The Daily Advertiser

PETERSBURG, Oct. 1.

The following atrocious murder was lately committed by a widow woman, on a young man who has since proved to be her only son, and who had been absent from her for many years:—It appears from the circumstances we have been able to collect, that after having served in the army until the troops were disbanded, he had, by his industry and economy, collected a sum of money, with which he was desirous of paying his mother a visit, and by his presence and assistance, to render the remainder of her days easy and comfortable. Upon his arrival in the neighbourhood where she lived, it was agreed between him and some of his former acquaintances, that he should personate a travelling stranger in search of quarters for the night, in order to discover whether his mother would recollect him, as well as to guard against the effects which so unexpected an interview might have upon her. Accordingly in the evening he applied to her, but to no purpose, until, as his last resource, he informed her, that he had a large sum of money with him, which he did not wish to risk by being on the road at a late hour, or lodging at a public house, and of which he desired her to take charge. At this unfortunate moment, the daemon Avarice appears to have taken full possession of her mind, and to have suggested to her the practicability of making the golden prize her own, by means almost too horrid for recital. She therefore, as if over persuaded, consented to his request; and the evening being spent without any discovery on her part, he was lodged in a room to which he had access; and when in a sleep found from fatigue and security, and unsuspicious of his approaching fate, she murdered him by cutting his throat from ear to ear. The next day his companions, according to their agreement on their first meeting, went to visit him, supposing he had by that time discovered himself to his mother,— but enquiring for the young man, she denied that any such person had been there; upon which they declared there had been, and that he was her own son. From a change in her countenance and her still persisting that no person had been there, the young men entertained some suspicions, and insisted on searching the house, which being done, and some traces of blood discovered, they questioned her about the cause of it, and from the horror that appeared to seize her, and her evasive answers, they were so far confirmed in their suspicions of her having murdered her son, that they took her into custody, and she is now waiting her doom. She has since made a confession of the crime, the money recovered, and her son's body has been found where she buried it.