The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1867-02-06
From the Charlostpn News.
Full Explanations Of tho Murder Of Colo
mel Staadmnn.

mel Steadman.
We have received the following letter
from most respectable citizen, givinx The
particulars In regard to the above unfurtu.
hate affair:
70 tie Editor cfthe Daily Mcws.
Cel> J. NJ. SteadmGn, in the yigor of his
| nMpnhood, and in tho midst of his useful.
hess rs one Of tho bost OF citizous, cam.
sundcnly to his death under the following
bonrt rendinY ci cuf,srnnocs, illustrating
the 9eplorab!e state Of affairs TO which cup
cnce peaceful and happy country has eomc ::
Ehgaged in merchandising in n pnrt OF
Lexington District, where since the tcrlDi-
, nation OF tho war, 10 beciptnc necessary 10
guard against the ,deprcdations Of burglars
he AM his little family occupied apartments
within his store. en- the night Of the Sth
january, as they were saiting h o,md "
bright winters fire, tho doors and windows
all bolted or locked, seeming to give secupi.
ty TO oil within, tho dogs, as faithfal senii-
nels. gaTc evidence Of npDpoacl,ing dnnsnr
without. The Colonel arose advanced TO-
wards the front door, when his wfc, taking,
council "trom her fears" from information
that day derived from q negro woman, Of
which she had also adviscds tho colonel.
femonstr@ted With him against tho ii,spru~
dence Of opening 10, begging him, instead,
TO go ny stairs nnJ look out at the window:
but this fearless man, having faced danger
on many u bloody field during the .atc war,
now that peace prevailed regarding il as
weakness not to feel secure within his own
castle hee srt net her gentle odmonition.
lie had barely opened tho door, whcu his
devoted wiie's worst fears were fully rcal
zcd by the report ofthe gun, tho entire
load from il having lodged III her husbands
l, 49,.
per presence of mind, had barely time to
close and bolt the door before tho vile as,
sassins-thrcc nogro men--we laundering
at u, " force OH entrance. ThV Colohcl
called for his gun; tho rosoluto wife hustiIy
handed IL TO him. He warned the assai.
ants That 80 sure. as they entered he
would shout them. Still they Knocked,
kicked and pushed the door to opcp il ; tho
wounded Colonel and his feeblo, Though re-
solute wife, pressing in return to keep il
closed. Whal an awful moment Tho
Colonel, being 10 longer able to stand or
use his gun, laid his dying body against the
foot of tho door, still TO aid his wife in keep.
ing ID closed, directing her at the same time to
shoot them II they entered. Declaring
aloud her purpose to- do go, she called the
leader of he band, andj jold him to go away
that ifmoncy was whatthcy were after, tnry
could get mono three, US all had been sent
away. This, perhaps, with the fear that
the Colonsl was still ablc to resist. aud
would unto death, caused them to desis,,
from further efforts. The Colonel lived
about three hours after receiving tho fatal
wound his wife and two liltle children,
with perhaps nnrse, being Tho only wit
ncsscs OF the awful scenes within that
bcleagurcd house, not knowing how soon it
would DO seton fire, and that then they
would have TO choose between being burnS,
alive or mot ting death by the violent hands
Of the murderors of tho husband and father,
there lying o corpse.
The day after the murder jury of in
quest was properly empnnnelled by tho
nearest magistrate, ahU succcedctl in drew.
ing out such evidence from various witncss-
es as justified the rendering verdict that
they believed tho deceased came to his death
ny Tonnd from gun, fired from tho
hands of one Of the party of threo negroes
--Henry, Emery and Joc---known tn have
been prewliag about The neghborhood do
ifg mischiOa, and ell Of whom the jurors
aforesaid believed TO have boon parties to
this Infamous crime oil murdor. with intcn.
tion 10 rob.
The two formor ws Mt off with shcrman's
army and had but recently returned TO this
part OF the oountry-c entirely too lazy to
work for IN honest living, and fully imbued
with the Radical idea of equality, 6oas,ing-
ly tclling negroes of tho various murders
they had committed, and snying that they
had papers from tho yankees" which
would protect them from harm, do what
they would, should the white people hero
nttcmpt.to molest them. OF course tlry
found but few believers in their miraculous
stories. Still it appears they succeeded IN
making q dupe Of the fellow Joe, who be-
came involved with thcna in this, their last
sad transaction.
This Ipresumc, is not the only Instance,
IN which returned "loynlists" have suooeed-
ell in working upon tho eva passions of
those who, having stuck TO the "manor
born" would have been satisfied, oven uu.
dor the changed system of things, tOhnve
learned their bread by tho sweat Of their
brow" ! ann glad, howeyorr to be aBlo to
assnre You tlinf In this instance these re-
turned "loyalists' have receiSed no synlpn.I
thy from any Of tho colored race, except,
the too easiiY Bes,ilca Joe, as already
stated. On the contrary. their "American
.tcllow.citizehs Of African descent" Have
manifested o hudible disposition ro' ferret
out their lodging pfnccs aud have them
brought to oondign- punistment-4many de-
ciRpibg that burning to duath would DO but
o just fawnrH for their infamous crimes.
. Great was the excilement whonthe noleh-
bors and friends of the deceased assembled
tho day after tho murder, and learned al
the incidents attending II. The doad--.so.
much esteemed by all-roould not be
brought again to Ito and usefulness but
how 10 avenge the Infamous crimes Of his
murderers, the destroyers of the bright
hopes was the all.absorbing question / 1t
was ascertaincd from negro that the Wig
lain Emery, with perhaps bcth the Others,
bad fled early in tho night, shortly after
Tho rcpor, Of Tho gun was heard -forAiken.
Active, energetic, ,determine,l young men
were soon started in pursuit; but the cleo,
trio spark, from Qnnttleboums MiIis--the
nearest ielegrnphiog Office had, already
accomplished the COOL work, in part, before
their arrival. Tho citizens, who had got
the news Som aftrr. secured him MS rfis.
oner. lie confessed ,aot. only all, bn. iold
Gwherc Henry hath gone, ~ few miles of. No.,
TOO, was soon se,mred, and Acknowledged
firing the fatal gun, and tbst robbery wss
their only motive. doc made good his esq
capo, and has not been onp,ured, 80 far rs
have heard, but parties, are In close. .pur-,
6suib 5, 81.
Thesu'two prisoners wore brought hnck TO
where they lind committed SO foul d muruer,.
Tint eyeft tirir hnrtIeftNd cof qc eca amntn