HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Expositor, 1869-09-03, Page 66
'The Horriba a Tragedy near Qttawaf
PARTICULARS OF THE SHAW M[TRDER.
The Ottawa Citizen of Saturday con-
tains the details, as far as the coroner's
investigation had -elicited, of :the re-
volting tragedy that is now convulsing
the usually quiet township of Osgoocle,
and whi els for cold-blooded atrocity
will long form one of the darkest pages
in the annals of crime in that section
of country. On Friday morning news
was received in the city thatan old
pian_ named Shaw had been shot while
sitting in his own house early on the
previous evening, and that no clue had
been found to the • dastardly assassin.
THE SCENE OF THE MURDER.
was about thirteen miles from the city,
in the fourth concession of Osgoode,
on the town line between that muni-
cipality and Giencester, and about half
a mile from the main road leading from
Ottawa to Metcalfe. -Shaw here owned
a farts of about 200 acres, on which
he resided. His house was situated
facing the town line, from which it was
distant some four hundred `feet. The
house is a log one, of which a descrip-
tion is ecessary to the proper under-
standing of the evidence taken by the
coroner. Entering it by the rear, we
come into a large " stoup" by which
ingress is had to th e'ki tchen, and, pass-
ing into that department, a staircase
lads to the att'e., which is divided into
two rooms, usedas sleeping. apartinents.
Orli the west of the house, at a ' short
distance from it, are the barnes, stables
and other out houses, and on the east
gable is a small garden and orchard.
The only other cham ber in the house
besides those we have mentioned was
one on the ground flit, opening directly
off the kitchen, and having two wind-
ows, one facing the town line anthe
other looking out on the garden sp)ken
of, and in this the murder was com-
mitted.
THE VICTIM
of the atrocious act was an old man
named Thomas Shaw, a native of Scot-
land, about 6Oyears of age, and a mem-
ber of the Free Kirk, who had been
residing on the farm in question for the
last eight years, and had previouslyliv-
ed in Kenmore. From all that our
Reporter could learn in conversation
with numerous 1 arties about the place;
the old man bore a good character, and
was held in high ea:teena byall h
neighbors, with whom he lived on t
best of terms, and • amongst whom l
was always welcome, and a favorit
and no mo+,ave for the foul dead cou
be found in any ill feeling existing li
t ween him and parties in his preee
or former place of residence. Indee
among all persons in the vicinity u
bounded horror at the dark deed pr
vails, with astern determination to fe
ret out the assassin and bring him t
justice.
TIIE INMATES OF THE HOUSE,
it appears, were on a,he night in que
tion, besides the murderer! man, h
wife, an aged and feeble woman, Jame
Shaw, . his eldest son, a man of abou
;hircy years of age, John Shaw, about
b ree and t\% eu ty, his second son, a
you ng girl of sesegeen nurlled-Janet
Millar, a boy of eleven years old noln-
t •:l Wm. Hudson, all resided in the
'to ase; and Duncan McNeil, a elan of
Wout fifty, the husband of a step
laughter of t.lie deceased, and whose
wife we understand was mother of the
soy Hudson -and the girl Janet Millar.
THE MURDER,
THE SEAFORTH EXPOSITOR.
chosen. . The night had set in, the
neighbourhood was quiet, but as the
moonhad not risen it was so dark that
detection in the lonely place seemed
unlikely. Litt1 or no effort seems to
have been made by the family to search
for ` the murderer, an apathy which
would seem incredible -if not sworn to
by themselves.
1N THE NEIOBOURBOOD,
through which the news spread rapidI
the strongest feeling of indignati
prevails, and during all yesterday
large number of the friends of the mu
dered man were shout the house.
