Obituary of Susan Rhodes -- 1872

Transcribed by Sloan Mason





Carolina Messenger
Goldsboro, Wayne Co.,N.C.

Thursday-September 19, 1872
Lenoir Co.,N.C.
A most diablolical murder was committed near La Grange, in Lenoir Co. 
on Sunday night last. Susan RHODES, a negro woman, employed as 
cook by James S. WOOTEN, Esq. Was found dead in her bed on Monday 
morning, with her brains beaten out. The outrage seems to have been 
perpetrated with an axe, which was found at the wood pile, stained with the 
blood of the victim. The murderer had taken pains to lock the body up in the 
house. The windows were all fastened inside, and the key was missing. No
arrest had been made when we last heard from there. There is however 
strong circumstancial evidence pointing to a negro man, named Octavous 
DAVIS, as being the perpetrator of this hellish crime. DAVIS had for some 
time been paying attention to Susan; on last Sunday the two had a quarrel. 
A pair of shoes which he had given Susan were also missing, and an old 
pair of shoes recognized by other negroes to be the property of DAVIS, were 
found near the wood-pile.



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