Miami Union

MITCHELL, ANNA - MURDER MUST FOUL - A Colored Woman Hacked to Death with a Corn Cutter! - A Fit Subject for Miami County's FirstHanging - One of the most atrocious and cold-blooded murders that ever occurred in this part of Ohio, took place early Wednesday morning, in the Peckham Lane, about two miles northwest of Troy, and from one-half to three-quarters of a mile north of the Troy & Covington Pike. The body was discovered in the lane at about 6 o'clock and the appearance indicated that a fierce struggle had taken place, and had terminated in death only a short time previous. Word was immediately brought to town, and the officers hastened to the place indicated, where a most horrible sight met their view. The woman lay dead, with sixteen or seventeen cuts on the head, neck, back and arms. There were several terrible cuts in the head, any one of which would have caused death. Besides these, several cuts were found in the back of the neck, the spinal cord being severed in two places. Three fingers of the right hand were cut completely off, and the right arm was nearly severed in two places. The appearance of the ground told too well the tale of woe. The young woman was proceeding through the land eastward, and when about midway was attacked by the fiend who sought her life. Soon after the first blow was struck a struggle ensued and she started to run, and dropped her bonnet and shawl. The fiend followed her, hacking away at every chance. Finally the woman's underclothing became unfastened and entangled her feet so that she fell, and the incarnate villain must have struck several blows after she fell. The murdered woman was recognized as Anna Mitchell, a daughter of one of the Randolph darkies, Michael Cole, who died a year or two since, in Troy. She was the wife of George Mitchell, a colored blacksmith, who formerly worked here, but who has been living for some time on the Newell Kerr farm, in Monroe Township. Mitchell and his wife have not lived happily together, and he is reported to have threatened her life. On Tuesday morning she left her home to come to her mother's house, which is near the place where she was murdered. Mitchell also left, taking with him an ax and a corn-cutter, saying that he was going to a farm on the Northcutt Pike to chop down a tree and cut corn. The woman came to her mother's house Tuesday evening and remained all night. She is reported as having informed the folks there that her husband had followed her all the way from their home. Early Wednesday morning she had left the house to go to a farm house not far distant to wash, and was not seen again until found murdered as above stated. The finger of suspicion immediately pointed out George Mitchell as the perpetrator of the foul deed, and the officers immediately started in search, but up to the time of our closing for press have gained no clue to his whereabouts. All manner of rumors have been afloat during the past few days, and Mitchell's presence in several different portions of the county has been reported, but in every instance the search for him has proven futile. He may be lurking about this locality, and he may be many miles away, but however that may be his arrest will most likely soon be made.