IN THE DEATH CHAMBER .
the scene, when our reporter visited
was pitiable in the extreme. In " e
corner was the bed of the old 'coupl
in another a small cupboard containin
crockery. bread, &c., against the wa
opposite the window, was the table
which the party, had been at Suppe
the .cups and saucers "still on it, as w
also the book from which the unfortaa
ate man had been reading, now covere
with clots'.of blood and brains, and pa
cries of grizzled hair. There, too, w
the candle by which he had been read
ing, the spectacles which he had ju
taken 'off, and in front of the table stoo
the chair on which he bad been si
ting, while on the floor lay the bod
the head in a pool of clotted gore, fro
which two streams of blood trickled.to
wards the window and the doorway
It had not been removed from the spo
where it had fallen face downwards
the feet under the table, where a por
tion of the brains had been scattered
the head towards the window. It wa
dressed in a coarse shirt and serge smoe
jacket, a pair of canvass trouser
and stout long boots. In the head
two horrid looking holes, one in the
back of the skull and the other in the
forehead. showed where the fatal bullet
had crashed through the old man's brain.
A hole in the wooden partition over
the table marked where it had sped on,
after the death -blow, to the heavy logs
in- the west gable of the huilding—a
sight so sad—so fearful, we hope, never
to see again. Would we could blot it
forever from our memory.
MOTIVE FORTHE MURDER
it seems hard to find. The old man
does not seem to have had an enemy
among his neighbours, who all speak
in the highest and most kindly terms
him. The evidencegiven before the
Coriner shown that with his family lie
had had various disputes, and rumour
states thein to have been of a more ser-
ious nature than was then stated. With
his song John, he 'appears to have been
-n anything but good terms, and on
more than one occasion report says
blows were struck. • ,That the old man
was ' inoffensive and badly treated by.
his family all ` the neighbours do not
hesitate to say, and through the whole
day a Sarong s"spicion was felt against
the son John, which was not decreased
by his manner during the day, nor by 1
the style in which he gave his evi-°I
dence.
y,
en
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eeems,to have been planned and execut-
sal with the most cold blooded calclrla-
,ion. The whole family had been at
erk in the fields during the day, and
."a;`vurried here about sun down, when
-Il wit the exception of Janet Millar,
-ha was away anlill ieg, assembled in
,he room looking into the orchard, for
sipper. This vas also the bedroom of
. `ie old couple. 'There they ret natinecltill
lre night Net in. about eight O'clock,
'shoe John, the second son, said he was
' �otiig to bed, and left the _house to' go
u the barn, where he had been sleeping
• a kw nights preyiously.. The girl
1:tnet, who had . meanwhile cornet; in,
said the boy Hudson, reared shortly
fter to their rooms in the, at*ic, and in
few mow encs wc.re followed by Mc -
• and Jas:Shaw, wilt) slept in the
.:atr.iierooni as Hudson. The old ootiple
were then lett alone. The old roan
was seated at a rabie reading, his back
.-o the window, the blind of which Was
t =allied ups when his wife got up from
'der seat"to look after so_ma in Ltters in
-1le adjoining kitr-hen. Scarcely had
-he lrobbibd to the door, when she •was
-:t:rr•tlod 'by the report of a gun, and
tirned round' just iii tiare to see the
room farness with smoke, . the window
aloes- sia tered on the floor, ' and her
'lu."lbantl after one cunveileive. spring
!.i to the ground a- lifeless and disfig-
fed 1 isnais..s, with the blo.,d pouting_ frons
c 7;aping '-011ll11 ata his head. She .at
.ri k,l.uuted to the q ber, inmates of
THE CORONERS' INQUEST
was held by George Patterson Esq.,
who discharged his duties in a praise-
worthy manner. In evidence Mrs.
Shaw, wife of cleeeased was examined,
who testified that her husband was shot
on the evening in question while lie
was sitting at a table, and she was in
another r•ooxn. There was no gun kept
in the house. Deceased and ' his son
John had quarrelled about the possess-
ion of a sum of money, about ''.5. Oth-
er witnesses were a15o examined, whose
evidence in f the mail/ coincided with
that of Mrs. Shaw. But that of John
Shaw, son of deceased was of a suspic-
ious nature.
THE VERDICT
was that the deceased cane to his death
by a ler..clen bullet fired from a gun by
some person unknossn.
ARREST OF JOHN SHAW.
Although the verdict returned by the
,jury threw - no blame on any person
known, there was considered to be in
the evidence enough to warrant the
detention of John Shaw until " the mat-
ter, was more completely sifted, and
by the advice of almost all present,, he
was taken in charge and brought to
the city by County Constables Arm-
strong and Silcox. He came with them
quietly for some way, and was not
handcuffed; but at one point made an
attempt to escape froom them, and in
consequence had the irons put on -alis
wrists. He was placed last; night in
the.lock-rip, and will be removed to
gaol to -day.
