Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1866-08-08
Homicide.

hOmtClOSs
Mr.. Lemuel Lane. of this district, was bru-
tally murdered last Friday night, by.a num-
Der Of freedmen, together with onc or'twc
wlite. men, as we are Informed, The instru-
ment used was an axe or hatclet 1t appear
that be was asleep nndcs theshade of-a large
tree near the door of bis dwelling. with
littie son BY his side. The party stealthii!
approached tie sleeper, and with one t.l,
blow despathed the unfortunate man, Wit
passed, apparently, without gro:sn or mur-
mur, to the eternal world,Cfor his little sor.
slept calmly on, unconscious OF his father
cruel fate. Mr.. Lane had in his possession
between eight and nine thousand dollars IN
gold, which was the key to.this atrocious de
Sign. His daughter, eldest son and Mr.. Heller.
guest, escaped. The two latter we're car
ried some distance and tied, but succeeded ln
beratine themselves. 1t is believed that the
party, after getting the gold, made general
distribution, then stealing quantity OF meat.
whisksy and two mules, went in the direction.
Of Columbia. Before daylight, Saturday
| morning, as soon as few men could be Eo'
together, pursuit was made. Bu.strange arc
the ways of Providence. It would seem thai
two of the party, arriving near Columbia
met several little boys at play, and accostiug
them, asked if there wasnot snigh cut across
| to the Charlotte Railroad, which was an.
swered in the affirmative; also if there was
aot a spring near by. The boys went will:
them to point out the spring, wher, in. stoop
| ing to drink, o bag of money fell from cte OF
the party, which excited an exelmationso ol
surprise from the boys They wcre hushed
M with an oath and q threat. The men then
! left the spring, and the boys, alarmed, went
home end informed. Pursuit was :hcn made
by seycra! citizens of Columbia, whereupon
the party discovering their purSuels, instant.
" ran in opposite directions. They would
not halt. One was shot and the other cap
| turcd. The man shot was recognized by a
colorcd boy who formerly lived here, as John
Counts, alias John Dawkins, the other was
confined in the Columbia Jail. john Counts
had eighteen hundred dollars in specie about
his person. The otler, wEo gave his name as
Cook, had small amount OF money, and d
pistol with Mr.. Lanes name engraved thereon.
i've understand that twelve or thirteen are
under arrest here suspected of; coz:plcity in
The murder.-Newberry Herald, lst inst.
From the Columbia Carozinian we Gull the
following additional particulars OF the 10.
mentable aud fendixh murder of Mr.. Lane {:
1t is now definitely known that several
persons were engaged in the murder Of the
unfortunate victim, and all the circumstances
Indicate that they bad prepared the way for
the commitlal of the crime.
Two young mon named Heller and Lane,
Ia son of the murdered man, were asleep on
the piazza and were awakened to fird white
man and three or four negroes standing ever
them. BY these they were bound and kept
under guard, the killing having alre'!dy taken
place, and the robbery of ii premises c"m
n1cnced. Scarcely anything OF value wa
left, even to The bacon ard provisions. There
were $500 in geld and silver and 5000 III
,reenbacks, in the house, all Of which we
learn was taken.
As soon as the robbers had disappeared,
Tho y6rur men freed themselves from their
bonds. ard ihcn for the first time the full
measure Of the crime was made kuown. The
alarm was Immediately given and parties
cornmeucsd TO searchfo tho perpetrators.
One OF, the teamsters on the plantation,
t vino but recently accompanied MIR. Lane to
7 Columbia, was arrested and made 20 bring
back quantity Of bacon, which be did after
The lapse of an hour; and. On second trip,
which lasted only fifteen minutes, he brought
hack more bacon and the'dogs that had pie
piously been taken decay. He is said to be
The brother of the man John, killed near Co.
lumbia by Mr.. Startling: and with three others
is confined in the Newberry Jail. Of the
white man nothing is yet known.