Year: 1870

A Woman Buichered In Man sfeld-Fr.ghtful


Appearance of the B0dy-N0 Clue to the


Murderer--A Reward Offered for His Ap-


Observation-Disclosures Of the Tragedy.


MASsFrELD, Ohio, March ID, 1870.


The inhabitants OF this quiet town were thrown
into great excitement ON Saturday morning last by
runor that one OF the most horrible murders on
record IN this State had been pcrpetrated IN their
midst. Your correspondent who had just finished
his breakfast when he heard OF the rumor visited
the scene with view to gaining such reliable infor.
nation as could be obtained at the moment.


BY the aid OF citizen the vicinity OF the tragedy
was reached. The house is situated on the street
running at angles with the main street, on line
with the railrosd. and IN the rear OF the United
States Hotel. II is double one story frame building,
with an attic. One side or the house is occupied by
family OF negroes ana In the other dwe,t the victim
OF the murder. The body lay In the attic, on en-
tering which most sickening presented itself.
On bed in the rlghthand corner or the apartment
lay the unfortunate woman, drenched IN her blood.
Her wounds were numerous and horrible to
gaze upon. The throat was cut from ear to
ear; on the rignt side or the neck there
was deep gasn; on the upper part OF
one breast was a ghastIy wound and there was
deep cut IN the right side OF the face laying open
cheek from the angle or the jaw and exposing the
teeth to view. In lnfcting this wound the assassin
had thrust his knife into the Victims mouth. nearly
severing the tongue, and drawing it out by some
means as it protruded from between the iips which
were drawn up and contorted as from agony. Be-
sides these wounds, any OF which was serious enough
10 cause DEATH the beast IN human form had actually
disemb0Weiled the woman. A large incision had
been made in her abdomen from winch the entralls,
mangleu ana cut, gushed out. II is impossible to
describe the slckennR horror OF the scene. Blood
despatched the ROOM on the floor and on the furnI
ture. The bedclothlng was dyed with the gore.


There IS no doubt whatever that the III fated crea-
ance or the room indicated that her assassin had
overcome her only AFTER q fierce and prolonged re-
sistance. Besides, the struggle was heard by and
actually awoke the negroes IN the adjoining house,
ana the negro man rising from his bed rushed TO the
door Just IL time to see the 1Orm OF the murderer
leaping through the side window with q
bound and hurry OF down the street. Why
he did not instantly give the alarm is not
mentioned the circumstance to the nelghbors whose
suspicious became aroused by the fact OF the
not making her appearance as usual Some OF them
went to the door and Knocked, and receiving no re-
sponse placed q ladder against the window. and
entering the room discovered her dead body lying
on the bed as described.


But little Is known OF the poos except that
sne was SeaInstresS named Mary D. LlmSfOrd. She
arrived mere from Cincinnati some 1--WE months ago,
and was reported to be o widow with one child 1t
Is stated that she had two sultorS for her hand one
mony was TO have been performed on wednesday
next so far no clue has been obtained to the
murderer Some persons think that the crime was
committed by the disappointed lover, but there is
pclon. The tragedy has naturally created the great
est excitement and aroused The city authorities to
unwOnted activity. reward OF $1,000 mas been
onered Tor the arrest OF the murderer, aud IL Is
hoped that he Will be discovered before many days
can pass. At the present writing, however, the ter.
ribe affair Is sni GUIDED in the deepest mystery.