The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1855-10-24
Murder and suiOide.


=. About three weeks since young man
stranger, who stated that his name wac
Auburn, and that he was from Boston,
Massachusetts, came to this city and
sought aud obtained work at the cabinet
establishment OF Messrs. Binsord and Po-
Ter as designer and carver. After work.
inga few days, and proving himself first-
rate Garner, and earning thirty-eight dol
lars, which were paid him. he rented a
house on Main street near Twenty. second
street, and employed carpenter to fit up
The same for him for grocery,oyster and
drinking house. He also employed a
yonng man to assist him in the grocery,
which was to have been opened to-day.
On Friday night last Auburn was arrested
on a charge ofenticing away and harbor-
ing two negro men belonging to Messrs.
Jesse Williams and James ii. Grant, and
who had disappeared few days previous.
The time OF arrest was about twelve o.
clock on Friday night, and was effected
10y the police, who stationed themselves
around Aubun's house, and awaited his
return, which was at a late hour named.
He resisted the officers with pistol and
bowe-knife in hand, but was overpowered
and taken TO the cage. On his way to
prison he drew from his pocket a phial Of
stry chime, and drank portion Of it, and
spit out a :nouthful Of the poison in the
face Of the officer who had him in charge.
Two physicians were Immediately called
to his relief but he died from the effects Of
the strychrine about two hours after swal
lowing il, and the coroner held an inquest
over bis body on Saturday morning.
The charge on which he was arrested was
satisfactorily established as follows: He
had received about one hundred dollars
from two negro men, under a promise to
convey them to the North, and had con
cealed them in the third story Of his house
preparatory to sending them away. One
OF the negroes having complained Of be.
ing unwell, he gave him what he said
was a dose Of medicine, but which no
doubt was strycl,nine, as the negro died
soon after taking the dose. Auburn then
Dug grave in his cellar, and, with the
assistance Of the other negro, buried his
murdered subject, first cutting his throat,
ripping open his abdomen ard horribly
mutilating the body in other places. This
was done, il Is supposed, to prevent tho
negro from recovering from the effects Of
the strychnine. These bloody scenes oc-
curing before The eyes Of the other negro
naturally produced much alarm and un.
easiness in his mind, consequently he EN-
braced the first opportunity TO escape
from confinement, which he did by leaping
from window in the third story Of the
house. He then returned to his master
and releaved all lie knew about this most
singular and horrible transaction. II is
believed Auburn was in league with others
engaged in the business Of running off
slaves, but no accomplices have yet been
detected. Auburn was young man Of
geniecl appearance and manners, and had
capacities as carver and designer TO
earn from five to eight dollars day. He
gave rs a reason for renting house and
opening n grocery, the expected visi, OF
his mother and some Of her family from
the North to reside with him in this city.
Richmond Enquirer, Oct. l5.