The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-07-25
A REV LEASE OF LIrE.
JeDE Devids Third 1espito--Divisson az
Public Opinion.
Correspondents Of COtumbia Register.


ton was made for the same, but his Ey-
cellency the Governor, Wishing no doubt
that ample time and every opportunity
should be afforded for the development
of any mitigating circumstances, again
respited the condemned man--this time
until the 23d proxino.
A BRIEF HIsToRY OF THE CRIME.
Early on the evening of Thursday, De.
cember 20, 1877, near Simms' Cross
Roads, Abbeville County, about II miles
from this town, Mr.. Geo. franklin and
his sister, Miss Drusilla, were foully and
brutaliy murdered with club. They
were both quite old, the former being
aDout 65 anu inc iattcr % yeara vi age,
and the old gentleman was alightly
paralyzed. They were very quiet and
respectable citizens, living almost entire.
ly to themselves, and 1t was not known
that thoy had an enemy in the world.
SO entirely free were they from suspect.
ing any danger, that, although they kept
considerable money in the house, .tl sy
never thought Of locking their door 1t
nightiaII, or. indeed, &C any time. On
the evening in question they sat down as
usual to their tea, never dreaming for an
instant that the assassin's hand was so
without the slightest note of warning.
They had hardly begun their frugal ra. q.
past ere the fatal Blows were given. Evi.
IDENTIFY, Mr.. Franklin was Killed by the
frat blow, as he had fallen uron sha
floor beside his chair. From spots Of
blood upon the floor it would appear that
Miss Franklin was also strpck at the
table, but recovered sufficiently TO run
TO an adjoining room, where she proba.
bly, received her fatal blow, falling di!
Fectly acrcSs the bed. Ths:r naSzzsssss
neighbors were colored family named
David, some of whom we're raised and
we're vel! though. Of by the old people.
The bloody deed was first made known
the next morning, when, as usual, the
servant boy, con of David, about 10
years of age, went to carry fresh water
and build FIRE for the Franklina. On
nearing the house he observed that the
door was vida nnan. and nay Mr. Freni-
lin lying on the hoor surrounded by q
pool of blood. Horror-struck and with.
out entering the houRe, he fed 70 his
homo, some two hundred yards distant.
and made known his discovery to his
parents. They did not proceed to In.
vestigate the affair themselves, but i'm.
mediately notified their neighbors, and
in short while quite number of them
were collected in and around the house.
Every one in the community was yoYy
much excited with the exception of the
DAVID family, who went about their usual
avocations, evidently as uncnnceraed ed
if nothing had happened. It was Ken.
orally hu0wn tbst the Franklins Kept
their money In the house, and the Object
could only have been plumber and rob.
berry: az n trunk supposed 70 contain arsi-
cles Of value was found broken omen and
bureau drawers pulled aout and ran.
sacked. How mulch was atolen will
never be known, but 1t 10 fact thsE ali
was not taken, as various gums in green
backs and gold and silver coin. amount.
Ing in the aggregate to something over
$1,000, were afterwards found III DIFF.
ferent parts of the house by friends of
the family. A jury of inquest was sum-
moned, and so strongly did auspicion at.
tach TO JEFF. David, Mary David his wife,
John David their son and William But.
ler, that they were Immediately arrested
and lodged in Jail to wait trial at the
April term OF the Court of General Ses.
sions for Abbsville County.
THE TRIAL, CONVICTION AND sEMTEHuE.
On the Goth of April last the srial OF
these parties was begun before T. J.
Mackey. A whole day and more than
half Of q night were consumed in taking
evidence, which was wholly circumstans
tial, and hearing arguments cf counsel.
when the jury retired to consider the
case. It was composed Of nine white
men and three colored. At the expiras
tion of about two hours they came into
court and gave u verdict of guilty az to
JEFF. David Ind not guilty Us to the other
parties. q motion was made for o nav
trial, but 1t was overruled, and the Judge
sentenced tho prisoner to be hung on the
18th of May.
ON THE aALLows.
On the above date, while standing
upon the scaGold with his hands and feet
pinioned aud the black cap over hib
head, o respite until the i4th Of juno
was received from the Governor and read
to him who moment, later would have
been standing face to face, with hts
Maker. The cap was then removed, his
hands and feet made free, and bo was re-.
turned to his cell, mora dead thaa olive.
THE SECOND Respite
Was received ten days before the execu.
ton was to take place. This gave him
until to-day to live, and the old man
eeemed to hope that during this interyal
eomething might, transpirlS by which hin,
sentence would be commnsed. But In
this 80 far he has hoped In win.
A THIRD RESPITE.
Thzo,5.. Trhha ta ..3s .......i.k 5..y. M ;..z, -
prfsoners counsel the third respite (as
stated in the beginningl was received on
Tuesday lost. When this fact was made
known to him his spirits seemed TO fa-
vive somewhat, and he has been moro
cheerful ever since
no ExorrEMBNr
Had been manifested for the past fsw
days over the near approach of an event,
of such awful magnitude --at least NOT eo.
much as had generally been tho case he
fnre tho law Ehnliahinr public execntiana,
was passed--and but very small crowd
had been anticipated In the village.
AN INTERVIEW WITH rHE CoNDEMNED
IIAN.
Thinking that David rlieht desire a
have aomething published, to the ssofid.
determined to visit him in hia cell.
Through the courtesy Of Mr, Robsft
Jones, the polite jailer; I was usIaeFsd.
into the presence Of the prisoner. In
forming him that I represented the Co
l'eyistsF, and W01idd 10 ssaI;Ss q
print Gry statement he might wish To-
make, ne replied ssYes, sir.i' Ho wasi
standing up at tho time, but tool hia.
chair Eliafefi IL V,pnF fhr faaII ynfa 40