Westmoreland County PA Archives News.....George Shaum Killed by a Companion May 9, 1873
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Donald Buncie http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00034.html#0008389 October 14, 2022, 1:05 am

The Cambria Freeman. (Ebensburg, Pa.) May 9, 1873
Near what is known as Moccasin Hollow, in Mt. Pleasant township north, was the scene
of a horrible crime on Thursday afternoon. A boy named George Shaum, aged about ten
years, was murdered by his companion. It appears that George was sent to a store
some distance off for sugar, and some medicines for his mother, and after he had
been at the store and purchased the articles he started for home, but never reached
there alive. The family did not expect that anything had befalled their little boy
until late in the evening, when he failed to return. They then set out for their
neighbors in search of him, but to their astonishment the boy had not been there,
and the only information they could gain was from one of the neighbor's boys that he
had been seen in company, on his way home from the store, with a boy named Timothy
Bacon, near the woods where the body was found the next day. Suspicion being aroused
that all was not right, the neighbor set out next morning in search of Georgie, but
he was not found until about noon on Friday, in the woods near where the boys were
seen the day previous. Some of the parties who were in search of the boy came across
a newly made heap of leaves behind a log, which, attracting their attention, they
proceeded at once to investigate the peculiar pile. After removing the leaves, what
a heartrending and sickening spectacle was presented to the eye, one that almost
beggars description and made the stoutest heart quail. The skull was broken in in
several places and the body was terribly mutilated and bruised. In short, the whole
person was beaten black and blue. The alarm was given to the other parties engaged
in the search, and they hastened to the scene. Great was the indignation, and many
were the anathemas heaped upon the perpetrator of the terrible crime. The body was
removed to the home of the stricken family. Suspicions at once rested on Timothy,
who was seen in company with the murdered boy near where the crime was committed.
From the appearance of the body the deed was committed with a club; and steps were
taken to discover, if possible, the murderer. The constable, accompanied by some of
the neighbors, repaired to Mr. Dillon's house, the step-father of Bacon, and found
Timothy in the barn; he was arrested, and when being informed of the charge upon
which he was arrested, he denied it emphatically, and persisted in his innocence.
Bacon was brought to this place, and is now in jail awaiting his trial. Greensburg
Democrat.

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/pa/westmoreland/newspapers/georgesh950gnw.txt

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