FURTHER DISCLOSURES.
In regard tot this d readfuli affair may
be confidently looked for before many
days, and we lope that such speedy and
certain retrilairtioss may overtake the
gun;' -v party as will strike terror into
other ev:I disposed persons should such
in Our midst.
hFvai!;€ v,i10 cultic (tutvf. Ther a("t
Eiameae Excution•
raft( r•\ al.i'ttti Lett! Etat be told i11 tht'1
ti , '1 l'1l ; to the Hvideile'e'Die Siam correspondent of the :;;;New
• tirk ti Md.: doser•i i ue5 an OXet'lr t jOrr I r,
T:Gon4 the Sala'
day, some of our patty made a rush to
witness a public execution,: A China-
man was to be beheaded for- theft and
murder, and the news created no little
exei e-nent • The day was fearfully hoz,
and they -struggled up a narrow canal,
and then footed it across a well -parched
field, which radiated heat like an oven.
The scene of punishment was a wild
near a grove, where a large crowd
waited for`=the thrilling spectacle. Two
executioners were in service and each
struck the victun's neck with his sword.
The first skilfully avoided a complete
decapitation, leaving -this for his as-
sociate. They never separate the head
at a single blow because of the sup-
erstitious fear tha+, insanity would be
their penalty. Indeed, their is a - holy
horror connected with the death penalty
and after it has been enforced the e--
ecutioners immediately repair to some
temple, and are not only shrived, but
are sprinkled with holy water to pre-
vent' the dead from flaunting them."
DEPARTI;RE OF DR. BaraoS. —Th ege itle-
man, who; has been justly termed a "romans
chirtpoidst," leaves this morning_ for New
York city, where prior engagements demand
his iimmediat! presence. His stay in the
city has indeed been short, blit in that period
he has made a host of friends, and has him-
self been so kindly treated that he requests
us to express to his many kind patrons his
gratitude for the courtesy extended to hixn
during his stay. fn fact no one could come
in contact. with the Doctor except to meet
him as a gentleman; kind, social and affable
in his manners, possessing a genialnature and
warm heart, and in his profession skilful
.beyond a doubt. He became so enamored
of his success, and the friendship shown
that he has resolved as soon as his business
engagements will permit, to return about the
latter part of therponth, when he will again
take rooms with !the most ex&ellent host of
tho "Russel. "—Ottawa
Dr J. Briggs has opened a branch office at
No 6 King Street, West, Toronto, Canada.
where he will treat all diseases of the feet, in -
the most skilful manner. His Modern Cur-
ative is sold by all Druggists and c:,iintry
merchants. J. Scatter agent, Seaforth.
SEAFORTH MILLS!
SEED STORE!
THE undersigned have just received
IMPORTED DIRECT,
1,000 LBS.
SKIRMING'S IMPROVED PURPLEoTOP
SWEDE,
A. quantity of Early
GOODERICH POTATOES,
Also a fresh stock of
GARDEN
AND
AGRICULTURAL SEEDS.
Will have constantly on hand a choice se-
lection of Flower and other ,
BEDDING PLANTS.
GRANULATED WHEAT
OSBOR-NE'S possesses all the qualities of Farina and
Oatmeal, for Porridge.
W.A. Shearson & Co.
Seaforth, May 21. 52-1v.
NOTICE.
vCREDITORS of Nath mien Middlesmis are
requested to fyle their" claims with the
undersigned at once, in order to be adjusted.
MCCAUGHEY & HOLMESTED,
Solicitors for Administrator.
Seaforth, Aug. 24. 90-3in
TAKE NOTICE
THAT JOHN HA LDAN, has been
appointed Official Assignee for the County
of Huron.
Office at SEAFORTH,—J. S. PORTER'S.
Office at GoDERICH,--Directly opposite the
Post Office.
Goderich, March 5th, 1868. 13-tf.
LISTEN III
WHILE
OGAN
SPEAKS.
For his Stock
SPRIMt GOOPS
WAS
Never Excelled
In this Market.
