Alexandria Gazette

MURDERERS LYNCHED IN BRUNSWICK.—Our readers doubtless remember the fiendish murder of Mrs. Basset Rawlings, in Brunswick, during the latter part of January. On the night of court day, while her husband was absent, she was shot through the window of her chamber, while nursing her infant, and instantly killed. A black woman had recently been discharged from the employment of the family, and suspicion fastened upon her husband as the perpetrator of the terrible crime, though the murderer had made his escape unseen. Such cold blooded murder of a lady so well known and highly respected, naturally caused much feeling in the county, and every effort was made to arrest the guilty parties. Harrison Hammock the husband of the discharged black woman, was subsequently caught, and with him the woman's brother, named Wycher. The latter confessed the deed and declared that he was hired to do it by Hammock. He gave the full details of the shooting. The murderers were lodged in the jail at Lawrenceville for trial, where they remained until Monday last, court day. At a late hour of that night, we are informed, the jail was forced by unknown persons—all disguised—and they were shot in their cells. They were left for dead, though on the following day both were still found to be alive. The murderer Wycher has since died, and the probability is that Hammock will die also. There is not the least suspicion, we hear, who the attacking parties were, nor is it even known whether they were white or colored.—Petersburg Index.