Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1871-06-01
The Mysterious Murder of Washing
ia;s.a ton Faulkner.

.'.,g,a
The Mysterious Murder of Washing
.a;S3s ton Faulkner.
~ Through the kindness of A. RAMSAY,
ESQ.,, Clerk of the Court, wehave been per-
mitted to examine the papers connected
with the Inquest held upon the body OF
WASHINGTON FAULKNER, who was muir
dered at the house of Maj. WILLIAMSON
WILLIAMS, in our District, on the night
of the 2lst of May. Maj. WILLIAMS lives
above Dorn's Mills, in the Mountain
Creek section.
1t will be remembered that FAULKNER
was engaged, shortly before his death, in
Ku Klux affair in NeHberry. The OBJ
ject of the Ku Klux wrath in this case,
was negro by the name of Sim. Young,
u County Commissioner of Newberry,
who was shot and slightly injured. And
not himself alone, but also his wife and
daughter. Neither of the three, however,
mortally. Young also shot, and wound
ed man in the knee. This man turned
out to be FAULKNER, who unable to
escape, was arrested and lodged in the
Jail of .Newberry. Very soon after this,
ne was released on bail, and seeming to
think it wise to get out of the way, set
off and on the 10Th reached the house OF
Maj. WILLIAMS. where, on account of his
wound, he was obliged to stop.
In the Inquest held, on the 22nd May,
LEWIS CULBREATH, Esq, Trial Justice,
acted as Coroner, while the jury was
composed Of highly respectable and in
telligent citizens.
The only witnesses in the matter were
Mrs. Faulkner, wife of the murdered
man, and Mr.. ]. c. Williams, son of Maj.
Williamson Williams. And the evidence
brings out nothing new, simply corrobo-
rating the facts already known to the
public That on the night of the 21st, a
man, unknown to the two witnesses, ap-
peared at Maj. Williams gate, was re-
ceived by Mr.. j. G. Williams, stated that
he had come to inform the wounded man
that hs whereabouts was known, begged
the loan of wagon to convey the wound
ed man five or six miles further on, and
finally requested to see Faulkner. Will
Eams returned into the house and stating
the case to Faulkner, asked if he should
admit the stranger. Faulkner bade him
do so. The stranger entered the room
where Faulkner lay, and, Mrs. Faulkner
being present, requested to speak pri-
vately to him. At the behest of Faulk-
Fer, Mr.. F. and Mrs. Williams left the
room. After remaining short time with
Faulkner, the unknown man emerged
and left the house. Mrs. f and Mr.. w.
then returned to Faulkner, who told them
that he believed the man to be his friend,
and that he had gone out to bring in a
friend whom he (Faulkner) knew. After
short absence, the stranger returned,
bringing with him, as far as the gate,
another man. Leaving this man at the
gate, he again entered the house and re-
quested to deliver, privately, to Faulk-
ner o message from his friend at the gate.
Upon this, Faulkner again requested bis
wife and Mr.. Williams to leave the
room, which they did. After another
short tarry, alone, in Faulkner's room,
the stranger again came forth and re-
quested Mr.. Williams to go out with him
to the gate and hold their horses until he
and the second man should come in and
see Faulkner together. Mr.. Williams
went with him, but as he neared the gate
saw no horses. AS he was in the act OF
passing through the gate, four men, all
without disguise and unknown to him,
suddenly sprang up, three of whom pre-
sented their pistols to his head, and in
formed him that should he attempt to
move they would instantly shoot him
dead. Mr.. Williams promised to obey
their commands. Upon this the first
named man and one of the latter four
rushed into the house. into Faulkner's s
room, and fired two shots into his body.
They then came rapidly out OF tho house
and through the gate. simultaneously
Mr. Williams was released, and all five
men made off preeipitateiy: Mr.. Will
liams fastened to the house where he
found poor Faulkner lifeless corpse
one shot through his head and another
through his thigh.
Mrs. Faulkner, having been twice OBJ
liged to leave the roonl, saw and knew
but little. During the strange mans first
absence from FauIkner's room, the latter
told her he thought the man friend, but
"he was fearful of the party" We quote
from Mrs. Fs. evidence. And that he,
the.strange man, was going to bring to
him s,gentleman by the name of Taylor
WHO lived at Saluda Old Town. And that
the strange man was to move him some
miles further that night, in spring
wagon, and finally get him off into NORTH
Carolina.
This is the sum and substance of the
evidence, and the verdict of the Jury o
Inquest is in accordance. as
The affair is very horrible and very
mysterious. We make no useless sur
misses, but await further developments.