The Manchester House
Then, is the place for Satisfaction
inDealing.
ctfc, 1 1 4t1 , lag. `61-tx.
POOR COPY
TO REl\TT..
TN the best business portion of Seaforth, a
I Frame Shop 22x34, suitable for a aro-
eery, Book Store, &o. immediate possession
given. For particulars address
Wm. ROBERTSON & Co.,
Box 34, Seaforth, Ont.
8 7 -tf.
}
PZ
Cf) ,gooneh
cit• v
-SP
tit
CIO
ice+•
ommui—
$50 REWA.R,D_
HOT, on Sunday night, the 25th ult,,
0 betweenl2 and 1 o'clock, on. South half
Lot 20, Con. 12, McKillop, a two-year-old
Steer. The above reward will be riven to.
any person or persons giving such informa-
tion as will lead to the conviction of the
party who comnfitted the deed. nal-
MICHA.EL RYAN.
McKillop, August 87
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Insolvent Act of 1864.
Province of Ontario, In the County Court of
County of Huron, the County of Huron.
Td Wit :
Iu the matter of HENRY W MCCANN,
An Insol vent.
N Tuesday, t1e sixteenth day of Novem
1.‘ J ber_next, th undersigned will apply to
the Judge of the said court for a ,ascharge
under the said A et.
H. W. MICA NN,
By MCOAUGHEY & HOLMMESTED,
his Soiit'rtors ud liter..
Seaforth, A lig. 25, 1869. 90.2m.
i
LOST OR STOLEN.
BOUT the .7th day of August, an Ac-
count Book, containing several accounts
and Two Promissory Notes, payable to Wil-
liam Vanstone. The payment of the notes
are hereby stopped. The finder, by returns
ing them to Garbe, Ainleyville, rill
be rewarded. Henry,
Ainleyville, Aug. 16th. 81-.3in.
PROPERTY -Foe SALE.
T,{OT No. 9. Spariing's Survey of ;Seaforth,
with Store, Storehouse, Stable and
Dwelling on it, and situated on the first lot
North or Downey's Hotel, Main Street.
For particulars apply to the proprietor,
Wit. N. WATSON,
Insurance Agent.
":9- tf.
Seaforth, June 11th.
Notice of Guardianship.
OTICE is heresy given that at the ex-
piration of Twenty Days from date, I
will make application to ti,e Surrogate Court
of the County of Huron, to be appointed. -
guardian of George and Julia Vogt, infant
children of. Zigmond Vogt, late of the Town
of Brantford, in -the County of Brant, and
Province of Ontario.
JOHN B. VOGT,
By BENSON & MEYER,
Solicitors for John 13, Vogt.
Dated at Seaforth,19th August, 1869. 813-?
FARM FOR SALE:
FOR Sale, Lot 15, in the 13th Coutes--
cion of the
Township of Stephen,
On very easy terms, and at a Moderate
Price.
This farm is conveniently situated to Saw•
and Grist Mill, has 30 acres cleared, and a
good well of water. -
For further particulars apply to Wm. F.
Luxton, .`Expositor" Office, Seaforth. or to
GEO. W. ROSS, Stri,throy.
Augiist 13th, 1869. 8S_tf
• Farm for Sale.
THE subscriber offers for sale the farm be-
ing Lot No. 9, in the 2nd Concession,
Township- of --Tnckermith, consisting of 801
acres, nearly all cleared • There is a good
Frame House on the lot, and a large Barn, a
never failing spring creek runs through tha
farm. Eor particulars apply to
A. G- VAN EGMOND,
At the Seaforth Carding
Seaforth, July 2nd • 8 2m-
iVI'G R EGOR & SON,
BOOKBINDERS HULLLT
APSE prepartd to execute binding in every
style. Persons residing at a distance
by leaving their books at the Signal Book
Store, Goderich, or at the FTPosITOR"
office, Seaforth, stating style, may rely upon
them being w:;11 bound.
AT THE LOWEST PRICES,
And returned without delay.
Seaforth, Julie 11, 1869. 78-t f,
SE .FORTH
DISPENSARY
And
Family Drug Store.
