The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1847-06-16
BAYOU SARA, May 23, l847.

BA i w OAIN, May 20, lS4f.
DEAR --, | returned from a flying
visit to Hamilton yesterday, and learned
some more particulars in relation to the
poisoning-liitccn are dead, and some eight
or ten are expected TO die daily-somc got
better, but took IL relapse and died. The
poison was arsenic. | will relate the cir
cu.nstancc as | heard t.
It.appca;s that old Wilkinson was a man
of bad charactcr-a notorious hog-thlct-
and Morris, the groom had been twice
whipped in Mississippi for negro stealing.
Wilkinson was accused Of stealing the hogs
of Spot Sanders, and you will perceive from
what follows, how he rcvcngcd himself
Hc sent to the house o! Sanders. who lives
some two or three miles from him, and who
was not a, the time ficndly, half ola shoat,
one turkey, three chickens, some chicken
pic, butter, poundcake, &c, enough to last
the family week, all poisoned, even to the
butter, which was elegantly moulded
The family eat Of it-Mrs. Sanders, three
children, and negro boy are dcad-thc
other, and only child left, was dying when l
was at our friend Kcrrs. MIR. Sanders and
seven negroes arc yet sick-some it is
thought, will die. Poor Mrs. Sanders did
moi know that her children were dead or dy-
ing, and told her husband to rear them in
the nurture and admonition of the Lord
She requested when dying, that her negroes
should come and bid her frcwell-thcy
could not all being poisoned. MIR. Sanders
mother an old lady Of seventy, was a victim
also Allen Haley lost negro man-the
mans wife was one of the servants at the
wedding, and took him 4 piece of the pound
cake-hc eat two moull's-iull, and not Ii
king the taste Of it, eat no nlorc-yct that
killed him. An old lady by the name of
Edcns, made the cakes, and she was poison
ed, together with her son and negro girl
the girl is dead, and her son not expected to
recover The butter that was left at San
ders' was thrown out and some fowls eat Of
it and died in few minutes. Allen Haley
and his mother were the only persons at
the wedding not poisoned. They came
late, after the guests were served, and eat
with the family, partaking Of the same food
they did--evcn the cake Old Wilkinson
insisted on cutting a fresh cake for them, but
they refused to partake of it, and escaped
death by their 4efusak The lady that made
the cakes, Mrs. Edens, went on the morn
ing ofthe wedding day to look at the cakes,
in the smoke house, where she had putthem,
them, was removed from all the cakes but
one, that was covered with custard pie
they looked dark and discolorcd, and she
took some loaf sugar, which she grated and
put over them, thinking it strange that they
were so disarranged. Old Wilkinson and
his wife, and Morris wife, were arrested and
examined before Squire Sanders, who COM
mittcd them to prison. Charles Alexander
bailed the women, and Wilkinson was taken
out by writ Of habeas corpus before the
Probate Judge Lester and set at liberty
He was afraid to leave the house during the
day, as there were persons determined on
killing him. During the night he escaped
on Morris horse, which Morris brought to
him. Eight persons are in pursuit of him.
who have sworn to kill him on sight
Morris is Wilk sons agent-he was orde.
red to leave, or he would first be whipped
and then hung. He refused to 60, and we
may therefore expect that he will be made
short work of.
l wrote you in my last that the negroes
were suspected of having been hired te
poison the food. Such is not the case, as
the negroes were all poisoned they not be-
longing 10 Wilkinson.
At the last accounts the pursuers were bu
few miles behind Wilkinson-headeC
by Mr.. Castleberry, who was one Of the
poisoned, and lost his sister; he swore hi
would follow him to the end Of the world
being bent on taking his life. l have seer
some of tho survivors-the are black under
the eyes, and thei, finger nails and the end
of their fingers are black.--they look lik,
walking ghost. They allthink that heal,l
and strength are gone, being every one una
,tsbleAo deapy laborious work. Poor souls
= Z From the ~. @. sPieayune, 4th ins.. .3s u,
%9 IIatsf from Vera Cruz. s ~.
The Steamship Fashion. Captain Ivy
arriyedSat this port yesterday from Yer
Cruz, having left there on the 30th ult.
The Fashion brought small mail