TERRIBLE CRIME AT MAYVILLE.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 704, 30 August 1870, Page 3

TERRIBLE CRIME AT MAYVILLE.

A terrible tragedy was enacted lately in one of the upper districts of Sevier county. A widow woman named Stratton had been to receive pension-money to the amount of 85 dols. On her return she sought and obtained lodging at the house of one Joe Burkhard, on the border of one of the mountain settlemeuts. Being much worn with the long journey, the woman retired at an early hour, occupying a bed with Burkhard's wife. The man went out immediately after supper, and did not return until the women were going to bed. He sat beside the fire a short time, and finally departed the second time. Some time in the night Mrs. Stratton awoke from an unpleasant dream. She was greatly disturbed in mind, and apprehensive of danger. She tried to sleep, but found it impossible. The room was 6ilent, and utterly dark ; yet the woman fancied she heard sounds without that boded no good. The money in her possession was no comforter. Unable to endure this suspense, she awakened Mrs. Burkhard, and begged to be permitted to occupy the backside of the bed, saying she was afraid to lie in front. Mrs. B, considering this a freak of timidity, changed places with the woman, and in a short time was asleep again. Not so the other, she could not sleep nor drive fear from her mind. An hour passed, a movement was heard without. The door was pushed open, and two human figures entered the apartment. They approached the bedside where the two women were lying. Mute and breathless with terror, Mrs. S. saw one of the ruffians lay his hand upon the face of her unconscious companion, while with the other he drew a knife across her throat. She heard the low hissing sound made by the knife, as it cut through the flesh, then the dull grating as it crossed the bone, and felt thejwarmbloodof the victimasit spurted across the bed and fell upon her face. Overcome with horror, in the midst of silence and darkness, the fears of a similar fate paralyzed the poor woman, and she thought she was dying. Scarcely able to control herself, she lay helplessly waiting the termination of the fearful drama. The murderers laid hold of the lifeless body, believing it of course to be that of the stranger, and dragged it out into the yard no doubt to search for the money which Burkhard knew Mrs. S. carried in her bosom. The latter, the moment she saw them disappear through the open door, sprang from the bed, in the hope of making her escape. The miserable cabin possessed one wretched excuse for a fireplace. It was built of split timber, lined with mud, and outside extended up perhaps a foot above the mantel log, and thus with this broad opening Mrs. S. saw the light shining from without, and there she sought an exit. By going through the hot ashes and coals she clambered over the wall of the fireplace, and fled to the nearest house, a half-a-mile distant. The alarm was given and in a short space of time a small company of citizens assembled, and proceeded to the scene of the murder. They reached the place in time to surprise and capture Burkhard, who was packing up a few articles of clothing preparatory to flight. His daughter, a girl of 17 or 18, was assisting him. The hardened wretch manifested very little concern, and seemed only to regret the failure of his original design. His accomplice had escaped, but every

effort is being made to secure his arrest. The unhappy victim of this crime was found partially secreted beside an iron-crib, some distance in the rear of the house.