The Orangeburg democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1879-1881, 1879-06-06
WAS 1T MURDER /?
~~-O---

| 4 REPORTED CASE OF RAPE AND MUIR
DER WHICH THE CORONER'S. JURY DOES
NOT ENDORSE.
On last Monday morning our town
was rife with the report that young
co!ored girl had been outraged and
murdered Sunday afternoon by
negro tramp on Mr.. Valley Sheorn.s
place. about four miles from town.
The girls name was given as Marga-
ret Aller, and the tramp was descrio.
ed so infinitely in the report that it
was even alleged by some that ne
gro answering that description was
seen in Camden early Monday morn
ing. The scene Of tie alleged MUIR
der is plum orchard, little dis
tanee from the house of Dick Bailey,
the step-father of the deceased.
AS soon as the fact was reported
to Coroner Goodale, he proceeded TO
The place with jury to hold an in,
quest. When they arrived, the body
Of the girl had been carried from the
plum orchard 10 Dick Bailey's house.
AS the whole affair is surrounded
with mystery, to which the verdict
Of the jnry does not give any solution,
we give below the substance of the
testimony: al
Mary Walker, sister Of the dead
girl, etatca that she and deceased
went to the plum orchard Sunday
afternoon. While there short,
thick-set negro man came to thep
and seized hold Of her sister. She
went TO the rescue, VIXEN the man
kicked her and scratched her, face.
She then ran 10 the house for assis-
tance, and Dick Bailey went back
with her. They then found Marga-
ret lying on the ground dead, with
her mouth filled with sand. She
looked back while running to the
house, and saw the man sitting
astraddle Of her sister.
Dick Bailey testified that he heard
cries in the orchard, and proceeded
there IN company with Billy Cook.
They met Maly Walker running to-
wards them, who told them the story
given in her testimony: FSe and
Billy Cook went around the orchard
in opposite directions, and in one
place saw the barefoot track Of q
nan. They found deceased lying on
her back, her mouth filled with sand
and her clothes thrown up and body
exposed. There were also evidences
of scuflis! He saw no man.
Billy Cooks evidence was similar
to that of Dick Bailey, with the ex-
ception That he says when the girl
was being carried to the house, blood
ran out of her mouth.
DIR. Barucb, who made the post
mortcm examination, stated that he
found the membranes Of the brain Of
the deceased deeply congested, but
no evidence developing any cause of
sudden death.
This closed the testimony, and the
jury, after some consultation, render
cd the following verdict: :'That the
deceased came to her death from
causes unknown TO the jury"
We learn from the Coroner that
on Tuesday morning DR.. Baruch ad-
dressed note to him, stating THAI
he had given the case further consid-
Grafton, and If the jury could be
brought together again, he would
like to make another statement, saw
ing, however, that he did not know
that what he might state would laye
any influence to change the verdict.
Coroner Goodals decided that lie
could rot open the case again, ana
the matter will therefore stand Just
as VIC have reported it, unless it is
opeEed for investigation by other
means.
The fact remains that the girl met
with sudden or violent death, and
these proceedings have not furnished
the means Of its solution.--Ca Camden
Journal.
In1nn Inui Rrnnenn q HILL.