The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-08-13
THE MDOWELL MURDER.
Tragedy.


assembled around the Main Guardhouse about
nine o'clock yesterday morning to get look
at Cain Slmons, the murderer of Mcdowell,
who had been conveyed thither at an earlier
hour. At ten o'clock the prisoner was taken
from the dark hole and escorted to the coro-
ner's Office by two policemen. The shirt he
wore still retained marks of blood on the front
and the sleeves. He is about five teet six
inches high and possessed of stalwart frame.
His complexion .is of dark molasses color.
Ills hair is much slonger than that of negroes
generally, and he wears heavy, long and
dark moustache. Both were dlshevelled and
slightly sprinkled with gray. Ills fiat, heavy
features had bloated appearance, and his
eyes were dull and bloodshot. He sat in o
chair drawn close to one end of the coroner's
table, composedly chewing tobacco, and ap-
dence; but did not utter sound. The jury
and witnesses were seated around the room,
close to the walls. At the table, q short dis
lance to the left ofthe prisoner, sat the coro-
ner, with writing materials before him. The
door OF the Office, and every available window,
were filed With eager faces, OF every age and
color.
william Darrlll, colored, being sworn, iden-
tilted the prisoner. He had, with The assist
ance OF Frank Mason, arrested him on Satur-
day night, about twelve o'clock, In Thlele's
grocery store, at the corner of Line and st.
Philip strests. Had heard In the store that q
murder had been committed. Shortly after
wards Simons came In; the clerk Of the store
said Slmons was the murderer. Saw blood on
the front OF Slmony's shirt. Immediately ar.
rested him; Slmons put his hand In pocket
70 Hntfn r,
revolver, when simens sigDiaed bis willing
ness to proceed quietly. After going few
slepa, Smons told deponent TO let him 90, as
he wanted to kill that id mulatto, Frank
Mason, who was few teetin the rear. Oppo-
site Wiley's store on King street, Simons sud.
denly jerked himself from his grasp, but was
quickly recaptured. just below Spring street
he made another unsuccessful attempt 10 get
away, after which he proceeded quietly to the
upper Guardhouse.
Lieutenant Heldt. OF the Detective force,
testified that he was at the upper Guardhouse
about half.past ten o'clock Saturday night.
Gain Simons came In apparently much eI-
cited and lold Lieutenant Webb, the officer In
charge, that q row was going on at the corner
of Rutledge and Nunan streets. He talked
wildly, seemingly. unconscious OF what ne
was saying. Said he thought as much of Mr..
Mcdowell as he did of hls own pSobsrt
Nothing was said by any one PRESENT
that WAS calculated 10 make Simons speak
Of Mcdowell. Simons appeared to bs drunk
daponent Judged he was from his excited man
ner. Simons went toward The pump. Short.
ly alterward, o policeman ran IN and said
man had been murdered at the corner Of Rnl-
ledge and Shepherd streets. sLmons ex, ;,
claimed, that is exactly what want 10 tell
you. Deponent mounted his horse and pro-
ceeded directly to the spot; saw the dead man,
and was told that Cain Slmons had murdered
him. Returned Immediately the Guardhouse;
found that Slmons had left with squad
of policemen. Went back to the scene oi
murder; there heard that Simons was In 9
store on the corner Of Line and st. Phli!p
streets. On reaching the store the occupants
said Simons had been arrested and taken to
the Guardhouse by William Darrill and Frank
Mason, two colored men. When deponn,
got to the Gnardhouse Dsrrlll was searching
The prisoner for weapons; did not see any
taken from him. Slmons said next morning
that the blood on his shirt came from bis nose
Lieutenant Webb, of the police force, recog
i1f tdb iipefs ,1aJE5s t5a afteeri IN chayU.
Confirmed the testimony of Lieutenant Held
as to the prisoners words and ACTIONS aI tnt
Gnordhouse on that night. The prisoner hac
Commenced to tell something about Mcdowell
ihat had occurred O few days previous. Wit
ness told him he did not wish te hear anything
about 1t. Noticed blood on prisoners shlrt
asked him how 1t came therei prisoner sai9 "
mad been struck In the nose, which Dled on
his shirt. Told the policeman to take prisoner
to the scene of the murder, and De sure tt
bring him back. Believes prisoner TO have
been drunk. He smelL very strong OF liquor
Fannie Robinson, colored, lives at the cor
ner of Shepherd aud Rutedge streets. Was q
home on Saturday night, about eleven O'CLOCK
Slmons came to the house, In the afternoon
and carried of puppy belonging 10 JULIE JULIE
Baxter, an occupant CT the same mouse. Aoou
eight o'clock he returned without the puppy
Rsxler asked where 1t was, and told him Z
po and get it. He said 1t was In the yard
BAXTER insisted on his going, but he said ht
wonld not. Baxter then opened the gate ant
ordered him out oil the yard; out ne naVln!
AGAIN refused TO 60, she called john L
| Mcdowell, Jr., another occupant Oh Int
house. and asked him to put that Mig
ger oilt of the yard. Mcdowell came to th'
door and said, Cain, 60 out. slmons curset
him and asked what he had 10 do with if
Mcnowell said. Miss Julia asked me to tell yo,
IN 20 ont. Slmons cursed him again, where
| mon MeDoWell came out OF the door ant
SImons drew knife. Mcdowell then picked
m a niece of wood and knocked him down
after which he re-entered tne mousse. Slmon
went to the kitchen for his gun. Baxte
ordered him out. He replied that ne Woult
moi 90 until he had got his revenge. McDoW
eli az this lime was standing near door In thl
mack m * pnrt of the kitchen. When simons tool
no the gun, he jumped upon him an
took it away; Afterwards, turning to the fire
place to see, by the lamp-light, whether tn
| eun yas loaded. Simons said, let go my gun
ScDowell said, no, will moi. Smons tnel
ran toward Mcdowell, with knife in h!
hand, and stabbed him In the right shoulder
close to the throat. Witness tnen ran u
stairs, and saw no more of the affray unit
Rachel Gardiner called out that johnnie M