Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-01-09
Commissions Louis
An Awful Affair in Columbia County

From the Augusta Sentinel. soth.l
In Sunday mornings issue of the Sen
finel we gave short account Of the fear
full occurrence in Columbia county OF
the night before Christmas, by which
three adult persons were burned to deatf
in their house. At that time we stated
that, while there was no positive proof Of
| the fact, there was strong supposition by
the people of the county that the inmates
| Of the house had been first robbed, then
murdered, and their dwelling set on fire
| TO consume their bodies, and with them
all evidence of the revolving crime. On
yesterday evening va received informa-
ton from gentleman just from the scene
of the tragedy, which fully confirms the
truth Of this superstition. and reveals the
horrid particulars of the deed.
Mr.. Gabriel Martin and two maiden
sisters, rather advanced IN years, resided
in a small double cabin in Columbia
county, situated about FIVE miles from the
town Of AppliDg They we're respectable
people, living in the humber walk of life,
and the brother was supposed to have
considerable amount OF specie in his pos
session, his earnings which he had put
by, from time TO time, as reserve fund
for old age. On Thursday night the
family retired to rest at the usual hour,
the three occupying one room and that
room With no chimney TO it; there being
but two rooms in the house, one with
chimney used as kitchen and dining
room, the other as 0 Sleeping apartment.
O.. "a Il IL =
lived at some distance discovered, by
some means, that the Martins house was
on fire, and FASTENED to their assistance.
By the time they arrived, however, the
flames had made such progress that to
check them or to save the inmates was i'm
possible The building was entirely con-
sumed, and in it the bodies Of Martin and
his two sisters. Il was at first imagined
that the fire was accidental; but subse-
quent discoveries prove that it must have
been q most horribla murder, sommittsd
fer .hs sake OF 2 isE paltry dn!,ars. Tie
house was what 10 knswn as double log
cabin, two rooms With passage open at
both ends between them. The oecu-
pants slept in one end of the building,
the fire, if accidental, must have origi-
mated in the other. We can hardly be
SO credulous as to believe that the fire
could consume one portion of the house
and then the hall, without awakening
the sleepsrs, who were persons advanced |
in life and not sleeping With the heavi-
ness which characieriZes the slumbers sf |
children. An examination Of the ruins |
revealed the presence of a mattock near
the bodies Of the Martins, and that
their skulls had been fractured be. |
fore they we're burnt Suspicion
rested upon three negroes, named
Ned Adams, Starting Crawford, and
George Boruu. The latter was in the
employ Of q gentleman living not far |
from the Martins, aud, on the evening of
The ere, started to visit relative living
some miles distant, taking with him
some fresh pork as present. It was
discovered that instead OF doing this he
had concealed the pork in the woods,
and was seen, at late hour, lurking
near Martins house. Soon after their
arrest, one of the party, Borum, con-
iessed the se., and stated that he knew
where the money was, Offering 10 dis
,oFsr the same. After search, however,
which proved fatile, hs denied ell knowl-
edge Of the transaction, and, With bis
.ceomplices. ia still in custody at
Thomson. Diligent search is being
made for proof, and there is no doubt
,ut what the vbols matter will be
thoroughly Investigated.