The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-05-02
The Franklin Murder.
ARBEYILLE AnriI Ok

Your readers must have been startled
during the last Chrismast holidays upon
hearing Of the murder cf George and
and Drusilla franklin, near Greenwood
in this county. The circumstances we're
very similar to those of the Harmon
murder in Edgefield two years ago. The
victims In this case were an aged brother
aud sister, living by themselves in o
house with two rooms; they were known
to have money they were penurious.
and oil their circumstances were such as
to attract the .cupidity of the money
loving murderer.
On Friday morning, December 81,
1877, the two helpless inmates of this
house wero found dead; one, the brother
having fallen Just where he had heen
sitting at supper, and the sister in the
room adjoining, where che had fed,
probably, when the assault wan made
upon her brother. The instrument used
to effect the butchery was O persimmon
club, freshly cut from IN adjoining wood.
This was found in the house after the
murder, and vas produced here in court
yesterday, bearing the ghastly evidence
Of lis use upon it in the gray hairs of
the murdered victims still adhering
to the rough bark. Trunks, bureau,
drawers ana other Eeceptacles were found
rified of their contents, the search being
evidently prosecuted with view to Sc.
curing money.
News of this terrible occurrence hav.
ing spread, the neighbors gathered In
numbers and proceeded to do what they
cGIid 20 so1iTo the inurderera. The Club
furnished clue, which was followed out
thug: Knowing from tho character of its
bark that it muat have grown In suitable
soil, --..s finding tracks leading towards
o thicket near by, the parties followed
them up, and coon came upon freshly
cut persimmon tree, &c which the, club
was adjusted, and It Yves found that n
certain hollow in the club fitted exactly
into continuation Of the same in the
remaining stump, and the top lying by
fitted IN size the other end of the club.
This then was certainly identified.
Pursuing the tracks they were led to
tho house Of one JEFF David, who was
taken along, and after walking towards
the tracks that led in tho direction of
where the club had been cut, he was
asked to put his foot into ono of the
tracks, and it was seen that it fitted ex.
actly. Seeing this himself, JEFF cried
cas: "EoF Gol' . slke don't murder me :;
give me O hearing" he was $hen ar
reated. JEFF was, then asked for his
knife, and it havigE been produced, the
blade was found to be etained in color
which the acid of the persimmon pro-
duces on steel. Upon these accumula-
ting evidences of completely in tie muir
der, JEFF was arrested, elopg with his
wife, con and another men, ell colored.
and lodged in the county jail.
These facts were elected yesterday. on
the part of the State, represented by So
licitor Cothran. On the part Of the de-
fence, it was shown that the p;pe which
was exhibited in court had been fopnd
in tho house of the Franklina on the
morning Of the mnrdeE--the bowl in the
Room Ehera fha hnss1 er 7-::=,!.,,. - ,,,,,.-
lin was found, and the stem between ono
of the plundered trunks and the wall Of
the house near where the trunk stossi.
The pipe wss identified as the property
OF one McGarvey now in Jail here on q
charge Of burglary and larceny, IL hay
ing been aeen in his possession so late as
last November. The fact that every par.
ficle Of the evidence was circnnistantial
was ufged upon che jury, and it Tas cen.
tended that as 70 all of the parties &C.
cnsed, except JEFF David, there was no
evldenna tn @a. aaes tLes. ;.:ssh sshss ssh,ss tom
mieaian &c the deed, ~ .TEahiis Tns virtually
admitted By the Solicitor, and the case
was finally giyen to the jury about Ii
O'Clock last night. They returned YER
dict about 8 o'clock q. m. to-day of guilty,
as to Jelf David, not guilty es to the
othen. ~
\ w Nulvu9U WA aOIy CODduCteu by
two young practitioners, Mess9s. w. @.
Benet and Samuel @. Cason, who were
appointed by fiie Court TO defend the
prisoners They did their duty well.-
Correspondence Neins and O,,tyisr.