Phenix Gazette

A Murder most foul and horrid! A Brother's hand imbrued in the blood of a Brother! A friend in Pittsylvania furnishes us with the following narrative of a murder recently perpetrated in that county:—Lynchburg Virginian.

We have read in Shakspeare of a second Daniel; but it was reserved for the present era of Murders, to be presented with a second Cain, in the person of ARMISTEAD CRAFT, of the county of Pittsylvania; who, on the 10th instant, committed a most wanton and diabolical murder on the person of his brother, George Craft, jr. at the house of his father, Philip Craft—then immediately fled. His father, being suspected of aiding his escape, contrary to the act of Assembly, and thereby becoming an accessory after the fact, was arrested on the 13th instant, and on the 15th was brought before S. Coleman, D. H. Clark, V. Dickerson, W. L. Pannill and L. Dillard, Esqrs. justices of the peace, who, after a patient and impartial examination of a number of witnesses, pronounced that the testimony would not bear them out in pronouncing the prisoner guilty, and he was therefore discharged. A synopsis of the testimony may not prove uninteresting, viz:

That, passing by the house, heard considerable noise—had curiosity to ascertain the cause—turned in direction of the house—saw Armistead Craft running at full speed across the field—reached the house, and understood from the father that Armistead had killed his brother George. The father sent for his neighbors, a number of whom soon assembled—to whom he stated, that on that morning, Armistead arose and fed his horse, rode out, returned to breakfast, and fed his horse again—the family, composed of the father and two sons, sat down to breakfast—when George remarked to Armistead that it was unnecessary to feed his horse so often, when corn was scarce, for which rebuke he received a slap on the mouth—George, being a mild, orderly, well disposed member of the Baptist Church, requested his brother not to repeat it—which he did, by inflicting a severe blow with his clenched hand.

A rencounter ensued, which resulted in George's throwing Armistead on the bed. The father taking him away, Armistead took advantage of this circumstance, seized George and threw him on the floor—when the father again interposed, and separated them—ran Armistead (the eldest of the two) into a corner—hearing something fall behind him, exclaimed, Sir, you have killed your brother—raised him up—when the fatal dirk fell from the bosom of the expiring boy, having entered between two ribs and penetrated deeply into the heart—Armistead asked his father's forgiveness, who ordered him from his presence. The neighbors sat up with the corpse that night. After midnight, the father came down stairs with his over coat on, and a bundle in his hand: went to the desk and took a bag therefrom, containing something weighty—went out, and remained several hours. Whether the bundle contained clothes, and the bag money, and whether the absent time was spent with the refugee, witness could not tell. Mr. Jones, the coroner, held an inquest over the body, when the jury found that the deceased had been feloniously, wilfully and maliciously murdered by Armistead Craft.

Well may we exclaim, how inscrutable are the ways of Providence! A man, in the bloom and pride of manhood, sitting at the social breakfast table with his father and brother—and, ere their morsel was consumed, brutally murdered, and sent into a world of spirits, by one from whom nature and nature's God had taught us to expect, instead of the assassin's steel, the warm, kind and endearing feelings of brotherly love and friendship! For the Commonwealth. James Garland, Esq.; for the prisoner, Robert Cook, Esq.

Armistead Craft is about 35 years of age, about 5 feet 6 or 7 inches high; fair, ruddy complexion; light hair, inclined to be bald; full blue eyes, and thin lips; corpulent and square built: is no doubt "making his way" to the west. A handsome reward, it is expected, will be offered for his apprehension.