Tuesday, March 15, 2011

"A Horrid Murder" in Alexandria

I posted  Amanuensis Monday - a Seaver Merchant in Washington D.C. yesterday, and asked the questions "Who was he?" and "What happened to him?"  No one answered... so I'll tell you today "what happened to him."

This article appeared in the New York Evening Post newspaper on 11 July 1821, reprinting an item from the National Intelligencer (of Washington DC) of 9 July 1821 (and found on GenealogyBank (http://www.genealogybank.com/)):



The article says:

"From the National Intelligencer, July 9.

"Horrid murder -- Yesterday morning was found in the bushes by the side of the road leading from the Potomac Bridge to Alexandria, and not far from Sebastian spring, the body of Mr. William Seaver, a respectable merchant and grocer of this city.  He was shot through the head and had his throat cut!  His pockets were empty -- and doubtless rifled.  He had been to Alexandria to purchase goods, and was on his return; and, it is supposed, was shot on Friday evening, about sunset, as a report of a gun or pistol is said to have been heard about that time.  May swift justice overtake the final murders!  The bloody deed was committed in the county of Alexandria, and it is earnestly hoped the people there will be able to trace the miscreants.  We have not heard all the circumstances; but suspicions are abroad as to the perpetrators of this deed, it being supposed there was more than one.  We are sorry to say that Mr. S. has left a wife and several children, to bear most heavily the shock of this atrocious crime, which a just Providence will not permit to pass unpunished."

An interesting, and tragic, twist of fate, isn't it!  Will the perpetrators be apprehended?  Will a reward be offered for information?  Who is the family?  Answers to come in future posts.

3 comments:

Barbara Poole said...

Since I used to live a few miles from the spot where he was found, I read of this sad event with interest. I hope you can find more information.

Frances Elizabeth Schwab said...

This bridge area is now Arlington County.
for history of the bridge--

http://www.arlingtonva.us/departments/ParksRecreation/forums/northtract/archive/ParksRecreationForumsNorthtractArchiveNorthTractHeritage.aspx

Frances Elizabeth Schwab said...

yes, a reward will be offered--but I won't leak the surprise