Daily National Intelligencer

ACCIDENTS, CASUALTIES, &c.

From the Stockbridge (Mass.) Herald—'O horrible! Most horrible!'

On the morning of the 6th inst. a Mr. Rufus Jeffords of Lee, in this county, attempted to perpetrate one of the most shocking and diabolical deeds that was ever heard of or even conceived—We are not fully acquainted with all the circumstances, and therefore shall attempt only a mere outline of the transaction.

It appears that Jeffords, for a long time, has kept a Mistress in his house, notwithstanding he has a wife and family of children.—About a fortnight since, in consequence of his infamous conduct, and the birth of a child which was born to him from his illicit connexion—his wife left him and went to her friends—

On Friday last, he went to Pittsfield, as we are informed, and brought home to his house his aged father and mother, for the purpose (as was supposed) of residing with him—On the morning of the 6th, about sun rise he attempted to murder both his parents—the girl who was the infamous partner of his former guilt—a daughter and himself. The family from his conduct, were fearful that he meditated some mischief, and on this account did not sleep any all the preceding night. Had they slept it is almost certain that they would all have awoke in eternity.—Finding that he was suspected, and that no opportunity would be offered him to murder them in their sleep, he resolved on perpetrating the horrid deed at all hazards. Accordingly, having made all the doors and windows fast, and provided with an axe-helve and a shoe-knife, he first assailed his parents His mother's head he beat in a shocking manner; such was the violence of the blows, that her hair was driven into the fissure which was made by the separation of the bones of the skull. His father, although shockingly bruised upon the head, and having his hand and arm badly broken, was not as badly bruised as his mother; his skull was unbroken. Finding that his neighbors would be alarmed, and that what he did must be done quickly, was probably the reason why they were not all dispatched before he quit them. He then proceeded to murder his Mistress. He bruised her in a most shocking manner, so that her skull was fractured; and not content with this, he attempted to cut her throat, but did not succeed, although he cut her very considerably.

Finding by this time that the neighbors were alarmed, and that they were breaking into the house, he attempted to kill himself by cutting his own throat. He but partially succeeded in his object, although he was cut in a most shocking manner. When the neighbors had broken into the house, the shocking spectacle of four persons weltering in their blood, presented itself to their eyes. For a time it was supposed that the whole four must inevitably die, but hopes are now entertained that some if not all will recover; although there appears very little chance for the recovery of the mother. It now appears that his design was to murder the whole family, except a little son, aged about nine years; and the reason he assigns is, that having disgraced himself and family, he determined to put them all out of the way. It is said, that instead of relenting, he regrets that he did not succeed in his object.