Year: 1873




nendish and brutal within the entire catalogue OF
crimc SO accustomed has society grown to the
numerous deeds wrought by the pistol and knife
that they fail to disturb the current OF popular
Thought save for moment; and so ordinary are
the occasions upon which one man wreaSs his yen-
geance upon another that 1t Is only when the
crime Is attended by the most unusual and exag-
verated circums ances that 1t appeals TO the ndig
nation OF the public, as it should, and brings
down upon the head of the murderer
the full power, extent and execution OF
the law. About the Linden tragedy are
grouped the most horrible and tragic incidents
chat hOrrority has ever beheld. Search the annals
OF crime from beginning to end and you would
select this as one of the most terribly inhuman
murders ever wrought. No knife, no pistol, no
stranguating grasp played part in this bloody
deed. The bold and daring villain did not effect
his purpose in the night but in open daylight
when the birds were twltterng in the branches
when the cattle were grazing Ia the field, when
the sun stood midway in the heavens-all humanity
was alive active and awake. Such was the busy
hour in which the murderer did his fendish deed.
The victims were two in number and they bore
the relation OF husband and wife. They were
known from one end OF the county to the other as


THE M'BRIDES.


They were very old and they were also very



isolation from society," their universal dlstrust OF
all who approached them from the world without,
placed them before the public as peculiar people
and were the means of surrounding them with
many ridiculous rumors. The name OF the woman
was Isabella the name OF the man was John
Their abode stood on the road between Newberry
and Linden. 1t was built OF logs. About it grew
untrimmed trees and tail rank weeds. The
fences were crumbling, the outhouses In the
last stages OF irecoverable dilapidation. For
years had the couple lived here, lone and solitary
maintaining an existence upon the coarsest food,
dressing in the homeliest fashion and appearing to
the external world only in the brielest moments
and on the rarest occasion. OF course the country
folks circulated all sorts OF stories about them. 1t
was known tnat by means OF Inheritance and
through the agency of continued prosperity and
good luck the McBrides in their dreary
cabin stood sentines guarding immense
boards OF wealth 1t was said that they
possessed thousands in bank notes and thousands
more in gold. Each year seemed but to add new
funds to the purported treasure, until, at last, the
stories which were told seemed crazy and fabulous
As was limited above, they


DID NOT TRUST SOCIETY,


so their humanity seemed an immense school in
which the scholar used every means fair to loul to
stand at the head of the class. From the few
journals which occasionally found their way to the
old log cabin they read OF delacations, burgaries
and failures, until with them every financial lnst-
tuition for the protection OF public funds was
regarded as wholly unworthy of trust,
and never at any time did they let single dollar
60 from underneath the guardianship OF their own
eyes, They lived Alone their sole companions be-
ing q number Of powerful watchdogs. They dis
trusted everything human, and when any one, for
any purpose, approached their dwelling, he was
wa
self OF the impression which his advent had cre-
ated he was glad, at the earliest moment to get
away. Money was god to the McBrides. The
man watched while the woman slept; the woman
rested while the man stood as guardian, but the
two never ventured to repose at the same mo-
ment. slender flame nickered at the window at
al hours OF the night, and the hoarse growl and
cry OF the watch hound hurried the traveller fast
and faster over the public highway. Disguised
parties had more than once crept up with intent
TO STEAL but had departed chased by the dogs,
with their purpose uniulflled.


THR DISCOVERY OF THE MURDERS.


On the afternoon OF July 23 1878, gentleman
named Abram Newcomer passed the cabin, and
something that he saw caused him to enter the yard
and examine the premises. He found the old lady
lying dead near the cellar door, her head resting
on pile of stones and her gray hair saturated with
blood, which oozed from supposed pistol wound
Just back OF the right eye Horror-stricken at the
sight OF the bloody corpse, and realizing that
dreadful crime had been committed, he
summoned others, and upon further lnvesti-
cation the old man was found IN one OF
rooms In an insensibe state, with seven deep
gashes cut In his head Upon searching the pre-
misses money was found everywhere in bags, in
old pocketbooks, between the covers OF books, un-
der the boards OF the floor, amounting in all to
5000 the old man died three Gays after he was
For long time the murder defed the efforts OF the
police, but certain party named Nelson L. Wade,
FVnr rtQi d0tIu
suspected OF the crime and by q cunning scheme
was arrested in disreputabe house in this city.
He subsequently confessed his CRIME as fOliows- -


CONFESSION OF THE MURDERER.


am American born, and have relatives living
e pui
! committed the murder l walked up the
tow Syss,p path from the CITY, went TO- NC
about the time they had done their milking. Last
winter, when was at Glossers, near by, Mrs.
CLOSER told me OF the trunk up stairs and while
was there last winter made ID my business to find
out how much money these old folks had. On
met in the yard by one Of the dogs, which barSsd
at me. soon made up with him and walked into
the house, when Mcbride wanted to know what
wanted there. ! told him


WANTED DRINK OF MILK,


when he told me to go to the cellar where the old
lady was. She asked me II had money to pay Tor
the milk. From the cellar returned to ask the
old man for some bread, but found ne had Dolted
IN tne door. When he unbolted IL showed my foot
IN ana the old man struck at me. then Knocked
nun nun aown with my fist. The dog then made at me
ana and knocked him down. then struck the old
ss man Win the STICK three times, when he CRIED
,MurueI" then hit him another rap with the
clup. then went to the cellar and struck the old
woman put, as have told you several times
n.u NJ. ~ snoot her, as had no pistol, but bought
pne at irours yesterday. When came ont ol the
cellar after killing the old woman the old man was
np on his hands and feet, and


THE DOG WAS LICKING TUE BLOOD


OF his face. then hit him again tnen procured
an axe went up stars and broke open a chest and
tound the trunk mad heard Mrs. CLOSER talk
shat night, carrying away the money. The club
nsed was cut IN the woods near by with a
pma Jack knife II they will look in Tho
corn ded they win see where the grass ia
tramned down. That is where | looked
over the money. got between 100000 ana s5oooo
will not tell where 1t Is. When | come TO die /
will tell some poor man where II is but no rich man
shall have IL. There are two bags buried in tine
city, two above and two below. have nad nffy
names In my lifetime, but Nelson u. Wade Is my
right name. Were TO do tins over again would
exchange all the silver for paper money. That's