Revolting affair in Illinois.
--A man by the name of
Thomas Taylor, charged with the murder of an illegitimate son, three or four years old, in
Virginia, this county, was brought to our city last Thursday morning and lodged in jail to await his trial at the next term of our Circuit Court.
The circumstances, so far as we have been able to learn, are about as follows: On Friday night, the 3d inst., the little boy came to his death under circumstances which created suspicion that he had been foully dealt with.
The father and step-mother contended that he had drank some liquor which had been ‘"laying around loose,"’ become intoxicated, and fell down the cellar.
The little fellow was a solid bruise from head to foot, and his skull was badly fractured.
The cellar steps were closely examined, but no evidence of such accident could be found, and a physician swore that if the child had been thrown down the steps twenty times, it could not have inflicted so many and such severe wounds.
Taylor was immediately suspicioned as the author of the crime, and on the Monday following was arrested and taken before a justice of the peace for examination.
A few witnesses were examined, and the case postponed till Wednesday, to give both parties time to procure counsel.
On Tuesday, however, the prisoner escaped from the officer and struck for the timber.
The citizens of
Virginia offered a reward for his recovery, and he was arrested at his brother's house, near
Jacksonville, and brought back in time for trial Wednesday morning. The evidence against him is circumstantial, but is said to be very strong.--
Beardstown (Ill.) Democrat, 14th. 
