Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1889-03-22
ASTONISHING DEATH.
TIE PEOPLE NOT SATISFIED.

by IL e news OF the sudden and unex-
pected death of Mrs. Jane S Sharp,
relict of the late DR. Starkey Sharp
and mother of our town sman. Mr. j.
c Sharp.
Mrs. Sharp, after the death of Mr..
Henderson Simpson, her father, moved
from Center Hill, this county, to Eden
ton and has resided, for two years or
more, in her new home situated on
Water street and facing the Court
House Square. Since her removal to
this new home and for the last few
months, she has been much alone owing
to the death of her mother and the
removal of her only daughter, having
married, to HEREFORD county. Her son,
who lived with her, on the night of
her death was absent from the house,
on account of business, till about
1870 O clock. On his return home he
discovered the front door of the house
open and lamp bnrning in the sitting
room. Seeing this he believed his
mother still up and went Immediately
to look for her. Not finding her down
stairs anywhere, he went up stairs and
to his own room, which he found open,
to find his mother lifeless lying upon
the floor near the door. DR.. billiard
was Immediately SUNNI oned, also friends
of the family, but to no purpose, save
to prepare the body for the grave, as
the appearances told too we'll that death
had done, efectualIy, it's work.
An examination of the house and
body showed the following facts which
lead two thirds Of this community to
believe that the lady was murdered for
money.
In the first place it was generally
known or, believed that she had money,
money in large amount inherited from
her father and husband It was known
that she was frequently alone in the
house and that it was her INvARIABLE
custom, whether alone or with company
in the house, to have the front and
back entrances securely locked. It was
further known that, unless in case of
extreme haste Or emergency. she would
60 to no part of the house, at night,
alone, without lamp. The night of
her murder Cor such we are forced to
call IT'D she was lef, in the house by
Mr.. Louis Badham, who is clerk of
Mr.. j G. Sharp and who takes his
meals with the family, in better spirits,
if possible, than usual. Mr. Badham
left her after supper which was about
8 or 81 o'clock. She was then, as
always, chatty. and cheerful and appar-
emily we'll Her spectacles were found
lying in an open book which she had
been reading, her box and brush was
found on the mantle where it was care
ully placed by herself Both front
and back doors of the house were found
open. No lamp, save in the room
where she was reading, could be found:
the trap-door leading to the top of the
house was open. When her body was
discovered it was lying back on the
floor with her fore-legs bent or tucked
under her. Her arms were in defen-
sive position, and on her throat were
scars or, black bruises which had the
appearance of marks made by mans
hand in choaking her. Blood was
forced from her mouth and ears, and
her face and head, where the circulation
was stopped, was pink and swollen.
Could she have died with fit of
apoplexy? She was the thinest woman
in town Could she have died from
epilepsy? There is none in her family
and the fact that her hands were open
and her arms in the attitude of defense.
that her feet were under her, while the
remaining portion Of her body was
reclining, that there were scars or
bruises on her neck and scratches on
her face precludes the very thought of
epilepsy. Was heart disease the cause?
She never complained of heart trouble
in all her life and her condition after
death forces the conclusion that she
could not have died from any particular
organic trouble proceeding from natural
causes She was. murdered and this
community believes it firmly and her
body ought never to have been carried
to Harrellsville and buried, until an
inquest was duly held. We blame no
one but the officials for. this, because,
it was not reasonable that the relatives
of the deceased, in their sorrow and
great grief, could have thought of it.
GIVEN SEVEN YEARS.