Newspaper Tidbit: Most Cruel Murder ... (1816)

Connecticut Mirror (Hartford, CT)
22 January 1816

New-York, January 15

The Alexandria papers of Friday, stat that a most cruel murder was committed on the night of the 4th inst. on the person of a Spaniard or Frenchman, between Hay-market and Buckland, in Prince William County Virginia, supposed to have been perpetrated by two unknown persons, who are either Spaniards or Portuguese. It appears that the deceased was seen on the morning of that day travelling in company with the two suspected persons, who were the next day seen returning on the same road; after which the dead body of their companion was discovered near the turnpike road, mangled in a horrid manner, covered over with snow and entirely naked. The suspected persons, and the murdered man were at the house of Mr. Hutcheson on the morning of the 4th. One of them spoke broken English, and said he had with him 500 dollars in money, and about the same amount in small jewellery, which he carried in two boxes in a small valice. He was about 5 feet 6 inches high, dark eyes, hair very black, and face and hands pitted with the small pox--stated that he had come from Philadelphia, and had some friends in Baltimore; that he was endeavouring to raise money for the purpose of redeeming a near relation who was a prisoner in Algiers; that he was going a short distance further with the two persons who were with him, and should return in a few days.

Com. Adv.