Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1889-09-10
A FIENDlSH BUTCHERY-
The Horrible Fate Of a PRETTY
Young Woman.
SHE FOUGHT FOR LIFE AND HONOR

Miss Leconey, of AIerchantville, n. j., Was
the yictim--several Hundred Dollars
were stolen Francis Lingo. Negro,
j. Thought TO BE the Murderer.
MERcHANTvILLE, N. j., Sept 10One Of
the most brutal murders ever recorded in
this county took place near here, the victim
being a very pretty and accomplished young
woman, Miss Annie e. Leeoney. The crime
occurred short distance from this borough
at place known as Leconeys Min, and the
entire community is aroused, and parties are
now searching the swamps for the murderer.
The murdered woman was the miller's niece
and the housekeeper for the Leconey home
stead, and had lived there for about seven
years.
Discovery of the Crime.
The FIRST known of the murder was at about
z a. m, when girl named Lizzie O'DonnclI
went 70 the mill TO get some chicken feed
Finding the min closed, She went across the
road 70 the house and knocked at the kitchen
door. Receiving no answer, she pushed the
door open and a terrible spectacle met her
gaze Stretched at full length on the floor
in the room was hiss Leconey with her throat
cut from ear TO ear and the floor covered
with blood. Near the body lay a large
butcher knife smeared with blood, and the
room bore evidences OF a determined struggle
The work Of Fiend.
The alarm was soon given by the terrified
little girl, and a large and excited crowd
soon gathered at the scene. The village
physician was summoned and an examinar
ton of the body OF the dead siri was made.
Her clothing was much torn and disarranged,
and it was evident that her throat had been
cut after an attempt at assault had failed
The head was almost severed from the body,
and from the gashes it is not thought that
tue knife found alongside of the Dody was
the weapon used, as the cuts were very clean,
as though made with a razor.
Two Negroes Suspected.
The young woman was alone in the house
when attacked and was evidently engaged In
washing the dishes Il is thought by Tine de-
toctyes now engaged on the case that she
picked up the butcher knife to defend herself
when the murderer entered the house. The
men had gone TO the Geld 10 work and there
was no hclpwithin sound oi her voice When
/ they left the house Annie was standing in
the Kitchen door. No one was noticed in the
vicinity when they went 20 work, but a short
time afterwards two negroes were seen leav-
ing the vicinity of the mills Suspicion at
once fastened on them as the murderers Ono
of the suspected negroes is named Frank
Lingo, who lives IN the hamlet OF Home
steadWlle near the scene OF the tragedy
Money Dropped IN Flight.
The murderer or murierers ransacked the
house and carried OH oae pockethook con-
tanning about 5000 They had secured an.
other containing about san, and dropped Il
in their flight Officers are now in charge Of
the house, which is literally sneared with
blood. The window shutters were closed by
the murderers, who left bloody finger marks
ON the bolts and edges Of The shutters This
and the deliberate search for money, which
was made in the upstairs rooms while the
hutchercd girl lay below, is regarded as CON
vincing proof that the guilty man or men
knew the habits Of the household and that
no interruption was likely 20 occur unless
some passer by learned of the horror by
giancing IN at the window