The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1871-02-22

1 ueoudJ moio4o0' 80.
if you have not killed old White, you
shall never see home, for | will kill
you" That, thereupou, the prisoner,
Oh the following Monday night, about
10 o'clock, took the indentical rifle
given him by Bowen, and went near the
home occupied by Colonel White that
the latter was sitting in his bed room,
near the window, where the prisoner
could have shot him in the head or
body, or anywhere else, but net wishing
to shoot him so openly, prisoner went
to the side of the house, aud fired
through the weatherboarding, IN a
direction different from that in which
he believed Colonel White to be sitting,
that the ball, however, struck one OF
the legs of Colonel White, which was
stretched out, and inflicted a wound OF
which be died in few days; that prison
er, thereupon, threw the gun into
ditch, and passed a miserable and un-
happy night and the next morning went
to Colonel White and confessed the
deed.
THE DEAD MANS OPINION.
That Colonel White said that he be-
lieved and forgave him, but that Bowen
was a black. hearted william and should
suffer for the crime. That Colonel
White spoke to the prisoner as father
would speak to son, and that prisoner,
afterwards fearing the consequences, es-
capped from the guard while they were
| bringing him to Charleston, and from
that time has been at large in Georgia.
That he has suffered remorse of con-
science as the result of the crime he
committed, and has never enjoyed peace
of mind since the act.
OTHER CONFESSIONS.
That on several occasions, in 1867
and subsequently, he made full state
meut of the circumstances to Mr.. Lump
kin, Mr.. John L. Larrimore and several
other respectable citizens of Georgia.
That he is now twenty four years of age
and was seventeen at the time Of the
murder. That he would have given
himself up long ago, and informed the
relatives of Colonel White, that as soon
as Bowen was arrested, he would appear
against him in evidence, but did not
dare to do so while Bowen was at large,
from fear that Bowen would kill him.
THE CONFESSION coRRoBoRATED.
Mr.. w. P. Larrimore, who was pres
eut at the above confession, ccrroborat-
ed the foregoing statement 10 an a6i-
davit by himself, and gave Grimes a
high character. He offered to 60 on
his bond and obtain bail for him to any
amount.
1t was also remarked that the gun
was afterwards found in the ditch,
where the prisoner declared it to have
been thrown, and the bullet,hole was
discovered in the weatherboarding at
the point described in the confession.
Bowen was in Charleston at the time
the murder was committed. The
prisoner states that Captain William
Law, Of Savannah; Captain Russell,
and Lieutenant w. Platt, of Augusta,
we're present when he made the confes-
sion to Colonel White, the morning
after the fatal shot was fred.
It may be put in as
A COUNTER STATEMENT.
to the foregoing that We have been in-
formed that at the time Of the investiga-
ton, in 1864, by the military court, Of
the facts connected with the murder,
this same Eli Grimes made an affidavit
that Bowen did not instigate him to
commit the murder, and had nothing at
all to do with it,
THE coMMITTAL OF THE PRISONER.
Grimes was committed to Jail by Trial
Justice Caul6eld IL is understood
that he will be kept in strict seclusion,
and that no person whatever will be
permitted to interview him.