Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1858-10-16

ga from the Wilmington Jeurnal.E,.f
w KEEANsvILLE, N. g. Oct. 9th, 1865
tMEssRs. FULTON & PKcE: .g- rs
GENTS 1 noticed in your paper Of yesterday the
mention of the murder Of Mr.. Alfred Boyett; and as
it seems you not furnished with the particu.
lars, take it upon myself to give them to you,
hoping that you will give it notice Gas Mr. Boyett
was a most estimable and worthy ctzen) Mr..
Boyett was building house for VIM E. Hill, ESQ
about 500 or 600 yards from where Mr. Hill now
resides; slept in house near the new building, but
ate his meals with Mr.. Hill. Well on the LIST inst,
as usual he went down after his supper, and re.
NAMED talking with Mr.. Hill until about 8 o'clock,
when he left Tor his lodging; about half way from
one house to the other, he was most brutaly and
shockingly murdered. His body found
Tuesday last, about quarter Of a mile from where
the foul deed perpetrated, in a woods, crammed
in hole some Is or 10 inches deep; the weapons
used were an axe and clubs the axe and clnb was
found by the pace-axe full Of blood and hair.
He was struck on the head just above the ear, his
skull broken, and his brains scattered through and
among his hair Other wounds the forehead
and face have been inflicted with clubs. Sus-
pcion rested on two Of Mr.. VIM. E. Hills negroes,
and they were taken up. They confessed they COM
mtted the murder. duplicating also one of Maj
Kenans and one Of Mr.. Isaac Browns boys. Mr.
Hills two. and Maj Kenan's are confined in our
Jail Their motive, they say, for killing him was
to get his money--no other harm against him. Mr.
Boyett was about 80 years old a contractor and
builder bv trade, and from his honest and upright
conduct had established reputation of hgl. GRADE
He leaves wife or children to mourn his loss, but
an innumerable number Of friends to regret his
death, ALPHABETICALLY the manner in which he was SO
shockingly mutilated. SPECTATOR.
on the day he was found.
We copy from the Goldsborough Tribune the
following additional particulars of this bloody deed:
The victim of this horrid deed was Alfred Boyett,
a native of Duplin county, but who had spent some
years in Goldsboro, either learning, or working at
his trade carpenter under Mr. Geo. A. Dudley
He was one of the mechanics who helped build our
new court house.
Mr.. Boyett was building new house for Gen.
VIM. Hill Of Dnp!in about three miles from Fason's
Depot on the Wilmington & Weldon Railroad. On
the night in question he had eaten his supper and
remained at Gen. Hills house until after o'clock.
He slept in building short distance from Mr..
Hills dwelling and on his way thither at the hour
above indicated, he came up with three negroes
two of Gen. Hills and one of Owen r. Keenan's
Esqr., of Keenansvlle, with whom he entered into
conversation,-Mr. Keenan's negro dropped behind
him while the other two walked by his side engag-
ing him in conversation, and they had proceeded
but a short distance when Mr.. Keenan's negro
struck him blow on the head with axe, telling
him to the ground breaking his skull and scattering
his brains in all directions One of these struck
him a blow with stick when he fell, but the third
his accompces. When he fell his groans were so
heavy and loud, that the negroes became alarmed,
and throwing him the fence retired to a place
OF concealment till he ceased to groan. They then
returned and fastening rope round his head and
feet they carried him short distance and buried
him in the woods, leaving his boots uncovered
where he found on the Tuesday following
When he was found the negroes of General Hill
were suspected Of the murder and were taken up
and examined when two of them made the confes
sion detailed above and confessed themselves the
murderers, in company with Mr.. Keenan's negro
who they said struck the first blow. These two
were instantly committed TO the Jail of Dupln coun-
ty and Mr.. Keenan's negro was found day or two
after in Onslow County and was also committed
he, We understand, denies any knowledge Of par
ticipation in the MURDER but the evidence against
him is we believe, conclusive.
1t is said, with what truth we cannot say, that
several if not most of Gen. Hills negroes knew
that the murder would be committed and neg elected
refused to tell their master or any body else If
this is So they deserve the punishment and
immediate exile from the State. 1t is also said that
after knocking poor Broyett down. they instantly
cut his throat from ear to ear. The object to
get money, of which he had only twenty cents in
his pockets After rifiing his pockets, they took
his papers from his pocket book in which there was
supposed to be about s. 600 dollars in notes, and
burned them.
We knew Mr.. Boyett we'll and can testify that no
young man in the country WAS more highly esteem.
ed Active, energetic, prudent, industrious and so.
Der, he had accumulated handsome competency,
aud won for himself host of friends wherever he
employed. He was cut of, in the prime of life,
by a trio Of barbarous Williams for whom no death,
however tOrturing, ought to be too severe. We
deeply deplore his untimey end and offer our sym.
palhies and coincidence to all his surviving friends
and relatives"