Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1868-10-09
En- EtrOcious Murder.

1t becomes our painful duty to an
nounco tho commission of an afro
! ciou5 murder, on tue afternoon Of
Monday last, about four miles from
the Village, upon tho person Of James
Martin, Familiarity known as "Sncak
Martini" = member of tho 80 called
South Carolina Legislature. Wo
know nothing of the actors in this
bloody tragedy, or Of the motives
which led u it's commission. Wo on
ly know that Martin had boon reprc-
sented to have recently mado certain
infamatory appeals 10 the blacks, and
that having in his possession at tho
time Of his death I. barrel of whibkny
which he Was taking homo, and might
bavo boon suspected as about TO use
for improper ctcctioneeriug purposes,
these may have led to tho commits sion
Of the murder. BIZ the chso us it may
and however bad may have bcon tho
character of the deceased, wo givo
but expression to tho voico of this
community, in dcnounciny tho act as o
cowardly and base assassinat ion,
which deserves gouora,, rcpcoba,ion.
The facts as Developed u; on the in
quest which Was held on Tuesday
morning before Esq. James McCaslan
arc as follows: Ma. Tin left tho village
riding mule, and accompanied a
wagon in which were two negroes and
"a barrel Of whiskcy. On tho out.
skirts of the village tho whiskey was
divided with some parties in interest,
and the party then proceeded on tho
road to Calhoun's mills. They wcre
soon after Joined by third negro,
who accompanied tho wagon on toot.
About four inilos from tho v:'la:o, al
ter tho wagon h::d turned ou: ot tho
main road for the purpose cf avoiding
steep hill, tho wagon was ovcrtaken
by thrco men, on horseback, who, dis
mounting, ordered the negroes to
surrender tbcir arms and tho whis-
kev, and promised net to harm thom.
They said tho saEo to Martin, who
immediately d;smountod and began
rstreaiing TO tho rear of the wagon.
Two OF the men pursued him, and
when ho commenced running, they
discharged their s.ole, but as tho
negroes testified, with arpsrcntly 40
intention Of hitting him. The fac;
that he received no bali in tho back
confirms this Wow. The two men ro
turned TO tho wagon, and with tho
third filled their bottles with whiskov,
and cmptied the ros, upon the ground.
" hist engaged, The sound OF pistol
shot was heard, but az Martin was
then out ofsight Of the wagon, tho tes.
timony of tho negroes could throw no
light upou tho fact OF the killing. Ono
of the negroes testified that ho had
SOD two mcn in the rcur of tho was-
ON, and Mr. Sprous who lives on tho
road testified that Eve men had pass.
cd his house that day, following after
the wagon. Martin was discovered
first by negro woman Ah'y, who
lives near. Ie was lying on tho side
Of the road with his feot in a ditch
and gave evidence by marks in tho
road, of his having dragged himself, or
having been dragged. uo ssid to tho
woroan, "Oh! Lord I am shot,"-he
ssid by three persons, but did not
know them. The shot entorcd his
groin, cutting On artery, and he bled
to death very 5000. He pocket book
was taken and also his pis: oil, which
according to the testimony Of his wife
be had with him. The negroes had
pistols but were lot deprived Ct
them.
Such are the facts as detailed On tho
Inquest.