Alexandria Gazette

MURDER.—On the 26th ult. Alonzo Purdy, an active and promising son of Mr. James Purdy, of Milton, Orange County, was deliberately shot by a vile, vicious boy, named John Baker Young. Purdy had been gunning with another boy named Staples, and Baker joined them, took Purdy's gun, and hunted with it for some time. After he returned the gun. Purdy re-loaded, and Baker again desired to fire, which Purdy refused. Afterwards Purdy and Staples set down their guns, and commenced to pick grapes, which grew upon it. Baker coming up, took P.'s gun, and exclaimed that they were stealing grapes, and he would shoot them; upon which he took deliberate aim and fired. Purdy was shot when he came to his senses he perceived Purdy hanging by his foot in a tree, and the blood flowing profusely from his head. Upon being taken down his right eye was found to be shot out and lying on his cheek: his left eye was slightly operated with a shot, which reached the brain: his teeth were torn out, and his tongue shot through. Six shots were lodged in his face. He lingered in extreme agony until the 7th inst. when he expired. Baker his last, by his own confession upon oath. A more cold-blooded act we have hardly ever been called upon to record. We knew Purdy well, and believe him to have been a well disposed child, unpromising injuring any one. We hope the murderer may meet his deserts, and die to start for another, with equal aptness to polish and dastardly, as scarcely to be entitled to a place in the catalogue of human monsters.—Westchester N.