Year: 1869

HORRIBLE AFFAIR. The most recent hor-
ror in Philadelphia, is the murder of his whole
family, by Mr.. Blackstone, under crcum-
stances which leave no doubt Of his insanity.
We get the following account from the papers


The fact Of the triple murder was first known
by the receipt of a telegram from Mrs Black
stones father, speaking Of the receipt of let
ter in which Mr.. Blackst tone stated that he had
killed his wife and children. The house was
Immediately entered through a window, and
there were discovered the bodies of Mrs Black
stone and her children lying upon the floor,
their heads and part Of their clothing covered
with blood. The floor was also covered and
the flow of blood was stopped from running
into the yard by roll of muslin which had
been placed in front of the door, as if purpose
ly intended to keep all evidence Of the crime
within the room. The kitchen is very small
one, and from appearances Mrs Blackstone
was about kindling fire in the range when she
was deprived of life, her hands being stained
with coal dust. The coal had been freshly put
on. She lay at full length on her back, in the
middle of the floor. Resting against her knee


lay her son, with his face to the floor, while
the daughter lay with her head upon his shoul-
der, both in their night clothes, and all having
evidently been killed number of hours All
the circumstances indicate that the wife and
one Of the children were murdered in the kitch-
en- and the other child as it lay on the lounge
in the sitting or dning-rOOm. A pillow on the
lounge was covered with blood, and the carpet
was saturated with blood underneath. 1t was
believed that the girl had been there killed, as
she partly lay upon the boy. That an axe had
been used in inhicting the deep gashes on the
wife's face and neck, and upon the neck of the
boy, was manifest, as 1t lay close to them, and
was very bloody. The wounds indicated a
state OF frenzy on the part Of the murderer, as
the heads were nearly severed from the bodies
And yet nothing else on the premises betoken-
ed diseased mind. Everything was In order
SO far as could be expected in house in which
the family had arisen but short time before
In the sitting and dining room, between the
kitchen and parlor, was a table with few
plates, goblet or two upon it, and child's
chair was close to it, which contained the girls
clothes as they had been taken from her the
evening previous. After committing the mur-
ers, Blackstone wrote letter to his father-in-
law in Connecticut, informing him Of what he
had done, then came down to the city, visited
the office of real estate broker, made an as
signment of some property, and then walked tc
the Delaware, intent upon putting an end tc
himself. He was arrested by officers who
judged from his appearance that he was insane
but breaking away from them he threw off his
coat and hat and plunged into the river, where
he was drowned.


A late Macon paper states that near
Drayton negro assaulted two little school
girls, threatening to kill them instantly il
they screamed. One of the children die
scream, and the brute Immediately cut hel
throat with clasp knife. She gave one
groan and died. Her companion he gagged
bound and threw into thicket and left her
after subjecting her to repeated violence.
She finally managed to escape, and telling
her story. The neighborhood was soon
aroused and in pursuit of the black monster
After long chase he was captured and put
into Jail. Perhaps the Bureau will supply
him with rations and keep him comfortable
until he is hung.