Constitutional Whig

From the Salem (Washington county) Post Feb. 23.

Another murder, it is reported, took place a few days since, in, or near Ogdensburgh, in St. Lawrence county, attended with very aggravated and extraordinary circumstances.

We have not heard the names of the parties. The leading facts, according to the reports in circulation, are these; A man in that vicinity, shortly after receiving $2000 in cash, went with his wife to visit some distant friends, leaving his house and family in charge of his daughter about 13 years of age, and a hired girl not much older.

During his absence, a traveller put up, one evening at a tavern on the opposite side of the road, where, after supper, he overheard some conversation which excited his suspicions that a plan was on foot for robbing him. He accordingly left the tavern and went over to the neighbouring house, and introducing himself to the daughter as the friend of her absent father, solicited lodging. The young woman objected, but at length consented upon condition that they might lock him up in his chamber. Not satisfied, however, with this precaution, before they retired, they stepped over to the tavern and invited the landlord's daughter to sleep with them. She came, and slept with the hired girl below stairs, while the young lady of the house occupied a room in the second story, adjoining the stranger's chamber.

About 1 o'clock in the morning the daughter was awakened by her guest, who requested to be released. She declined opening the door until convinced of his honourable intentions, and alarmed by noises from below, which the stranger said were indicative of robbery and murder. She silently followed him to the foot of the stairs where they heard, in a voice recognized as the landlord's, the appalling exclamation, "I have killed my own daughter." At that instant the speaker came out of the girls bed-room, and as he approached, the stranger, with a pistol, shot him through the heart. The report, in a moment, brought a second robber to the spot, who shared the same fate: a third one, who had just filled his pockets with the $2000, then approached with an iron bludgeon, and aimed a blow at the head of the stranger.

He evaded it, and closing in with the robber soon brought him to the floor, and with the aid of the young lady succeeded in tying him.

They then hastened to the bed-room, where a dreadful spectacle presented itself. The two girls were weltering in their blood, and were dead; and the fire was so scattered and kindled about the room, that in a few moments it would have been all in a blaze.