Martinsburg Gazette And Public Advertiser

SAVAGE MURDER.—This state has never been the scene of a more dreadful transaction than took place at Slatersville, in Smithfield, on Wednesday last. The wife of Andrew Davis, a Scotch-man, Cabinet maker in Slatersville, in consequence of ill treatment, left him and returned to her parents, with an infant five weeks old. Davis, on Wednesday noon, having previously swallowed a quantity of brandy, went to the house of her parents, and being unable to induce her to return home with him, stabbed her in the presence of her mother and others who were at the dinner table, with a knife which he had prepared for the purpose, by grinding it on both sides, and pointing it. He inflicted one wound in her neck, one in her body, and one in her thigh, which pierced an artery and proved fatal. Davis then, with a razor he had with him, cut his own throat in several places, and nearly divided his windpipe.— Mr. Isaac Mason, (formerly of Thompson, Conn.) who lived in the same building, alarmed by cries for help, came into the room, and on approaching the bleeding murderer, received a stab in the abdomen. Other persons arrived and disarmed and secured Davis, after some struggle. Surgical assistance was immediately procured, but it was unavailing. The wretched woman died on Friday morning at 5 o'clock. Mr. Mason died at ten o'clock the same morning. Davis lingered we are informed, until Sunday night, when he also died. He was but 26 years of age—Mr. Mason was 53.—Rhode Island American.