Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1888-07-13
An Alleged wife Murderer.

An Alleged Wife Murderer.
In the latter part of the month of April,
1875, the people of Panther Branch town
ship, in Wake county. N. G., were thrown
into state of intense excitement over the
discovery of murder which for GOODNESS
and brutality seldom has an equal in the
annals of crime A man by the name of
Scott Portiu suspiciously left the neighbor.
hood. saying that he was going into the
eastern part of the State, where his wife had
gone 10 visit relatives. This story was not
believed, and soon the neighborbood became
convinced that there had been foul play in
which Portin had partaken, and the neigh
bors soon became convinced that the subject
of the foul play was the innocent wife of
this brutal husband. Parties OF men were
organized and systematic search of the
woods and marshes in the surrounding
country was commenced. The scene of the
suspected crime is q lonesome desolate spot
at point where the counties Of Wake,
Johnston and Harnett join, and is only nine
teen miles south of Raleigh, the capital Of
the State Every branch and meadow and
thcket of woods in the neghborhood was
searched by the excited populace for awhile
to no avail. At last the attention of some Of
the searchers was attracted by large
number of buzzards flying around 8
COW mire. Upon investigation it proved
that the object which attracted them was q
dead COW in the mire which had become
stalled In the mud aud was unable to get
out. The suspicious ofthe men were aroused.
By this time fully 500persons were searching
for the missing woman, from whom no It'd
~ fh1
was removed from the mire. An iron rake
was sunk deep down in the hole, which was
filed with mud and water. After several
trials the rake brought up d piece of human
flesh. The crowd was horrifed. Repeated
efforts we're made and at last guano sack
was drawn from the mud, which contained
the mutilated remains of woman. The
sight was 80 sickening that several persons
tainted. The body OF the woman was go
badly mutilated that it was past all recog-
milton, but no one doubted that il was the
wife of Scott Portin. The arms and legs
had been severed from the body, which was
otherwise mutilated, and the skull had been
broken in several places. Rewards aggre-
eating $4,000 were offered by the State and
by private individuals for the capture of the
criminal. One man totally disinterested
offered $1,000 for the capture of Portin.
Once he was very nearly in the hands OF the
law. 1t was known that he was still in the
neighborhood, and that he was probably Sleep
ing in small barn. The barn was surrounded
while he was in it. He quietly raised one
of the planks in the floor and slipped un-
der. Strange to say, his pursuers never
thought to look under the barn. For thir-
teen years he eluded pursuit. 1t was sup.
posed he was aided to escape by his brother,
who had been arrested at the time of the
murder, but had been discharged for the
want of any evidence. On the 22d Of June
q tramp appeared in the town of Selma, a
village on the North Carolina Railroad at
Just twenty-five miles from the scene of the
crime. The stranger attracted no special
attention except by his terrible curses. 1t
happened that there was man by the name
of Price living in Selma who knew Scott
Portin. The suspicious of Price on seeing
the man were at once aroused. He looked
at the stranger closely. He asked him to
show his right hand, but this the tramp re-
fused to do until forced to do so, and then
it was only to show the missing joint of the
index finger on the right hand, the very
same one that was missing on Portin's right
hand. The man was put under arrest
and sent to Smithfeld Jail. He pretended
to be an Irishman, but his brogue was said to
be feigned. Again, it was suggested that
the murderer Portin had scar over his
left eye The prisoner was examined and
there was the scar. By this time several
persons had arrived who knew Portin. Two
of them identified him at once, while two
said it was different man. The prisoner
has been taken to Raleigh, where he is now
in jail. Many people say they positively
identify him IS Portin, while others affirm
it is most remarkable case of mistaken
identity. One of the most convincing cir
cumstances is the statement of q woman who
said that if the prisoner was Portin he had
scar on his abdomen which she had made
with knife while he was trying to assault
her. Upon examination scar was found
in the exact place described. The father of
the murdered woman thinks it is not Portin.
The District Solicitor, Col. I. n. Argo, it is
reported, thinks he has the right man. He
intends to have him taken to the scene of
the crime that his actions may be closely
noted. On the whole the authorities say it
is the most remarkable case on record. Itis
said that some years ago Portin killed ped.
ler for his money, threw the body IN an old
we'll and then ran blind horse in the well
to avert suspicion. Aknowledge A of this fact
induced the sesrchers to investigate the case
of the cow being in the mire. Portin has
been supposed to be in the State for some
time, and the general opinion seems to be
that the prisoner Is the right man.
ADVICE TO MOTHERS.
Mrs. WINsLoW's SOOTHING SYRUP, for
children teething, is the prescription OF one of the