mary
Rec, came to their death some time between
the h urs OF O'Clock Friday evening, April
.. and O'Clock Saturday morning. 4 prll 4. by
1cng burned in their house. presumably nav
ing been first murdered and the house fired to
cover up most foul and dabolical murder,
the deed having been perpetrated by parties
unknown To us.
During the investigation the excitement
over the horrible crime became general,
and when finally the verdict was rendered
the Indignation of the citizens was almost
unbOunded. The jury took the liberty t.
appoint thirty picked men to ride the sur
rounding country in quest of the perpe-
traitors and today this committee is aided
by scores OF mounted mountaineers. who
are securing the country in all directions.
Wine the evidence furnished by neigh
bOrs does not implicate any one by name,
the disappearance of certain men who
were working for farmers near
by has led to the belief that their
arrest is fully warranted by the circum-
stances, ana this is the clue which is
being followed. Others say there were
suspicious characters seen lettering in
the neighbOrhood last week, and the
mounted pursuers will take into custody
any Of these they may find. The bodies
were so chaTred that it was impossible to
tell whether the victims were shot down
or stabbed; but diligent search is being
made for weapons that may have been
thrown away by the murderers in their
flight, and there is "A possibility Of finding
more conclusive evidence ON the persons
Of those arrested