Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1902-10-17
Friday, October IL, 1902.
THY BROTHERS BLOOD.

The people of old Northumber-
land county are not altogether
satisfied that the perpetrators of a
recent black deed should be allowed
to go UNPUBLISHED. They are think
ing deeply over the turn of af-
fairs in the Brassie murder case, and
we agree with them that they should
not be satisfied to let the blot on
their county remain until all ends
and means are exhausted and proved
futile. We are ignorant as to where
the blame lies-if blame there be
and officials and people owe
it to themselves to take another
turn at it. In talking over the
matter recently with a prominent
citizen of that county the suggestion
came from US that he, who was bet
ter acquainted with the circum-
stances, write something Oh this line
for the columns Of one of the local
papers. The gentleman did so, but
as it was at our solicitation we here
with publish it in our editorial
columns, seeing its incipiency sprang
from us:
"Over a year ago j. w. Brassie,
law-abiding and useful citizen of
Northumberland county, was at
tackled in his own yard near Heaths-
vile and murdered in a manner
shocking to relate. The old mans
gray hairs and enfeebled physical
condition instead of commanding re-
spect seemed only to lend zeal to his
cowardly assassin, or assassins. Pin
ned to the ground he was choked to
death and then Drained with
Ratchet. The coroner's jury decided
that he was dead-and he was buried.
"That's about all there is to the
story. The immediate evidence did
not seem very conclusive against any
one. The affair soon grew stale as a
topic of conversation. Northumber-
land was apparently startled at first. |
But the grass continued growing, the |
cows kept on lowing, and in a little
while a most beautiful hush settled
down over the dastardly deed. The
blood OF the friendless old man still |
cries up from the ground, and cries
in vain.
with all that may be said against
the people of Lancaster OH the cues
tion of law-breaking, be it to their
credit that when a somewhat similar
crime occurred in that county its
sturdy men with mesgre evidence
secured the woods in bands until
they hunted down and the law dan
gled at ropes end the miserable
coward who had stained his hands
In the blood of an innocent fellow
man.
III Northumberland's people are
unable to do anything, has the
Governor of the State no power.
no authority to offer a reward?
LIS the safety of Northumberland
homes worth nothing? Are its peo-
pie asleep to the encouragement of
murder that this case gives?
ain these days when Timothy Tug
mutton is telling the people that the
country is going to the demnition
bow-wows unless his party is elected,
and Benjamin Bigvoice is declaring
Voclferously that life will not be
worth living unless his faction has
the majority vote, / would suggest
The appointment of another officer
TOR Observation-Disclosures official bell
ringer. Let him bestrong and sturdy.
Provide him with a bell loud and
clear, that he may 60 forth in the
'id county and wake its people up to
The fact that UNPUBLISHED murder at ;
heir doors is matter of infinitely I
greater consequence than the fran.
,hise clause in the new constitution. !
han the tariff question or the i'm
'erialistic policy"
Awake, arise, or be forever fall'n."