Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-04-15
MURDER OF REV. J. CLAUDIUS MILLER.

QU1
MURDER OF REV. J. CLAUDIUS MILLER.
In last weeks issue of the ENQUIRER, our
Chester correspondent mentioned that dis.
patch had been received at that place giving
information of the murder by negro in Uu-
ion county, on Saturday, 3rd instant, OF Rev.
j. Claudius Miller, of the South Carolina
Conference In the Union Times of Friday
last, we find the following particulars in regard
to the murder:
It is our sad duty to chronicle one of the
most daring, foul and inhuman murders that
ever occurred in this State, perpetrated on
Saturday morning last about eleven o'clock,
upon the public highway, and about two
miles from Santuc, by colored man named
Alfred Walker, upon the person of Rev. j.
Claudius Miller, the Methodist minister of
this Circuit.
The facts of the case, as elected at the Cor
oners inquest from those who aided in the
arrest, and from the confession of the murder
er himself, are as follows: Mr.. Miller had
been to the Santuc Postoffice and registered
letter, to his wife, it is supposed, who is on
visit to her children at Charleston, and was
returning up the road on horseback.
The testimony before the Coroners inquest
was that colored woman, living on Mr.. j.
R. Jeter's premises, saw Mr.. Miller pass the
house, with colored man right behind him,
about half al hour before the firing Of two
shots was distinctly heard. One witness sta
ted that Mr.. Miller stopped at Mr.. Jeter's
gate few minutes, and the colored man also
stopped at the bars very near, and when Mr..
Miller left the gate the colored man started
also-both going in the same direction. This
woman accurately described the clothing of
the negro, but said-as did also Mr.. Jeter-
that he kept his face turned from the house,
so that she could not see it. About half an
hour afterwards Mr.. Thomas carriage, with
Mrs. Thomas and young man named Wood
by Thomas in it, passed down toward Santuc
They found the body lying across the road
on its back. The young man went back to
his uncle Mabry Thomas house, and when
they returned the body was still warm and
lmber Mr.. Miller's overcoat, hat, watch
and pocket-book we're gone.
Of course the news spread like wild fire all
around and the most intense excitement pre-
vailed. At first no clue to the perpetrator of
this diabolical act could be found.
Col. McKissick, w. D. Humphries and
other citizens of this town, went to the spot
early on Sunday morning, and on searching
the ground discovered the footprints of the
murderer They took the measure Of the
foot, and made the further discovery that the
shoe on the left foot turned, as if "run down"
On returning to town they heard that negro
man answering to the description given ofthe
man that was seen following Mr.. Miller, at
the Coroners inquest, had stopped at the
house of a colored man in this town, named
Mark Hampton, on Friday night, and had
enquired for colored woman living here.
He called on her, and left early Saturday
morning. This colored woman told the name
of the man and dscribed him as the others
had. On the following morning news reached
here that he was seen about twelve o'clock the
uight before, in the road opposite the poor
house, walking toward Spartanburg. A gen.
tleman from the country being in town on
Monday, and learning his name, happened to
know him, and gave the information that bis
parents lived near Spartanburg G. H.
MIR. H. c. Alley, the efficient detective at
Spartanburg, was Immediately telegraphed to
and the man described. Mr.. A. replied i'm.
mediately that he knew the man, and had no
doubt we were on the right track. He said
he was man of bad character.
On Monday, Mr.. W. D. Humphreys volun.
teered to 60 to Spartanburg with all the facts
and information, to assist Mr. Alley to capture
the murderer. He got to Spartanburg aboutS
o'clock that evening, saw Mr.. Alley and they
agreed upon plan of operations. About ten
o'clock they went to the house of Sam Kip,
the father of the murderer, Mr.. Alley pretend
ing that he was hunting for notorious chick
en- thief Not finding the man they wanted,
he proposed to give Kip five dollars if he
would catch the chicken thief and then re-
turned to Spartanburg.
About 8 o'clock the next morning the party
again started for Kip's residence and con-
cealed themselves near the house for about
two hours. A dog disturbing them, they went
to the house, and placing guards to prevent
escape, Mr.. Alley, Mr.. Humphreys and a COL
ored man, named Surratt, went into the house
and found the murderer lying in bed. They
took him out of bed, assisted in putting on
his clothes and tied him, without telling him
what he was arrested for. Mr.. Millers hat
was the first thing discovered. Mr.. Alley
then examined the bed and found the old gen.
tleman's overcoat, with two bullet holes in the
breast. Mr.. Alley then asked him for his
pistol He denied having one. Mr. A. said
''that won't do get it at once" He then said
his father had one in a box-pointing to it.
There the pistol was found, with two barrels
empty and four loaded. The ball taken from
Ill ,n1fh
found in the pistol.
Mr.. Humphries then said to him, 81 want
that watch" He denied having watch; but
Mr.. H. very impressively informed him that
he had no time to spare, and the watch must
be produced. Pointing to the box where the
pistol had been found, he said lit is in there"
The watch was taken out by Mr.. Alley.
They then very solemnly informed him Of
the cause of his arrest. Not until then did he
appear to realize his situation. His head fell,
his defiance changed to supplicaton, and he
begged them not to kill him.
On being asked by Mr.. Humphries why he
had attacked and so brutally murdered such
weak, good old man as Mr.. Miller he said
he did not shoot him. He further said 81 was
considered a good man by my owner, Mr..
Kip Darlington, of Laurens, but got into
this difficulty by following the advice and in
fuence of others. They then took him to
Spartanburg in time to meet the train, and
about o'clock the whole party arrived here.
A correspondent has furnished the Green
vile Ne,cs with the following particulars in
regard to confession made by Alfred Wal
ker subsequent to his arrest:
Walker says that he and several others,