The Delaware Register, Or, Farmers', Manufacturers' & Mechanics' Advocate

From the Delaware Gazette, April 17.

THE MURDERS IN SUSSEX.

We stated briefly in our paper of Friday last, some circumstances respecting a most diabolical course of conduct which, for some years past, has been carried on in Sussex county, in this state, the evidences of which have just been brought to light; and promised, in our next number, to give further particulars. This promise we failed to perform; one reason for which was that a family affliction called our attention to the consideration of other things, and another was that as the Court was then about commencing its session, at which the examination into the circumstances was to be made, it would be better to omit saying any thing further upon the subject until after the trial would be likely to be ended. This we presume is now the case; and although we are ignorant of the result of the trial, we proceed to redeem our promise so far as we have it in our power.

From our correspondent's account we gather the following particulars: About ten days previous to his writing, a tenant, who lives on the farm where Patty Cannon and her son-in-law, the celebrated Joseph Johnson, negro trader, lived for many years, in North West Fork Hundred, near the Maryland line, was ploughing in the field, in a place generally covered with water, and where a heap of brush has been lying for years, when his horse sunk in a grave, and on digging, he found a blue painted chest, about three feet long, and in it the bones of a man. The news flew like wild fire, and people from many miles around visited the place; among whom it was universally agreed that a negro trader from Georgia, named Bell or Miller, or perhaps both, had been murdered, by Johnson and his gang, about 10 or 12 years ago, and that the bones now discovered were those of one of them; as the man or men had been missed about that time, and the horse on which one of them rode was found at Patty Cannon's, who laid claim to the animal, until a person from Maryland, who had lent the horse, came forward and claimed his property; and she alleged, at the time, that Bell or Miller had sailed a short time previous, with a cargo of negroes for the South.

Since that time he has not been heard of, and it is said that a few days before he was missed, he was heard to say that he had with him fifteen thousand dollars with which he purposed to purchase negroes.—The supposition now is that the knowledge of his having this money in his possession, formed the inducement to take his life, and that to conceal the body it had been deposited in the place where the bones have been found.

The excitement produced by this discovery, as may naturally be supposed, was very great in the neighborhood, and on the 2d instant, one of Johnson's gang, named Cyrus James, who has resided in Maryland, was caught in this state, and brought before a Justice of the Peace at Seaford, and on examination stated that Joseph Johnson, Ebenezer F. Johnson and old Patty Cannon had shot the man while at supper in her house, and that he saw them all engaged in carrying him in the chest and burying him; and stated, moreover, that many others also had been killed, and that he could show where they had been buried. The officers and citizens accordingly accompanied him, to the places which he pointed out, and made the necessary search. In one place in a garden they dug and found the bones of a young child, the mother of which, he stated, was a negro woman belonging to Patty Cannon, which, being a mulatto, she had killed for the reason that she supposed its father to be one of her own family. Another place, a few feet distant was then pointed out, when upon digging a few feet. two oak boxes were found, each of which contained human bones. Those in one of them had been those of a person about seven years of age, which James said he saw Patty Cannon knock in the head with a billet of wood, and the other contained those of one whom he said they considered bad property; by which it is supposed was meant, that he was free. As there was at the time much stir about the children, and there was no convenient opportunity to send them away, they were murdered to prevent discovery. On examining the skull bone of the largest child, it was discovered to have been broken as described by James.
This fellow, James, was raised by Patty Cannon, having been bound to her at the age of seven years, and is said to have done much mischief in his time for her and Johnson.

Another witness by the name of Butler has already been secured: and it is thought that some others will be brought forward who are acquainted with the bloody deeds of Patty and Joe. This woman is now between 60 and 70 years of age, and looks more like a man than a woman; but old as she is, she is believed to be as heedless and heartless as the most abandoned wretch that breathes.

As stated by us on Friday last, Patty Cannon had been lodged in the Jail at Georgetown. James and Butler were also placed there at the same time; and it is highly probable that ere this the trial has taken place, and the result of it will soon be known.
James stated that he had not shown all the places where murdered bodies had been buried, and at the time of writing, our correspondent informs us the people were still digging.

Joe Johnson, who is said to be residing, at this time, in Alabama, is stated to have been seen in this state in December or January last; and the probability is that his business here was to do something at his old business of kidnapping. He was convicted of this crime some years since at Georgetown, and suffered the punishment of the lash and the pillory on account of it. He is a man of some celebrity, having, for many years, carried on the traffic of stealing and selling negroes, in which he was aided and instructed by the old hag, Patty Cannon, whose daughter he married, after she had lost a former husband on the gallows. He continued to reside near his tutore ss until within a few years when a reward of $500 was offered by Mr. Watson, Mayor of Philadelphia, when having obtained information of the fact before any others in his neighborhood, he suddenly decamped, and has since been very cautious in suffering himself to be seen in that part of the country.

The former husband of Joe's wife was hung for the murder of a negro trader, the plan for which is said to have been arranged at her mother's house.

From the circumstances which have already taken place, it would appear probable that such developments may be expected to take place as will present the wretched actors in the scenes of blood which have taken place on the border of our state in Sussex county, as successful rivals in depravity, of the infamous Burke, whose bloody deeds and recent execution in Scotland, have occupied so large a portion of the public prints.