The New York herald., 1871-10-30

| SAVANNAu Ut, OCt. 20. loIls
The rumors which agitated the city last evening
to the effect that three OF our citizens had been mur
dcred, yesterday morning, across the border In
South Carolina proved to be too horribly true. The
| three persons supposed to be murdered were well
| known In Savannah, and the excitement produced
by the report OF their horrible butchery has become
| very intense. The victims are Mr.. Louis II. Dc
| MontmolIln Mr. W. A. Kent and Mr.. Henry Slyer
and the circumstances OF the murder are as fol.
lows:-
Mr.. De Montmollin N the owner OF q rice planta-
tion In South Carolina, near the Savannah and
Charleston Railroad bridge, about fourteen miles
above this city. and It appears that last year ne
rented 1t to q Mr.. Zetler, formerly OF EninQham
county, Georgia. II Is SAID that Mr. De Montmollin
this year notified Mr.. Zeter that he wished him to
vacae the premises, which Zeter refused TO do and
tnat they thereupon had violent quarrel. when
Zetler was informed tina. he would be forced TO
leave. Another account says that De MontmolIin
stated to his tenant that he must not sublet the
place or any part OF 1t negroes Zetler, 10 said.
paid no attention to either notice, and acted
"a II the place were his own. The DIFF.
nculty grew out Of attempt on the
part OF the owner to enforce his demand. Some
thing over a week ago De MontmollIn went to the
plantation and forclby elected Zetler and number
OF negroes whom lie had employed In cultivating
rice. In that neighborhood there s no magistrates
court aud number OF negroes agreed to remain
and work for De Montm0llin on the same terms Is
they had made with Zet!cr. As soon as quiet and
order seemed to be restored De Montmolin returned
to Savannah. Three or four days ago, however, the
negroes who had abandoned the plantation with Mr..
Zetler decided to return and drive OF their COM
panions who remained to work for De Montm0llin.
AS soon as the latter named gentleman heard Of this
Intended attack he mmedl lately left the city, accom-
hv Ar KauCa nd and
there being no house on the plantation, they en-
camped IN an old
CONFEDERATE RIFLE PIT,
which they proceeded TO repair and strengthen In
order to resist an attack should the negroes atempS
to make one. And subsequent events proved that
their precautions really needed. The story OF
the murder Is told by a colored man named Stone
wall Jackson one OF DE Montmon's servants. II
seems that this man was n camp with his employer
and his companions on Saturday night, and early
sunday morning ne went down to the river to catch
some fish for breakfast While thus occupied yes.
terday morning he heard Ia
ROAR OF MUSXETRY
In the direction OF the camp, where he mad len che
tn zee white gentlemen sleeping. lie says tnat from
the noise made by the discharge OF the guns he
Is OF the impression that there were al least one
shore, Stonewali intended gong to me camp, but
by the time he had walked Icw yards ne heard
slch shouting and curslnr that he was AFRAID TO
proceed any further. Knowing that The other ne.
groes were LOOKING for him. ne returned TO the river
From his place OF refuge he neard tn1 comminged
shouts, cheers and curses anu soon after ABOUT two
hundred blacks passed, bearing ar. Siyer on lit.
ter and guarding Mr.. dc Montnollln and Mr.. Kent,
VINO were profusely bleeding IRON their wounds.
They carried these men some distance down the
river, and after placing them III boat, tue negroes
some OF them returning towards the rine
pitt the others, jumping into numOer Of small
boats, rowed out OF sight down the river few
hundred yards below the place where the negroes
look the boats the river makes bend 10 the north
east. From this point TO where Jackson Was con-
ceaied could be heard the cheers or the nurderers,
and the words eco 10 Biulton," from which
1t is inferred nat Mr.. De Montmoilin and his com.
panions were carried 10 that place. but Tor what
purpose IL cannot be known-unles5 perhaps, to
bury them IN some out-ol-tne-way place.
When this party OF assasslns were out OF signt
Jackson came out from his hiding place. and gong
up the river some distance he found a boat ana
pulled himself across to Purysburg lie was accom-
panied from this place by white boy ana negro
from the Carolina side, and wnen the steamer Rosa
made the landing he anu MS cUnlpaDlons went on
board and came 10 this city. .,,.
IL is from this negro that tlie ihorination aoout
the murder is obtained here ana as ne Is considered
perfectly reliable all the necessary steps are peinx
taken To BRING the assaS5nS 10 lu,lce
Mr.. DE Montmoin ls "a young liWyer, having pseu
admitted 10 the bar only few months ago. Mr.
Kent who IA known to be ba'ily mutilated, II not
Killed ia about twenty.slx Years OF age anu Is
very popular MEMBER Of the Cieburne Hose CON-
pany -, -.
TWENTY-FIVE years OF age lie ~ well known In this
city and was very higlly estesmed.