The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1866-10-06 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

AMERICAN TRAGEDIES.  A correspondent cf the Montreal Herald gives the following particulars f a frightful crime which recently was committed In liamburg, Canada, by some persons as yet Anorn : About ten o'clock on a stormy night a family were aroused by the son of a neighbour, John Thede, who knocked at the window and called "Help, help, fire, fire!" On opening the door, young Tbode was found lying unconscious near the window, and near him several small boxes containing securities, silver ware, and some money. Having carried him into the house and awakened the servants, in order to get more help from other neighbours, they hastened to the fire. They found a barn in the rear of the dwelling borne in flames, but were surprised not to find a single member of the family which consisted of parents. five eons, a daughter, and a maid servant In knocking repeatedly at the door they got no reply, and becoming alarmed, they broke the windows and thus entered the house. They saw flames issuing from the bedroom of the three eldest sons, and oh going tosthe room in which the parents, the slaughter and the youngest son slept, all the occupants of the room were found covered with frightful wounds, and dead, and the beds covered with smoking straw. 'The dead bocijes were removed from the house in order to rescue them from the fire. On the next morning the' diirpses of the three eldest sons were found; the 'one on the place where his bed stood, the two others in . an adjoining stable, through which, it is thought, they tried to escape. Most of the wounds, it appeared, had been inflicted by sharp instruments, but some by clubs. son who alone escaped from murder was likewise and was during the first day unable tospeak. ji„ „o.oequently recovered his speech, but could not furnish an; information that gave any clue to the identification of the murderers. The murderers are still at large. A correspondent of the Richmond Dirpalch writing from liocko.uhain Court-Maim. Virginia, ti,ptember Mb; gives the following particulars of the terrible tragedy Which recently occurred there : About throe weeks age, oe more, Mr. A. Walton,  a wealthy millosnaer of this town, erode early in the morning with the alleged intention of visiting his mill and plantation, but suddenly changing his route, returned to the house. There he found Mr. Jame. Leagh ps young lawyer who makes Mr. Walton's house hie home during the sessions of coart) in the room with his wife. The husband at onto ordered Mr. Leach out of the house, and forced the execution of his mandate at the point of a revolver; after which, he called for the carriage, and puttipg madam in, sent her Ilk her mother. Nothing further of interest transpired in the case, except that a bill of divorce was tiled by Mr. Walton, until last Saturday, when Leach again rode into town. Aft+ strolling about the village for some time, be met Anderson Walton, a son of Antony by a first wife. Anderson reproached Leach at once with the scandal, which Leach denied with great emphasis; *hereupon Anderson shook his flit in his face, at the mc time putting his hand wider his coat. "So you ;will shoot me, will you?' yelled: I.each, and draw* his sixshooter, he fired, and young Walton fell pierced through the lungs, the blood gushing from his mouth and nostrils, dust then, Mr. Walton the elder rushed up and fired blares shots from his pistol directly at I.each, but missing him entirely, slightly: wounded Captain A. T. Mosely and anegro. Once miire Leach fired, and the elder Walton lay a corpse. TIM ball entered just above his heart. severing the main arteries and canning instant death. The Rev. James IL C. Leach, 1). D., a highlprespectable Presbyterian minister, died soon after hearing of the drama in which his son had acted ao prominent a part; peesibly in consequence, though as to this no one can do aught but conjecture. Mrs. Walton was one of the wives of Hubert, the aeronaut, whose ears were cut off in Louisville, Ky., for bigamy. Soon after their marriage he ran off with her money, leaving her destitute, though legally free, for he had two wives living when he married her. Mr. Walton became so enamoured with the beautiful widow that he bought her wedding clothes, and lavished on her every luxury that wealth could procure until the recent affair, which led to the double homicide. Leach has been justified on the plea of self-defence."