The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-10-11

spending some time in durance vile, the cap
tive seemed toget Uneasy, and having been
questioned by one of the white men
he made the following disclosures:
That he and two other colored men
had conspired together and killed Fidea
for the money which they knew he had in the
store and for his goods. They had picked out
Saturday night as the one for the deed because
they expected Fidea TO do big business on
that day and have more money in the store.
Having settled this matter, they had watched
the store all Saturday and that night until the
| last of the customers had left. The three then
went toward the store, and he staying outside
at the door to keep watch, the other two vii
lains entered. From what he could learn sub
sequently they approached the counter
as if to purchase, and asked for some
cloth which was on the upper shelf. Fidea
turned his back and started to reach down the
cloth. While he was doing this one OF the
| ruffians struck him heavy blow on the back
| OF his neck with sharp short sword or very
heavy knife, and as he fell back they beat him
on the head with their bludgeons until he was
senseless. They then went to the trunk and
took out all of the money, about eight hum
dred dollars ic all. After taxing what goods
they wanted, the three then. bolted the front
door, and, going out at the back, made on
into the woods. On Monday they took the
! train from this city, and the prisoner
was arrested. The two other ,murderers were
also on the train, but had not been arrested.
This startling disclosure was made alter the
train LETT, and the two rufflans must have gone
quietly on while the lesser villain was arrested
and detained. The story of the prisoner and
his Implication in the crime 1s further confirm
ed by his having In his possession pillow
case belonging to the murdered man, and
filed with small articles from his store.
Sunday morning, colored serv ant Of Mr..
Fidea knocked at the front door of his store
Ito bring him bis breakfast, but could not make
herself heard. After repeated attempts she
went Oh, and meeting two gentlemen told
them Of the matter. They found the front
door locked, aud, not being able to force it,
went to the back door which they found open
and through which they entered. They found
the body of the murdered man behind the
counter, lying on his back across a barrel, ap-
parently the position In which he had fallen.
His head was crushed in on the top OF the
skull, and bis neck was almost severed by
fearful cash on the back Of It, All the money
was taken from his trunk, besides two vests
and several small articles ffom the store.
The unfortunate man was living alone
in the depot where he also kept store.
His family had all come down to Charles
ton for the summer, Oakley being con-
sidered unhealthy. There was no one else
in the store at the time. The deed was done
in quiet and complete manner, which is ter
rible to think of, and not the slightest alarm
was given. Mr.. Harvey, who stays ABOUT
twenty five yards from the depot, heard moth
ing unusual, and suspected nothing wrong un-
I'll next morning. An Inquest was held over
The dead body on Monday, but the evidence
served only to establish the fact and causes OF
his murder without throwing any light on
the question of who the guilty parties were.
It was merely found that the man had come
to his death by wounds inflicted by some un-
known persons. In the afternoon Of the same
day the body of Mr.. Fldea waslnterred at the
graveyard OF Blggin's Church. The detectives
were expected at Oakley yesterday on the
train, but none came. The colored prisoner
was brought down on the train yesterday, and
lodged in the Detective office. charged with
murder. His name is Anthony Thompson.
Anthony is young negro, about five feet five
inches high, with dull, heavy features, and
speaks in hestating, drawllng style. He is
by no means bright, and is marked In pecu-
liar manner. On each hand he has five fingers
and thumb. and his feet are both furnished
with an extra toe. In dividing the spolls,
which they did at short distance below Mount
Holly Sunday morning, the two principal ruff
fans gave Anthony good large roll OF money,
amounting to about 500, for his share in the
work. The trio then took the cars to Charles
ton, and after spending Sunday night here,
took the train on Monday, when Anthony was
arrested at Oakley as above stated. The names
of the two murderers now at large are Ban
Bolden and Sam Hoyt. On the night CT the
murder Sam entered the store with short
heavy sword, and Ran was armed with bluc-
geon. description of the hnurderers has
been sent on, and every means taken 10 effect
their early capture.
Tnlc Hroh hop tc