The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1870-03-23

VI uou Uour IT, OuIy the TRACKS OF W0-
man or of women Not distant from the
spot was an old we'll into which the
body would have been thrown BY the
condemned had he killed her; the pre-.
sumption is that he did not kill her,
but that she WAS killed by some one uu>
able to convey her corpse to that place
Of cooceaimeut. A freedman testified
to seeing Two females pass that way on
the Sunday in question. MIR. Tinsley
found coal.black chigmon near the
scene, which was not claimed az Mrs.
Randall's. A certain young lady wit
ness, with raven tresses, possessed of
motive quite equal to that alleged
against Randall, admitted that she knew
Randa was married, had seen letter
from his wife to him, had written to her
etc. Is it not barely possible that her
Information Of the marriage may have
been derived from the very letter found
by Tinsley, dropped there by some one
DOT Randall?
"rhese things that I have briefly
mention ed, are, ofcourse, iuconclusivo,
but they are terribly suggestive, and |
could not let John Randall die before
bringing them to public notice.
"JusTroE"
On the day of execution RandalPs
counsel published card, in which they
said
"The communication in yesterdays
Gazette, signed Justice indirectly i'm
putes to US a gross negligence in the de-
fence Of our client. w can only say,
10 self-justification, that the line of ar
gument indicated aud the course of in
vestigation suggested by the facts al-
luded to, we're peromptorily objected to
by Mr.. Randall himself, aud were ac-
cordiugly abandoned by u.s."
Randall was hanged in accordance
with his senteuce-dying without con.
fession or denial.
After the execution tho sheriff for
warded to Mr.. Ordolf q scaled letter
from Randall, written on the eve of his
death. We give 40 extract
81 did not do it, nor consent to it, nor
.:now OF it until the awful deed was done
beyond remedy. would willingly have
sacrificed thousand lives for her, as
now sarifce life and reputation to screen
the one who is really guilty. With Mary
perished every desire in me for lie. 1
long for death-eyen the death of the
gallows. But would not die leaving
you forever undcr the horrible belief
that am the murderer of our darling
Oh l adjure you to credit me when I
swear here, in the presence Of God and
eternity, that am innocent. Mary,
who knows me guiItless, will meet me
joytully beyond the tomb"
Indiana Randall was said to be
raving maniac. From the first arrest of
John Randall she had exhibited symp-
toms of a mind unsettled by the weight
of sudden and overwhelming grief
Her family gave out that the loss Of her
lover under such fearful circumstances
had temporarily affected her physical
and mental health, aud friends and ac-
qua;ntances were requested to forbcar
their visits until her recovery was an
nounccd. She was seen rarely, and
then under the closest surveillance. AS
the day Of Ran2all's execution ap-
preached, it was rumorcd that she grew
worse, and on shat day it was whispered
that she was so violent as to require
strong restraint and constant watching.
And it was so. She was mad, but there
was terrible method in her madness.-
She sought to break from her confue-
ment and rush to the place OF execution.
She shriekcd aloud avowals of her own
guilt and declarations IF the innocence
of John Randall She prayed to be
permitted to die in his stead. Alas,
poor wretch she was already beyond
the vengeance Flaw. Could her guilt
have been established beyond a doubt,
she was now insane, and it was too late
to save the condemned.
IL knew" she cried, "that he had
gone to see bis wife, perhaps to return
with her, aud watched daily for his
coming back. Constantly alone in these
watches, managed to get one of Johns
pistols from his room. aud this carried
with me, but only for sclf.detence. I
met them that Sunday afternoon, aud
my soul was in tumult Of emotions as
John accosted me and introduced Dc to
his wife. His wife Yes, I knew it
was she before he told me. had known
for months of his secret marriage. Sup
pressing my feelings as much as was
able, endeavored to be calm. We had
met just beyond the path which leaves
the rnain carriage road, and cuts off
about mile of The distance to the
house As we all could not ride, sug-
gested that she and | should walk
through by the path, while John drove
around by the road. John strongly OBJ
jected to this, but sho seemed anxious
to accompany me, and he at last re-.
luctantly consented.
81 had no idea of hurting her. The
wish was strong in my heart that God
would strike her dead, but had no in.
teDtion of raising my own hand against
her. AS We proceeded, talking as we'll
as my state of mind would allow, we
came to the spot where her body was
found. There the path became so mar,
row that we had to 60 singly, and it SO
chanccd that she went before. 1t flashed