Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-10-01
wHorEszIs MURDER.
Four Texas ooIorea People EsrutaIly
Attacked win am Axe.

AAa&CHtu WIN mn AAys
GALVESTON, Sept. GA special to the
Ne,os from Austin says A horrible
tragedy was enacted Sunday night in
which colored man and three colored
women were brutality murdered by having
their skulls crushed with an axe. They
were servants in the family of w. b.
Durham, editor of the Texns Court Re-
porter, and occupied shanty in the rear
of his premises on Guadaloupe street.
The names of the victims are Orange
Washington, his wife, known as Gertie
Vance, Patsy Gibson and Lucinda Body.
From the testimony and surrounding
circumstances it appears that the nssas-
sin entered the room where they were
sleeping through window, and before
any of them awoke succeeded in striking
all four of them with the axe. Selling
GeItie Vance he dragged her through q
window, threw her over fence, then
pulled her through the weeds across
vacant lot to the rear of n stable, situated
as yards from the shanty. At this place
shs must have recovered consciousness,
ms evidences Of q struggle nre abundant.
He, however, overpowered her and bat
terrell her head TO n jelly with brick.
While the fend was committing this
horror, Lucinda Body, recovering some
what from the effects of the blow she Ind
received, arose and lighted lamp in the
shanty. The assassin seeing the light re-
turned and sticking his head through the
window cursed the woman and ordered
her to put the light out. Upon seeing
him she screamed and ran from tho
building. He leaped through the
ind h. a,,1
then followed and overlook the fleeing
woman just as she got to the front gate.
A desperate struggle ensued during which
Mr.. Durham, who had been awakened by
the woman's screams, threw open his
front door md, thinking the disturbance
a simple row, ordered them to stop their
noise. The woman freed herself from the
grasp of her assailant and rushed to Mr..
Durham, imploring protection md
saying the man had murdered
every one in the shanty. The
murderer ran as soon as the
woman escaped. Mr.. Durham aroused
the neighbors and they started in pursuit
of the man who mnde for thicket few
blocks back Of the house. Several shots
were fired at him without effect by his
pursuers, and he gained the thicket and
made his escape. The officers think they
will succeed in capturing him, as they
have several clues and description Of
him. II caught he will be lynched.
Gertie Vance was dead when found.
Orange Washington died at an early hour
yesterday morning. Patsy Gibson and
Lucinda Body are in the hospital. There
nre hopes that Lucinda will recover, but
Patsy will die. All the victims are terribly
gashed in the head and face. The
entire details of the crime re-
semble those of the murder of Mary
Rainey and her daughter q few
weeks ago and it is generally
believed that the crimes were committed
by the same persons Two negroes are
under arrest on suspicion, and officers are
in pursuit of third, who answers the
description given by Lucinda Body. In
mense excitement prevails among whites
and blacks over the repeated occurrence
of crimes against servants of both races.
The authorities ARE using every effort to
ferret out the fiends.
later dispatch from Austin says that
the corners jury has returned verdict
against "Doc" Wood, a negro. He was
captured lust night by officers in Baird's
cotton field, eight miles from Austin.
Blood was found on his clothes.