The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-12-02
MURDER OF WILLIAM MADDOX
AJbcville Press and Banner.

Conflicting reports IN reference to the
killing of Mr.. William Maddox at bis
home, near Maddox's mill, on the Salu
da river, in this county, having reached
the village, a representative of the Press
and Banner yesterday went to the scene
of the bloody deed.
The dwelling in which the deceased
and his family lived is log house, with
framed "shed ROOM" The cracks be-
tween the logs composing the walls are
nicely filled with clay and whitewashed.
Notwithstanding this fact, however. there
are enough openings to secure sufficient
ventilation for hygienic purposes. The
house is warmed BY fireplace five or
six feet in width, in which blazing fire
on the cold morning was pleasing sight
to one who had been in the weather for
four hours. In the house were two beds, a
chest, table, q cradle, few chairs, and
some other articles. Some two years ago
the residence of Mr.. Maddox, which stood
between this house and the public road
was burned by person or persons unknown
To this deponent, and since that time the
kitchen has been used as dwelling
for the deceased and family. The
house has two outside doors: the
front door opening towards the public
road, and the "spring door" opening on
the opposite side of the house, and in the
direction of the spring from which they
used water. In addition to these
doors there is a door to the "shed
room," looking towards the public
road. There is in the main part of the
house 'loft" room in which the step
son of the deceased slept, and which was
reached by means of ladder made of
round pole split in two pieces, when
cross bars were put from one to the other.
Mr.. Vermillion lived in a much larger
house about two hundred yards south
east, Sarah Maddox, colored woman,
who once belonged to Mr.. Maddox,
lived two hundred yards southwest of
Mr. Vcrmillion, and three hundred yards
south of the dwelling Of the deceased.
The lot, barn, stables, &C., are on the op-
posite side of the road, all being within
few hundred yards of the twentieth
mile post on the road leading from Able
vile village, and known in that section
as the Cambridge road"
To show how little Mr.. Maddox sus-
pected danger, it is only necessary to
state that he had no fastenings to any of
the doors ofhis house, except "button"
to each with q screw through the centre,
the mere turning of which either releases
the shutter or holds it as the case may be.
The doors not shutting closely could be
opened about as easily from the outside
as the inside of the house. As further
evidence of his fancied safety in the hon
esty of his neighbors and the protecting
arm of the law to shield him from harm
during the silent watches of the night, we
would mention the fact that he had no
lock on anything in the house except on
the top of an old chest, the hinges of
which being broken off the lock was sub
stituted for them.
Between eight and nine o'clock Wed.
nesday night of last week, after Mr.. Mad
dox and his family had gone to bed,
knock was heard at the door. Unexpect-
ing the approach of any one with an evil
intent, without hesitating to ask who was
there, he rose from his bed, and opened
the door in response to the knock. Three
men were plainly visible in the moon
light. One of them said, as he walked
into the house, without being asked to
come in:
"We want you to let US stay all night
with you. We are wagoners selling
whiskey. Our wagons are stopped up
the road"
Mr.. Maddox then said: II have no
room to accommodate you. My house
was burned two years ago."
The intruder then said: "If ne cannot
get to stay all night with you, give us
some fire, that we may build fire at the
camp"
AT this iuncture, owing to the unnatu.
raj voice of the stranger and his general
behavior, and the quick perception of a
wonan's instinct, Mrs. Maddox's fears
were aroused, and she began to call her
son, q lad of twelve years ofage who
was sleeping upstairs. She endeavored
to awaken him for the pu: pose of assisting
N1r. Maddox in supplying the strangers
request for fire. But owing to the fact
that he was sound sleeper, be was not
aroused until little while later.
To the stranger Mr.. Maddox replied ::
"I am very willing to accommodate you
to fire. The fire is in Goals. Bring in o
board ofpiece of bark on which to carry
it away"
The intruder then stepped back into
the yard for q second. AS lie returned
MIR. Maddox was stirring his fire, with
the tongs, when the intruder said: :.
"We would like to get twenty dollar
bill changed" :.
10 this Mr.. Mattox replied: 81 can't
see very we'll at night, and l dou't care
to do SO now. IL may be that / can
change it you in the morning"
By this time Mr.. Maddox had gather.
ed in the tongs as much fire as he could
! hold with them and offering it to the