The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1873-02-19
BRUTAL AFFAIR IN EDGEFIELD.
A Lady Assaulted by Her Brother-in.
Law,
From the Augusta ConstituiiontIst.l


Last Friday and Saturday rnmor was cur.
rent in this civ that Mrs. Mary Barker, a sis.
ter Of Mr.. J. W. Thurmond, of Augusta. had
been murdered In Edgefeld County, 8. c., by
her brcther-ln-law, Mr.. Riley Barker. As Mr..
Thurmond was absent from the city we were
unable 10 obtain any confor nation of the re.
port. and therefore forebore the publication oil
particulars as stated on The streets. Yesterday
we saw Mr.. Thurmond. and obtained from him
the following particulars:
It appears that on last Thursday there was
hOnsp-raispg at Mr.. John A. Barker's, In
Edgehpld County, about thirty-four miles from
Augusta. which was superintended by Nj.
Riley Barker, brother OF the owner OF the
building. Mr. John A. Barker, being men,
Der of the South Carolina Legislature, was in
Columbia, attending the session OF that body.
During the morning Mr.. Riley Barker became
intoxicated, and had difficulties with several
OF the negroes engaged In the work. Friday,
about four o'clock In the afternoon, he went
to his sister-in-law. Mrs. Mary Barker, wife Of
Mr.. John a. Barker, and slstsr of Mr. ]. W.
Thurmond, OF this city, and under the suppo-
stlon that her husband had lett large SUN of
money with her, demanded That the amount
be turned over 10 him. Upon Mrs. Barker's
Informing him that she had no money, he be-
came enraged and choked her In Violent
manner. He then picked up sp:a9p, and
smashed chairs, tables and everything else 10
the house that could be broken. Discovering
that Mrs. Barker was andeavorlDg to escape
from The house, he took up gun and at
tempted to shoot her. The weapon snapped,
however, and he then picked up piece OF
plank, followed after Mrs. Barker and CON-
mpnced bpaling her In an unmerclful man.
ner. Mrs. Barker ran towards grove q
short distance from the honse, In the hope
OF escaping from her pnrsuer. Barker still
followed after her. however, beating her
with The boar.1. Just as they reached the
woods Barker etrnck his sisier-in-law
violent blow on her head, cutting deep
cash and knocking her senselrss to the
earth. A negro man interftred at this
Jnnciure, TO prevent Barker from killing Mrs.
Barker. Barker Immediately turned upon
him and struck him 80 violently With the
board that he broke one IOi HIS arms The
negro then ran, and Barker pursued him Tor
some distance. Mrs. Barker had in he mean
Time recovered from her swoon, and fearing
the return of the man who had 80 mallreated
her, she started 10 crawl 10 nelghoor's
house, about mile distant This she reached
In eight hours, having crawled through
creek and suffered. the most exerucaIing
agony In The journey. Mr.. George Thurm0nd,
who is o cripple, having lost his right arm
and the fingers from his left hand during The
war, mounted horse and rode post
hos 10 Augusta 10 inform his brother,
Mr.. j. W. TnnrmOnd, of the af iir. The
latter Immediately proceeded to Eigedeld
Courthouse. where he took ont warrant
for the arrest of Riley Barker. He then
10 company with the sheriff OF Edgsfeld Coun-
ty, and Mr.. Ben johnson, OF this city, set oul
In quest of Barker, who was discovered and
arrested at the residence OF Mr.. John Ferry.
He was taken back to the village and commit
ted to jail. We are informed by Mr.. Thur
mond That Barker had but short time pre-
viously been released from The penitentiary.
Mr.. Thurmond also siates that Barker, alter
so severely beating his sister-in-law, attacked
the vile of Mr. Geo. Thurmond, an old lady
about seventy gears oil age, and compelled
her 10 take refuge under the house: Mre:
Barker is terribly bruised about her BODY, and
has severe wound In her head, Inflicted by
the board ln her brother-in-laW's hands. Her
injuries, though painful, are not considered
dangerous. Barker, we understand, alter his
arrival ut Edgehed Courthouse, In charge OF
the sheriff, had peace warrant taken out
against Mr. Thurmond.