The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-07-25
A NEW LEASE OF LIFE.
JEFF David's Third Respite-Division of
Public Opinion.
Correspondence of Columbia Register.

Jeh. DaV1d's Third Respite-DiV1sion OF
Public Opinion.
Correspondence of Columbia Register.
ABBEvILLE, s. c., July IL.
To-day had been set apart for the exc
cution of JEFF. David. and every prepara-
tion was made for the same, but his E1-
cellency the Governor, wishing no doubt
tina: 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 proximo.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE CRIME.
Early on the evening of Thursday, De-
cember 20, 1877, near Simms' Cross
Roads, Abbeville County, about q miles
from this town, Mr.. Geo. Franklin and
his sister, Miss Drusilla, were foully and
brutally murdered with a club. They
were both quite old, the former being
about So and the latter IS years of age,
and the old gentleman was slightly
paralyzed. They were very quiet and
respectable citizens, living almost entire
ly to themselves, and it was not known
that they 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, they
never thought of locking their door at
nightfall, or, indeed, at 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
soon to launch their souls into eternity
without the slightest note of warning.
They had hardly begun their frugal re-
past ere the fatal blows were given. Evil
dently, Mr.. Franklin was Killed by the
first blow, as he had fallen upon the
floor beside his chair. From spots of
blood upon the floor it would appear that
Miss Franklin was also struck at the
table, but recovered sufficiently to run
to an adjoining room, where she proba-
bly, received her fatal blow, falling di.
rectly across the bed. Their nearest
neighbors were colored family named
David, some of whom were raised and
were well thought of by the old people.
The bloody deed was first made known
the next morning, when, as usual, the
servant boy, son of David, about u
years of age, went to carry fresh water
and build a fire for the Franklins. On
nearing the house he observed that the
door was wide open, and saw Mr.. Frank
lin lying on the floor surrounded by a
pool of blood. Horror-struck and with
out entering the house, he fed to his
home, 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 a number of them
were collected in and around the house.
Every one in the community WAS very
much excited with the exception of the
David family, who went about their usual
avocations, evidently as unconcerned as
if nothing had happened. 1t was gen.
orally known that the Franklins Kept
their money in the house, and the object
could only have been plunder and rob.
berry, as trunk supposed to contain arti-
cles of value was found broken open and
bureau drawers pulled .out and ran.
sacked. How much was stolen will
never be known, but it is fact that all
was not taken, as various sums in green
backs and gold and silver coin, amount
ing in the aggregate to something over
$1,000, were afterwards found in diff
ferent parts of the house by friends of
the family. A jury of inquest was sum-
moned, and 50 strongly did suspicion at at
tach to JEFF. David, Mary David his wife,
John David their son and William But
Ter, that they were Immediately arrested
and lodged in Jail to wait trial at the
April term of the Court of General Ses-
sions for Abbeville County.
THE TRIAL, CONVICTION AND SENTENCE.
On the 25th of April last the trial Of
these parties was begun before T. J.
Mackey. A whole day and more than
half of a night were consumed in taking
evidence, which was wholly circumstan-
tiaI, and hearing arguments of counsel,
when the jury retired to consider the
case. 1t was composed of nine white
men and three colored. At the expira-
ton of about two hours they came into
court and gave verdict of guilty as to
JEFF. David and not guilty as to the other
parties. A motion was made for new
trial, but it was overruled, and the Judge
sentenced the prisoner to be hung on the
17th of May.
ON THE GALLows.
On the above date, while standing
upon the scaffold with his hands and feet
pinioned and the black cap over his
head, respite until the 14th of June
was received from the Governor and read
to him who moment, later would have
been standing face to face with his
Maker. The cap was then removed, his
hands and feet made free, and he was re-
turned to his cell, more dead than alive.
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
seemed to hope that during this interval
something might transpire by which his
sentence would be commuted. But in
this so far he has hoped in vain.
A THIRD RESPITE.
Through the untiring energy of the
prisoners counsel the third respite las
stated in the beginning) was received on
Tuesday last. When this fact was made
known to him his spirits seemed to re-
vive somewhat, and he has been more
cheerful ever since.
NO EXCITEMENT
Had been manifested for the past few
days over the near approach of an event
of such awful magnitude-at least not so
much as had generally been the case be-
fore the law abolishing public executions
was passed-and but very small crowd
had been anticipated in the village.
AN INTERVIEW WITH THE CONDEMNED
MAN.
Thinking that David might desire to
have something published to the world.