LUIVI$E3N has just received his
•
Spring Importations
Of Pure Drugs and Medicines, Chemicals and
Patent Medicines, French, English and
American Perfumery ; Hair Dressings, Oils,
and Pomades ; Hair, Tooth, Nail and Shav-
ing Brushes ; Dressing and Fine-tooth t'oinbs;
Toilet and Shaving Soaps, cc., &c.
Horse Ss Cattle Medicines,
Condition Powders, e(e ,
DY I? STUFFS ! 1
Of very Superior Quality.
I3YSICI ANS' Prescription's
I_ prepared,
accurately
R. I.iT.TM SDEN,
Pharmaceutical Chemist,
53-tf,
caforth. April 22.
"GO TO
T. J. SIMONS'
FRUITa OYSTF;ft
n EroxT
For Fresh Oysters, Sardines, Lobsters, Pies,
Oakes, and Sweetst of every description.
CALL AND slEE
His .Fyes:Vi .-! .f
t stork .
Opposite McCANN'S Old Stand.
Saforth, Feb. 12, 1869. 63-tt 4
INSOLVENT A CT OF 1864.
In the Matter of JAMES ELLIOTT,
of Seaforth, an Insolvent.
THE creditors of the Insolvent are notu-
ed that he has made an assignment
ott
his estate and effects under the above act, to
'me, the undersigned Assignee, and that they
are required to furnish :me: within two
months from this date with -their claim
specifying the" security they hold if any, and
the value of it, and if none stating the fact,
the Whole attested under oath, with tlx4
vouchers in support of such claims..
Dated at Goderich, in the County of Hur-
ons this 25th day of June 18ti9.
JOHN HA LDAN,
Official Assignee.
GGodorith, June 25. 8€69_ 82 -if -
LATEST
London, August
ferring to the cord
Colonies, say a C{
pects independent
become so. She
great power, and
inquiry whetherei
her appropriate Te
London, A ' a-gus`t
day, in. its Mandl
1 report says :—"It
returns of sales of
Iwere falsified ever
figures r•eafly arra
' more than half the
lie, and as result t'
.a panic at Manehe'
sent all cenudene
of the returns fro ti
is no disposition tt
on the part of the
S
Madrid, Aug, e
n
yie.ding tri the.
ons from all pa.rti
death sentneiic
vlergynen, and th u
no more executiora
cei ved from six
the recent decree,
satisfactory Revd ill
steps will. 1,e take
Gen." Prim return_.
Madrid, August
tar -day say's that th
sli.date for the Spa
tus of Portugal.
Paris, Sept. L
Vona/ of to -day saes
is daily-becomingY'
inent as a caudida
-pail
Madrid, Sept.
be commenced -
seven bishops wh
for diaobediente
ers.
Red Rive
Mr. McArthur,
ing young nierch
:"erly in the servi
4ompany, has in
to the Red R
-wens, by way of
reckenridge, awe
the Red River - Vi
He fnnnd that the
in the construetio
road, were busily
-- work, wind . that
would be complet
Breckenridge, 1
running upon the
passage in about
hong time, eonside
by the road, it
when there is n
some two hnndre
the river is arae
known to geograp
1y at the -enol oto
Yeller finds aims
Mance from the
iEn the preceding
Illustrated by the
route from .Breek
north, and. the ox
atf the Red River
atklistances ofabo
From one bend
.013 .a -day's journe
Buggies go 24 mil
two bends during
ease the travellers
-The passage by 1.'
easy one, and t
have to be prow dy
they want for t '
.keeping ler.'
n n who went
dieing that he 1:€
very little ether
t,wo or three days
the relief af any
tabs. At Red
crops looking m
pest of grasshoppe
-These insects, l
thought likely to
chief. Mr. McA
iderable enccurag
-tile objects, and.be
mg zip of the Hind
monopoly :will thr
business of the tei
-which be thinks s
-t.taart for flues,_ tlnu
refold chiefly 1n l'
The St. Paul Peon;
t aerge#ic, anis w 13
'card to the N drtl'
The steamboat n
Red River s o I
asinuch as she is
with rapidity the
-in passing from .(
She is also claims,
t the speed at wl
throws up se neat g
us to reduce the di
mediately belo 4v
'r-, will
probably
in the veining epri
only sixteen inch.e
Four acres of ]
-ielded 210 bushel