Miami Union

April 13, 1872 

SOTHERLAND, (NO FIRST NAME) - A man named Sotherland, badly intoxicated, went to the house of a colored family named Medley, in the south part of town, on Wednesday afternoon, and attempted to enter, when the wife of the occupant (all the other members of the family being absent) closed and fastened the door against him.  He, however, forced the door and entered.  Whether he made an assault upon her or not we cannot say, as a full examination has not been had up to the time we closed our columns for press; but it appears that she used a hatchet in her attempt to drive him out, inflicting wounds upon his head so severe as to cause death within thirty-six hours.  Mrs. Medley was arrested and taken to jail where she remains at the time we write--Friday noon--awaiting an examination.  She is a woman some fifty years of age, and the impression is that she acted purely in self-defense.  We offer no opinion of our own in the case.

Return to Main Page