The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1906-07-19
FOUR PERSONS MURDERED.
a Most Horrible Tragedy.

winston Salem, N. VI, July Ii
Isaac Lyer]y, his wife, two daughters
and son we're murdered in their home
one mile east of BARRIERS Junction be-
tween and O'Clock this morning by
unknown parties who afterward robbed
the house and then set fire to the bed
on which Mr.. and Mrs. LyerIy were
killed.
"Two older daughters who we're sleep
ing up stairs were awakened and rush
ed down just in time to extinguish
the flames and save the home from de-
struction. 1t is thought that the robbers
killed the four parties with clubs.
"Mr. Lyerly was wealthy merchant
and farmer and the family was recog-
nlzed as one OF the best in that section.
Gas soon as the news OF the murder
and robbery was received here Deputy
Sheriff Hutchins was requested to go
to the scene with his bloodhounds. He
left on special train at o'clock.
"Later report comes that two ne
groes have been arrested. One OF these
is quoted as saying a lew days ago
after Mr.. Lyerly had refused to allow
him to cut bis wheat that the old man
may cut his grain, but he'll never live
to eat it,
"George Erwin, Jack Dillingham; and
Mitchell Graham and his wife, upon
whom broad suspicion was cast, have
been arrested and lodged in jail at
Salisbury. Graham's wife it is said has
made confession"
Further particulars have b,en gath
cred from other press reports. The
four persons killed were Isaac Lyerly
aged IS, his wife aged 40, his son John
Lyerly aged 10, his daughter, Alice
Lyerly aged 6.
Will Gillespie, his son, John GILES
pie, Jack Dillingham; and wife, George
Erwin and Henry Lee, all negroes,
we're arrested and placed in Rowan
county jail, but fearing violence they
we're taken to Charlotte for safe keep
ing. One OF the negroes made con-
tession and told where the axes could
be found with which they committed
the murder. The axes we're found
where they said the were left,
FULLER ACCOUNT.
A representative of the Charlotte
Observer visited the scene and here il
a partial description
"a score or so of neighbor women
had come in to be with Mary Jane
and Addie Lyerly, the only two sur
vivors of the family, and to dres;
their murdered mother for burial. Or
the steps and part OF the yard were
scattered feathers and burnt pieces d
cloth, and in the hall singed teath
ers and straw were heaped in cor
ner and thrown about the floor. There
was smell of scorched feathers anc
flesh. In the rear entry the coronel
was holding his inquest.
SCENE IN THE HOUSE.
| The room at the right contained
two beds, In one OF which Mr. Isaac
Lyerly slept with little John, year.
old, and in the other Mrs. Lyerly anl
little Alice, years cid. On the mid
die of the floor was a great pool o
blood, not yet CONCEALED. Pillows
thrown into corner, were soaked
with blood as were the partly burned
quilts and sheets that had been on tn.
beds. At the head OF Mr.. Lyerly'
, bed the floor and heap OF charret
mattress straw were wet with kero
sene oil. The side, rail- and head O
the bedstesd we're half-burnt. O
, course the room was in the utmos
disorder.
"The body OF little John Lyerly Ia
OA tAO AOOl, PoAIo Va ~ OIAhe OA0oi
and below his knees the dry skin wa
loose and broke. His whole body wa
; purple. Exactly in the top Of hi
: head the blade of an axe had bee
driven, perpendicular to his forehead
From the look of the cut the ak
, must have sunk halfway to it's eye
a and from Its position the boy mus
! have been sitting up. The high hea
of the bed would have made such
stroke Impossible while the chill
slept.
"Mr. Lyerly's body had been tram
ferred to the other bed. His fac,
: framed with gray hair and gray chi
Q whiskers--he was 68 years old-ws
u perfectly calm. They told me ths
his eyes were shut when the first
u the neighbors saw him. He mu
:. have been struck first and killed Will
he slept. There were two blow
J. however one on the front, whic
II seemed to have been made by the az
q handle or club and the other b
o hind his left ear. The latter W,
r made by the butt of an axe, ar
crushed the skull completely in.