The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1886-01-15
A BRACE OF TERRIBLE MURDERS

Two terrible crimes were committed in
this city last night, after midnight, which
will undoubtedly result in three deaths,
aud there is no telling how many lynct-
ings. During the past Year Austin has
been horrifed every few weeks by some
dastardly attack ou servant women, both
white and coored. Fully dozen servants
have been outraged aud eight murdered
within this period The crimes all bore
evidence of being pcrpe,rated by the same
person. Every effort has been made to ap-
prehend the criminals, skilled detectives
being employed. Many negroes were ar
rested and put through a rigid exum,na-
ton, but nothing came of these efforts.
Many citizens and somc officials held to
the theory that the crimes were lcrpctra-
ted by some insane person, who cuunipgly
devised how he could shed women's blood
without apprehension. About midnight
last night w. III. Hancock, wclI-to,lo
carpenter residing at 2O3 Water street,
was awakened by groans. Entering his
wife's chamber he found vacant bed coy,
cred with blood spots. lie followed the
trail out Of tho front door around the housr
and into the backyard, where he found his
wife wcltcring i'll pool of blood. She
ha1 been struck twice across The head and
face with blunt axe aud her skull was
fractured. Although still alive, the phy-
sicians say she will surely die from her
wounds. Mrs. Hancock is 10 years of age
aud handsome woman. She bears an I'm
blcmished character. In the midst of the
great excitement produced by this outrage
the citizens were appalled, at learning of a
still greater crime that had been committed
about the same hour several squares dis.
tant At o'clock Mrs. Phillips, residing
at oOS Hickory street, was awakened by
the cries of her grandson. Entering the
room Of her sou, James Phillips, she found
the infant OH the bed covered with blood
and Phillips lying scuselcss from terrible
blow on the head Ella Phillips, the wife.
was missing. The affrigh,cd uoisbbors
followed bloody trail and found her body
lying in the back yard of the adioiuiur
promises. Death had resulted from blow
ON the forehead with au axe. Across the
body lay heavy rails. Her person had
been outraged. There is no clue in either
case. The excitement on the strests du-
ring the day was very great Christmas
was forgotten. The Mayor called meet
ing OF the citizens at the State-House and
nearly thousand responded to the call,
and committee Of public safety was orr
ganized. The feeling over these last out
RACES is intense. \ house .to>housc search
for the blocdy>hanjed n,urderers will prob.
ably be made.
THE COLD WAVES MERclLEss MAucu.-Chi.
cago, January S.-'ihe blizzard raging through
out Illinois, Iowa. Kansas, Nebraska, Dakota
and Minnesota is declared to be Of wiler extern,
and fercer in character than has been known
before in years Ali siag western trains are
behind time. Many trains have been showed
in and abandoned.
The temperature throughout Dakota is stated
10 be twenty to twentyfour degrees below zero
with wild blizzard blowing
telegram from Fargo says the thermometer
registered twenty-seven below a. noon to day.
Yesterday is described rs the rou CHEST day in
the experience of the city
California kilograms were being sent by way
of st. Paul and the Northern Pacific with onlv
one wire working.
telegram from Dcs Moines, Iowa, saws the
cold wave continues there with high wind and
drifting snow. All through trains west of
there are blocked aud the branch roads are
showed up.
New Orleans. January s.--The weather is
clear and freezing.
Kansas City, Mo-, January S.-Thc mercury
reached fifteen degrees below zero here this
morning
Memphis, Team, January 3.--The cold wave
struck Memphis about daylight this morning.
IL has been showing since 10 oclock last night
and bleak wind from the northwest adds to
the disagreeablc condition Of affairs
Cincinnati, January 9.-lt has been showing
in this vicinity since = clock this afternoon
and about four inches is the average depth to-
night, with snow still FILLING. The tempera.
ture is about 20 degrees above zero this evening
but falling.
Council Grove, Kansas. January S.-The
Missouri Pacific passenger train was wrecked
by snow in Dawning cut, about s miles north.
after passing here last evening. The wind was
blowinga blizzard, aud the thermometer was
twenty.three degrees below zero. The train
was buried in snow bank all night Tne nos
sengers were nil comfortably cared for by the
trainmen.