Martinsburg Gazette And Public Advertiser

Chambersburg, March 31.

Assassination attempted!! — We learn that some night last week, a most barbarous attempt was made to assassinate James Dickey, Esq., a highly respectable citizen of Peters township in this county. The particulars of this horrid act, as near as we are able to collect them from common report, are, that Mr. Dickey had retired to bed and fallen asleep, from which he was awakened by the wound he received, and although partially deranged by it, made out to alarm the inmates of the house, when it was discovered that some monster in human shape had given him a blow on the side of his head with an axe, which was found near the bed with blood on its edge. — It appears that Mr. D. had several folds of blankets over his head, which were cut through, and a deep gash in his head which would have been fatal but for the blankets — the whole evidencing that the perpetrator of the act deliberately meditated his death. Mr. D. is between 30 and 40 years of age; unmarried, and in affluent circumstances. His recovery is considered doubtful — We do not know that suspicion, of any strength, rests upon any one as the author of the foul deed.