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A HORRIBLE DEVELOPEMENT. From the Delaware Gaz. 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. 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 tra der, lived for many years, in North west Fork Hundred, near the Mary land line, was ploughing in the field, in a place generally covered with wa ter, and where a heap of brush has been laying, 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 were found 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 mur dered, by Johnson and his gang, a bout ten or twelve 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 aueges 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 thou sand dollars, with which he purposed to purchase negroes. The supposition now, is, that the knowledge of his hav ing this money in his possession, form ed 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 su posed, was very great in the odighe bourhood; and, on the second 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 Sea ford, and, on examination, stated that Joseph Johnson, Ebenezer F. John son, 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 ac cordingly accompanied him to the places which he pointed out, and made the necessary search. In one place, a garden, they and found the bones of a young child, the mother of which, he stated, was a negro woman, belong ing 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 con tained 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 cenarins, those of one whom he said they considered bad property—by which it is supposed was is 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 pre vent discovery. On examining the scull 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 7 years, and is said to have done much mischief in his time for her and Johnson. Another witness by the name of But ter 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, Pat ty Cannon had been lodged in the jail’ of 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 Johmson, who is said to be re siding, at this time, in Alabama, is stated to have been seen in this state j in December or January last; and, the probability is, that, his business here was to do something at his old busi ness of kidnapping. ‘He was convict ed of this crime some years since at Georgetown, and suffered the punish ment of the lash and the pillory on account of it.---He is a man of some, celebrity, having for many years, car ried on the traffic of stealing and sell ing negroes, in which he was aided, and instructed by the old hag, Patt Cannon, whose daughter he married, after she had lost a former husband on the gallows. He continued to reside near his tu toress 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 neighbour hood, 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 reliable that such developements may be expected to take place as will pre sent the wretched actors in the scenes of blood which have taken place on the border of our state in Sussex coun ty, as successful rivals in depravity of the infamous. Burke, whose bloody deeds and recent execution in Scot land, have occupied so large a portion of the public prints. [From a Western paper.] A Strange “Orature. —A_ friend of mine, Mr. Vance, travelling to Pittsburg, from one of the small towns not far distant, stopped to see a friend, leaving his horse hitched in the road, but found on his return, that he had slipped his bridle.—On going in quest of him he met a pedestrian on the road, of whom he inquired if he had “seen a strange creature with a saddle on.”—“Sure and I have,” was the reply.— Where?”—“Just yonther!””— “Will you show me where?”— That I wait,” said the man, approaching a small wood of young timber.— And there he is, sure.” —Mr. ¥. looking up, replied, “I do not see him!” “Just com here.”—* That’s a table,” replied Mr. ¥. “not a horse.” — A horse!” exclaimed the son of Hibernia, with surprize.—*Sure a horse is no strange crature, (pointing at it,) it has a saddle on, and you may bridle him, for I will not.”” This anecdote was related by Mr. V. and it afforded a great deal of diversion—but he was so much quizzed about the strange crature afterwards, that he was glad to drop the annoying subject. Mutability of Fortune.—The ‘Newburyport Herald, says—The mutability of fortune is strikingly exemplified in the fact, that a ci tizen lately died in the scene one estate was appraised at $200,000, who, fifty years ago, carried a mortar bed at the build ing of the brick house at the corner of Union and Green streets. Informers.—A short time ago, a person who travels the country to sell calico, c. was accosted by two men, a few miles from this town, who became purchasers, and having paid their money asked the traveller if he had a license, and receiving an evasive answer, laid an information against him as an unlicensed hawker.—The hawker, when brought before the magistrate, produced his license, and complained of the interruption he had experienced; and his loss of time.— It was agreed that the parties should pay the banker a pound.— latter professed an unwillingness to take the pound, and pro posed adjourning to take some refreshment at the public house, when he would pay the shot out of the pound; and return them the
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Leesburg Genius of Liberty
Leesburg, Virginia, US
Sat, May 02, 1829
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