Murders on Washington Railroad

Shocking Outrage.– We learn that a most outrageous murder was committed last night on the Washington Rail-Road, 8th section, about 18 miles from Baltimore. It appears that a dispute arose between some of the workmen and Mr. JOHN WATSON, the Superintendent, relative to their wages, he withholding a portion on account of their neglect of duty. On the previous night they assembled at his quarters and gave several severe blows, which confined him within doors, and last night they entered his dwelling and beat him so severely that he soon expired. We also hear that his Assistant, Mr. Mercer, has also been severely beaten in the affray, if not actually murdered. A “hue and cry” has been raised in the neighborhood, and it is hoped the murderers will be brought to the bar of justice. Mr. Watson is spoken of as an upright, estimable citizen in all respects. –[Balt. Pat. of Nov. 20.

From the Baltimore Patriot, Nov. 22.
The late Murders, on the Washington Rail Road.

We have not yet learned that any of the persons implicated in the recent murders, on the line of the Washington Rail Road, have been arrested. But it is not for a moment to be presumed that the perpetrators of such cold blooded and shocking enormities, can eventually or even long, elude the arms of retributive justice.

We rejoice to learn by the American of this morning, that the account published yesterday from that paper, mentioning that Mr. CALLON was one of the victims, was erroneous– that gentleman having since called on the editors, with a view to the correction of the error. The statement was made on the authority of a person who saw a dead body, and though he recognized it to be that of Mr. C. It appears, however, that he was mistaken; and that two instead of three of the superintendents of the Road, have been murdered.

Mr. Callon states that he succeeded in making his escape from Mr. Watson’s shanty, when it was attacked by the ruffians, and as he ran he was fired at by one of them with a horse pistol, the discharge of which killed his dog at his side. He had on neither shoes nor stockings, and having run several miles before he recovered from his alarm, his feet and legs were very much lacerated and swelled.

A fact (says the American) which we derive from another source– from an eye-witness of the deed– will show the peculiarly hardened and ferocious character of the murderers. After Mr. MESSER was dragged from the shanty, they called to him to go on his knees and say his prayers, for that he had but a minute to live– and while in that attitude they deliberately fired four bullets into his body!

A letter from a respectable gentleman residing near the scene of outrage, received yesterday evening, says: “I omitted to mention yesterday, that in addition to the two Superintendents that were murdered, was one that received a charge of shot in his body, which, however, will not prove serious in its consequences. His name is Welsh.” The same letter states that all the desks and trunks in Mr. Watson’s shanty were broken open and rifled of their contents– clothing, watches, and other articles.

Besides the regular officers of the civil authority, agents of the most efficient character were employed yesterday to assist in discovering and arresting the perpetrators of this shocking outrage. The violated laws of the State, the wantonly shed blood of the murdered men, and the absolute necessity of an example to prevent the repetition of deeds which have too frequently attended the personal differences and party feuds of the laborers engaged on the public works in various parts of the country, all call loudly for the infliction of the severest penalties in the present case.

Since the above was in type, the Editor of the Patriot has received the following extract of a letter from one of the Engineers on the road. It gives a more particular account of the horrible massacre than has as yet come to hand:

“On Tuesday, about 4 o’clock, they beat Watson and a sub-contractor, named Gorman, so severely, that their lives were despaired of, but apprehensive of his recovery, on Wednesday night, at 12 o’clock, they proceeded, in a body of 20 or 30, to the Company’s buildings, on the 4th section, (about 16 miles from town,) dragged Watson from his bed, and beat him with bludgeons and fire-brands, (thrusting the latter into his mouth and eyes,) until he lay as if dead.

Their attention was then drawn off by a manager named Welsh, jumping from a window, into whose face, at the moment, they discharged a load of shot, and then set up a pursuit. But he not being a principal object, they returned to Watson, who by some means, perhaps by the kindness of a friend, as he was too weak of himself, had got on a pair of trowsers, and contrived to secrete himself in the rafters. There at length they found him, and having dragged Messer from his bed in the interim, they completed their horrid purpose, by breaking the skulls of both, while they were begging for mercy!

They were about to massacre the Clerk, Mr. Smith, whom they had all this while in custody; but some one less inhuman than the rest cried out “spare Smith.” I then told him to clear out, an admonition which he speedily obeyed.

No means have yet been taken that I have heard of, for the arrest of these vile monsters, who are leaving the line, many of them, with great dispatch, and will thus be soon out of the reach of justice.

It is hoped that the company or the State will take measures to secure as many of those concerned as possible. It is moreover absolutely necessary for the protection of the officers who yet survive, as their every movement is watched by these monsters, who are apprehensive we are about to secure them, or entertain some old grudge which they find they can revenge with impunity.