The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-12-06
Highway Murder.
A BAND OF NEGROES LIE IN
WAIT AND SHOOT THEIR VIC
TINS IN TIE NIGHT.
MR.. CLAYTON ALLEN KILLED
Mr.. Theodore Baker Wounded.
The Negroes Flee from Justice and
Vengeance.
The Nelghborhood Greatly Excited.
Searching for the Criminals.

This community was shocked on yes
terday at the reception of the intelligence
that q most brutal murder had been com
mitted in the town of J~owndesville in thu
killing of Mr.. Clayton Alien, an estima
ule young man of that neighborhood, a
the Presbyterian church of that town
soon alter dark on Monday night. The
town of LowndeSvillc was thrown int
an excitement and alarm that night which
had been hitherto unknown to this usual
" quiet village. Early after dark the fir
ing of a volley Of muSketry was heard in
the direction of the church, and soon af-
forwards the killing of Mr.. Clayton Allen
and the wounding Of Mr.. Theodore Bak-
or, was known to everybody.
It seems that MI. Allen and Mr.. Baker
wcrs riding on horseback, and as they
passed the church Mr.. Baker observed
the negroes and called Mr.. Aliens attcn-
ton to them, as they stood some twenty
feet to one side, and before Mr.. Allen had
time to reply, they fired, instantly killing
Alton and wounuinS Baker. Allen was
shot through the body twice with large
musket balls-one of which is supposed
from the location of the wound, to have
zone through the heart. He e. spoke
after he was shot. Baker was shot with
small shot and he will likely recover:
No cause of malice on tho part OF any
negro towards these gentlemen is known,
and it is supposed that they would have
shot at anybody who might V passed.
or it nav DO that it was they who had
lust rescued o prisoner from the calsboosc,
and that they thought these gentlemen
to be pursuing them.
Reports differ as to the number of men
who were engaged in the murder, but
none of the reports fix the nImber at
Tower than five or six, while some reports
claim that there were more.
No positive clue up to yesterday morn
Ing had been asccrtained as to the perpc-
traitors of this ticndish crime, but ono
man had been arrested against whom
there was strong suspicion
Tho murderers left on Il ground 4
mask, which it is thought some of them
had worn, aud an axe which they IN their
haste neglected to take with them.
At a late hour Monday highs Capt. John
+. Brownlee was notified of the fact, and
he at once set out to organize a force to go
in search of the criminals. At last ac-
counts numbers Of white men were ira
yersing the various sections to which 1t
was thought that they might most likely
seek refuge.
We would urge our citizens, in case
they capture the criminals, to allow the
law to take its course with them. With
us tho law is different from that Of Edge
field. In Abbeville we have all tho forms
of lava good Solicitor ami n Judge who
is willing to do his duty. For these rea-
sons we trust that they may not be lynch
cd. If we had not a good administration
of the law, we would say, hang them to
the first limb.
Since writing the above, a courier who
arrived from LowndcSville yesterday eve
ming reports that the whites now know
the leader Of the band and that the Ne
groes to the number of four hundred in
arms have gathered together to resist the
arrest of the murdorers. The whites to
about an equal number have also assem-
bled at Lowndesvillc, determined to en-
force the law. The whites and blacks arc
said TO be coming in from every direc-
ton.