Missouri v. Celia - Newspaper Coverage

Hannibal Weekly Messenger, July 5, 1855

Calloway County.

Mr. Robert Newsom, an old gentleman living in Calloway county, Mo., as we learn from the Telegraph, was murdered on Saturday week last, by one of his servants, a negro woman about 22 or 23 years of age. He was murdered after he had retired to bed. The negro woman confessed to having committed the deed, and also stated that she burned the body in the fire-place of Mr. N.'s room

She says she did not intend to kill him, but the first blow she struck him only served to stun him; and being about to rise after the first blow, she struck him a second time to keep him from getting up.—The blows were struck with an oak stick about two and a half feet in length. He lay so still after the second blow that she feared she had killed him. She waited for some time, and not seeing him move, she began to look round for some place to hid the body. In the house there was a pile of light wood, which had been placed there to make fire in case of rain; the roof of the house being old, let the water through.—It occurred to her to burn the body if possible. Accordingly she rolled the body into the fire place, and it being too long to go in, she doubled it up and piled on the wood which she had. Having set fire to that she went out to a board pile, and carried in old boards. With these she made a very hot fire over the body, and continued during the night to replenish the fire, alternatively lying down and going after boards.—Before daylight the body was consumed to such an extent that but little trace of it could be seen. 

She then washed the blood from the floor, which had flowed from the old man's head after the second lick, with cold water, and stirred the ashes so that the bones might be broken to pieces. Some of the bones which were not charred sufficiently to crumble, she then took up, threw the largest of them under the floor of the house and put the smaller ones in a box to be carried out the next day, which she and a little boy did the next morning; the boy not knowing that he was carrying anything more than ordinary wood ashes.

The family became alarmed at the unusual delay of the old man, and not being able to find him, began to accuse a negro man, George, of some foul work. The man became alarmed, and told them that this woman, Celia, had threatened to hurt him, but that he knew nothing of him. They came to the woman who immediately confessed the facts above related. Search was immediately instituted, and a few bones were found under the house, but they were small and the longest not more than five or six inches in length. There was not trace of the pelvic or thoracic bones, which would be most difficult to consume. Portions were found that resembled the skull bone, but they were so small, that they could not be certainly recognized.

Hannibal Daily Messenger, July 28, 1855

More Developments.—Three more negroes were brought to town on Wednesday last, charged with participation in the murder of Mr. Newsome, the old gentleman who was murdered and burnt some four weeks ago. George, a negro man belonging to the estate of Mr. Newsome, and Melinda, negress belonging to Mr. Jordan Bush, and another belonging to Mr. Christwell. But little was elicited on the trail.—Melinda acknowledged having told Celia, the woman who committed the horrid act, that if her master were to treat her as Celia’s master treated her, she would "knock him so cold he'd never get over it." Nothing was proven against either of the others, and Mr. Bush was required to give bail in the sum of $800 for appearance of his negro at court. Esquires Nichols and Patton presided.—[Fulton (Mo.) Telegraph.]

Hannibal Daily Messenger, November 22, 1855

Escaped from Jail.—Two of the prisoners confined in the jail at this place, made their escape on Sunday night last, about 11 o'clock—Matt and Celia. They effected it by burning a hole in the door around the lock. A large quantity of shucks which been had the woman's bed, were found about the door, some of them considerably charred. These were perhaps used for the purpose of making a light while the door was being burnt with some more solid substance. The boy, Matt, only went a short distance from town, and was brought back by a gentleman at whose house he stayed. The woman has not yet been caught. They were, most likely, assisted in their effort to escape from the outside. Celia was sentenced to be hung to-day (Friday).—Fulton Tel. Nov. 16.

Boonville Weekly Advertiser, December 1, 1855

Recovered.—The negro woman, Celia, whose escape from jail was noticed in our last, was brought to town last Sunday by Mr. H. Newsom, to whose house she came on the previous night. She had been out nearly a week, and during that time, as she states, she had lived on raw corn, which she gathered from the fields. She was driven in by cold and hunger. Being thinly clad and without shoes, and the nights very cool, she must have suffered considerably during the time of her absence. The time for her execution has not yet been appointed.—[Fulton Telegraph.] 

Columbia Herald-Statesman, December 14, 1855

To be Hung.—Celia, a negress, will be hung in this place on Friday, the 21st.—Fulton Tel.