The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1871-02-22
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rErnrn the Charlestnn NeRsl
A TALE OF BLOOD,


in tke columns of the city papers, that
interesting individual has contrived to
attract to himself considerable share
OF public attention. To begin with, 1t
was said that be was dismissed the
Confederate service for drawing his pay
more frequently than the army regula,
tions allowed. Then, again, unkind
rumor had it that he was unpieasantly
implicated in the cold -blooded murder
Of Colonel White, in 1864 (the circum-
stances Of which form the basis of the
present article.) and for alleged compli-
,ity in this dark business the persecu-
ted Bowen was arrested, and might have
come to grief but for that sudden Cup
heaval" in 1865, which brought sorrow
to many joyous heart and an unex-
pecied release to many trembling Grim
inal. A little later Mr.. t. j. Mackey,
himself Radical politician, printed
catalogue of charges against the unfor-
tnnate Bowen. Mr.. Mackey said that
Bowen had stolen faro checks; had
missppropriated the funds of the Union
League that he vas a biganist and
legendary, a robber Of dry goods, and
so forth. Nevertheless, Mr.. Bowen was
elected to Congress, aud, at the time of
the election of 1870: the circumstances
made it expcdient t. array agains: him
the "grand, gloomy and peculiar" facts
connected with this personal history
There has been, however, an undercur-
rent of excitement in the community.
This was strengthened BY revelations
connection with the manipulatory pro
cesses of Congressional elections, which
as part of the history of "The Ballot
Box" in America, are printing in the
columns of the Ncrs. Yesterday the
excitement reached its height when the
report few from Line street to the Bat
tcry, and was circulated from Court
House TO curb stone, that the "blooody
william" who murdered Colonel White
had made clean breast of his crime,
and prepared moose big enough to en-
circle his own neck and that OF the
tender. hearted Bowen.
The ubiquitous reporter of the Ne'os
at once FASTENED TO the centres OF crimi-
Lal interest, and learned that one Eli
j. Grimes (not the traditional Grimes
with buttons down behind') had made
an affidavit. before Trial Justice Caul6cld
confessiug the murder Of Colonel White
aud that he was instigated thereto by
Mr.. C. C. Bowen. Proceeding to the
II j. C., our reporter was informed that
Sheriff Mackey was in possession OF all
the papers. Knocking at his official oc-
ciput for facts, our reporter was referred
TO Mr.. Thomas Jefferson Mackey Gas a
disiuterested person. for further infor-
nation, and that mild hammered man,
being properly interviewed, furnished
the substratum Of the curious narrative,
which is given below.
TIE PRELUDE 70 THE DRAMA.
1t appears that on Saturday last, Gov
ernor Scott, on the application of Mr..
Stephen Mc.Allistsr White, Of Savau-
nah, issued a requisitiou on the Govern
or Of Georgia for the person of one Eli
j. Grimes, charged with being the
murderer Of Colonel Wm. Parker White
Of the Twenty FIRST Battalion Of Geor
gia Cava,ry, :hen encamped on the
Waccamaw, opposite Georgetown, in
this State. The murder took place on
the night Of the 7th Of March, 1861. 1t
may be here remarked that Mr. McA.
White is the sou Of the murdered OFF,
TnE PURSUIT AND ARREST.
Armed with this paper, officer :. j
Goats, Of The State CoDstabulary, started
at once upon his mission, and, after VS.
iting several points in Georgia. sue
ceedcd in tracing Grimes to McDuffie
coua;y, Ga, where the arrest was made
The prisoner was in house with FIVE
or six friends, though for what purpose
they were gathered 1t is not stated, and
on being Informed by the officer Of the
objec; Of his arrest. promptly surrender
cd himself, not even demanding to see
the warrant. As proof Of the extraor
dinary condd.uce re2csed in him by
officer Coats, the prisoner was no where
restrained by handouts, but made his
Journey in u eenteel, peaceablc AND
voluntary manner. They were accom-
panied from Georgia by Mr.. Larri,Dore,
friend Of the Prisoner.
ARRIVAL AT CHARLESTON.
Tic party arrived in Charleston On
Tuesday evening by the Savannah and
Charleston Kailroad, aud yesterday
morning Grimes was carried before
Trial Justice Caulfcld, and made full
confession Of all the circumstances at
Tending the bloody deed.
coHrEssION CT THE PRISONER.
lie states that his name is Eli G..
Grimes he was born and raised in Lee
County, Ga, but at present was a resi-
dent Of McDuiIic county, Ga. That he
was present at the killing Of Colonel
Vim. Parker White. on the night of the
7th Of March 1864, near Georgetown,
S. C., and he himself fred the fatal shot,
being compelled to do so by Captain
Christopher e. Bowen. That he was
first approached by said Bowen in the
latter iart of February, 1864, and told
to Kill Colonel W. at the first opportu.
ni;y. That Bowen then constructed
TURKEY BLIND
"a place from which turkeys are slot,)
20 IN. ro.d wbicb tho Cnlon.i ru,s IN