Year: 1864

Attempt 10 Murder a,s Enrolling Officer
On Thursday last an attempt was made to-
murder Lieutenant Spencer Hancock, OF
Manchester, one Of the enrolling officers for
the third Congressional district, by man
named William g. Burton, residing in Ches
terfleld county, about eight miles kom this
city. Burton, who Is conscript, was sent
fof by Lieut.. Hancock, to know the reason
why he had not reported, but the guard find.
ing him absent from home left word with
his vile that he must report to the enrolling
office In Manchester as soon as he returned


This was on the 5th instant, and on the 7.h
he drove up to Hancock's Office in Manches-
ter, and in very menacing manner demand
ed to know why he had been sent for
Lieut.. H., who was alone, replied that he
only wished to know why he had not re.
p ,rted for military duty, and Ii he claimed
exemption 1t was necessary to see the papers
emitting him thereto. To this Burton got
Into towering rage, swore he would not
report to any man, nor would he go into the
service, and then started towards the door,
declaring his intention to return home
Hancock then informed him that he was un
der arrest and placed himself between B. and
the door; but he being a powerful man it was
very easy matter to toss the obstruction
ont of the way. hancock then ordered the
guard toseiZe him, and at the same time
drew his pistol In order to check the advan
ces which b. was making upon him. the
butt end of which he was compelled to use
several times upon his head before 1t was
possible to subdue and c0nfine him. The
physical strength of Burton was 30 great
that it required the combined efforts OF four
men to effect his arrest, and while in their
embrace he made repeated iunges at Lieut..
H., each time dragging them some distance
after him. Burton was then confined and
taken before the Examining b bard at Camp
i i,tltt LAM iyrv q fapt Qf a me-
he was ordered by the Board to be taken to
Castle Thunder. subsequently Lieut. Han
cock was directed to take Burton before the
Military Court Martial of Gen. Lees army,
which was in session at Chesterfield Court
House. While on the way, on foot, under
guard of two men, he seemed very penitent,
confessed that he had done wrong, that
Hancock had served him perfectly right, and
begged that he would make 1t as easy with
him as possible. Arriving at the first water
station, in advance OF the train, Lieut.. IL.
being very feeble from sickness, determined
to take the cars the balance of the way
They then sat down on the side of the road
to wait for the train, Burton (handcuffed)
sitting between the two guards and Hancock
a yard or two eff In short while Lieut..
H. fell asleep, but had not been so many
minutes before B. sprang to his feet, jumped
over the guard. and first striking him on the
head with both hands and the iron cuffs,
attempted to plant both heels Of his boots
in his forehead. Fortunately, however, the
blow from BIS fists partially turned H.'s
head to one side, and the desperado's designs
were thereby thwarted in part. AS it was,
however, his injuries were very severe, as
one Of the heels of B. g boots struck II. on
the side of the head, severely stunning him
and cutting his head in shocking manner.
Burton is a man weighing over two hundred
pounds, and had he have jumped fairly on
HIS head, there is little doubt but it would
have beer crushed in. The prisoner was
committed to Castle Thunder on Friday
morning.


Lieutenant Hancock's injuries are of
serious character Internally, aud yesterday
afternoon he was suffering much from q
stamp which Burton gave him in the breast