The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1854-04-12

eu. NO VeStllleS OF an aPPrpDt.t 70
the: River could be anywhere d seoyer.
ed. The whole of the SURF ding
country was then closely esi,isiiied,
| but no traces of the disappean lconld
be found. On the eleventh day, when
they were preparing to drag this River,
the body was found on the other side
five or six miles from His residence in
the woods opposite Pride's place in
Chester District-the head severed
from the body and scalped-theEscalp
still attached to the back part of the
,nech. The back. part Of the head had
considerable !iole broken into it, by
blow from some heavy instrument.
Also blow had been received ketween
the point Of the shoulder and tie neck,
sufficiently heavy to break the collar
bone. On the Tuesday night previous
whilst on his way to the Depot, an ut
tack was made on his life near the
same place, where the body was found.
A few persons alleged that the deed
was perpetratcd. by Pride's negroes,
but most believed that it was, done at
Witherspoon's plantation. On exami-
ming the oversccr's yard closely, E,arks
of scufile were discovered; also, an
indentation made in the earth by n
person falling heavily on the shoulder,
leaving the marks Of the threads Of the
coat Plninly to be seen. Some hoe.
rchops,were also observed in5stlie yard,
and on examining the earth turned up
by the hoe, blood stains were found in
it. A little further from tbs tliez house,
blood was seen on the leaves4-some
had drops and some had stain. as if
they had been wiped on some esbloody
object. And tho next morning after
Craig had disappeared, on the road
leading up to Pridcs, a considerable
quantity ofblood was seen in za stony
part OF tshe ruaG, between !lsnfcton's
Quarter and Lands's Ford, And on
that part Of the Road passinsSt through
the CulP. plantation blood WAS also
seen. The road was full Df liiquid
mud and drove Of hogs had passed
along;: bhts bad it siablss ). this;
some supposed Blood would Nave have been bee
found al! along tile road from Wither.
spoons farm 10 where the body was
found. The body was borne thence
on horse, the tracks We're j!ainly to
be seen from the road to the place
where the body was, distance ofsixty
or seventy-five yards. The blood on
the road was on the left.hand side; and
from where the horse left the road,
blood was plentitjuly seen on the
same side ; and in the bushes on the
right hand side was seen mud not quite
so high from the ground rs the blood
was on the other side. Five ofWith.
crspoons negroes were incarccrated
and o. day set for their trial, but it was
put off. Another day was set, but the
trial was again put off. At last, on
Tuesday the l7th ult., the Court pro.
cceded to the investigation of the case.
And you will scarcely give me credcnce
when say eleven days were expended
in the trial. But you will not under.
stand me as intimating that the in.
credible time was macessary to a full
and fair hearing of the case. 1t was
caused by \
* a lawyer:
In reference to Toney, one of the
accused, it was proved before the
Court he had made a threat against
the life of his overscer. And in the
possession of Fanny, Toney's concu.
binc, Craig's knife, pocket-handker.
chief and one or more linens were
found. She testif d they were given
her by Toney, on Sabbath (lsth Dec.)
which was the day after Craig war
murdered. She also.said lie gave i1er
shirt, and pair Of pants which were
bloody, and told her to wash them
clean. He also gave her money and
sugar, which was proved to be exactly
like the sugar c., used. Lunn, an.
other Of the accused, accompanied
Tony to the place where this interview
between him and Fanny occurred.
The community was surprised when
it was announced that only Tony was
convic,ed!. 1t woald. be diffit ult for
a man to be murdered in the midst OF
a negro quarter, and but one know il.
Besides, the tracks of two horses were
seen at the place where the. body was
found. But the jury were known to
'be men of sound pripciple and'sterling
integrity.
The community is considerably OK.
cited, for Craig'wa highly respecta.
BILE man, and one Of the best overseers
in the country; and the murder one of
the most brutal that Satan could invent.
And it is possible Chester misnter.
prets Lancaster on the subject. 1t is
true some of those Immediately con.
cerncd did make silly efforts, to shift
the guilt over that side of the river, and
said things about chester that were
bettes'unsaid. But this is not the work
ofall Lancaster. A large majority Of
tho disinterested. persons impute no
guilt, Tor unfairness) in the evidence
to Chester. a great crime has been
committed, we wish the guilty may bo
punished.
~-~>~-~--~. 1900. .--->~~>--~
2 The Kentucky Legislature have