The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-11-01


MURDERED i-The jury OF inquest which was eul-
panelled on Friday morning last to Investigate
the causes which led 10 the death of Captain
Thomas Daniels met, according to adjournment,
at Acting Coroner Levy's otlce yesterday morn
ing, at 10 O'clock. Several witnesses were. ex-
amlned who testified as follows:
J. v. FIcklng, sworn, testified that at about
quarter-past p. NJ. on Thursday, eth instant,
he heard the Columbia train blow brakes three
times, In quick succession, when sbOut 100 or $50
yards below the gate leading TO the Atlantic Phos-
phate Compauy's works. The train, which was
going up, stopped In about its own length, and
the engineer an back With lantern and found
tie body or the deceased. The conductor OF the
train, P. Duffy, came towards the body, and In
structed deponent to take 1t en- deponents hand
Car and carry 1t to the city, which he did.
Jesse Youngblood, sworn. deposed that he was
the enrineer OF the Columbia train which lett
Charleston on the evening OF the 9th. When
ahout two and q half miles from the city, he dis
covered white man lying on the track, and I'm.
medlately blew down the brakes, but his train
was under too great headway to prevent his run
ming ever the body. Stopped the train as soon as
nossIble, and upon going back with his lantern
found the body, which was dreadfuliy mangled.
On feeling the head OF the body found 1t was
ouIte cold. Mr. Duffy, the conductor OF the
train, came up and requested mr. FLICK
ling to take the body to the city on MS
hand car, which was done When depo'
nent saw the body, he also saw three or four
men run across the track from the place where
the body was. They were seen by deponent before
the train st ,pped about twenty-five feet OH, and
running; they were oolored men; discovered this
fact BY the reelection Of the head light. There
were no signs OF blood seen on the track. About
one and half or two minutes elapsed after the
train had passed over the body before 1t was
stopped, and deponent ran back with lantern.
The body was dragged about twenty or thirty
feet. There were no signs Of HE about the body.
Patrick Duffy, sworn, deposed that he was the
conductor on the Columbia train on the 9th In
stsut; was engaged In taking up tickets, and
whom about two and a.hslf miles from Charleston
heard the engineer blow down brakes, and when
the train stoppei saw him run down the track
with a lantern In his hand. Deponent followed
him. saw the body, and asked three or four hands
who were present to see II there were any signs
of life about It, The body WIS cold. lt had oeeh
dragged some twenty or thirty steps. Directed
Mr.. FIcxllng, the section minder, to bring the
hody to the cityA1Hls hand car. Deponent &neS
nothing Of the accident until he heard she engi
neer,s signal. A colored man told deponent that
the deceased had been sitting on pile of umbei
on the side OF the track near the Dlace where Sht
accident occurred, at about O'Clock that sf;er'
moon. Saw no blood on The track where the body
was lying.
J.. r. Sweat, sworn, deposed that he was = fire
man on the Columbia train. Saw white mar
living on the track, when the engineer blew down
brakes. The man was lying on his back, VILE nj:
knees slightly drawn up. Did not see any hiooi
on the track Did not feel the body, but was pre-
sent when the conductor felt 1t and sail II wa:
cold.
The Jury then adjourned until Friday morning
at 10 o'clock.
The belief that the unfortunate man was mur
dered has gained strength, although there IS nj
cline whatever as to what could have tempted tn
narne,ratlon OF such crime. The only thinl
found about the body was small key, and 1t l
mt known that the deceased had any money o
other ya,uables about him at the time. 1t seem
almost positive that he was not XII led by the train