grave import

Obituary

This morning about three o'clock a scene of murder was enacted on South hill, the most unprovoked and fiendish that ever provoked the fair escutcheon of our whilom quiet city. It appears that a negro entered the dwelling of a respectable German residing on South hill named Jacob Zaiser, for the purpose of stealing or committing a more fiendish crime. The negro found himself in a room occupied by a little girl aged fourteen years, daughter of Mr. Zaiser. It is supposed that his first intent was to steal, but seeing the young girl lying on the bed his blood began to boil with passion and he determined to execute a darker purpose. His efforts to gratify his passion aroused the girl, and she screamed for her father, who was sleeping below stairs. The old gentleman proceeded up stairs, at once, followed in the rear by his wife and a young boy. The wife carried a lighted lamp which enabled the negro to locate them as they ascended the stairs. He at once drew a pistol and fired, the ball entering the heart of the old man killing him instantly. The wretch descended rapidly, and made his escape through the front door. he has not been heard of up to the time of writing this article.