The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1881-02-23
The Murder Of Caroline Farrow.

Ahhcville is again the ScAnr .: crime and
h,ood>h"d-a crime for which The history ami
the traditions Of a comfy So famous in tie
Iastfov law and order. furnish norariil"l. II
seems from the testimony taken NJ thu toro'
nrr's inpucs. that Oh the ni-ht Of Friday. the
18th instant, sur,r negroes undertook 10 hnr"
canly-pullinc at thH trrSc cf Sarah Martin.
on the p,an,ot;nn in The possession Of Mr..
stark Martha, chat owing 10 TIC presence OF
MIR. William Bee Martin that intention was
abandoned: that Mr.. Martin the same night
forced open the door OF Caroline Farr"w'S
house, while she was dressing. that she ttni
fight from the house in the darkness and Sc
c.etcd herself for q time; that she afterwards
went TO the house OF Cornelius Matthews; that
in about 4 half or thrcc-GuarterS OF ~ hour
from that time tho nnuzzlt OF 4 gun was seen
projecting through II crack between ihc l".s
,f the house in which sho h.r5 I; ken refuge
thai \ voice from the out>ihH, believed 10 be
that Of Mr.. William liee Martin. said Take
care, I~o got You now" At that instant The
gan fred. and the whole load O! shot was
lodged in the hip Of Caroline Furrow, who was
standing perhaps four or five feet from tho
,nuzzlc Of the gun when It was diS"hars d.
NltI VT aENAiN VIZ w. NA ~ SN y 'NS
acoea,notion about the house, not unnatural
to the occurrence of such an event: one OF the
men wen; into tt-c yard: the figure OF a man
supposed 10 De that OF Mr.. William Bee Mar
lin. WIS seen to mount n horse. which had
been lrtchei near by, after which he rode
away rapidly.
The evidence at the Coroncr'S inquest was
solely In behalf Of the state. The Coroner
docs not undertake to investigate the merits
of crime, and hence no evidence was taken in
shc interest OF the accused. In the absence
OF any testimony. we thought it we'll to offer
his brother an opportunity to say q word in
his behalf. In reply. Mr.. j.. Campbell Mar.
tin. protested that his brother was innocent
that he was 1T his house. in bel and aclcep ut
the lioui, when the shooting was done.
1t is not our province TO pronounce judg-
ment as 10 whether either the evidence be-
fore tic jury or the statement Of Mr.. Martin
are true or untrue. We give them publicity
for what they are worth. and will allow the
reader 10 form his conclusion rs Ia the guilt
or innocence OF the accused. About one fact.
however. we think there can be no doubt
that d most foul and base deed has been
committed. The heart shrinks from the con-
temptations Of the killing OF any human being
In the manner by which the life of Caroline
Farrow was taken, and the quiet inofcnsive
citizen must feel 10 a greater degree the doubt
rs TO his personal safety in 4 country where
such crimes occur. The public arc familiar
with many OF the facts concerning the va
rious crimes which have hlackened tho his
tory Of Abbcville county within the last few
years. bat we look in vain for one Of greater
atrocity. or one more likely to give our people
q feeling Of insecurity, even while around their
own fircsiIes.
The muzzie OF an un(r;cndly shot gun peer
tng through the cracks OF ones house. is not
Of the nerve Quieting order. and although the
Governor Of tie State has seen TT, in his wis
dom, to pass nnnoticed, the crime t MaddoS's
Mill, where Mr.. Vim. Maddox was called 10 his
door last November in the night time and
murdered. ii is to be hoped that he will not be
slow to sec that the detectives and state Off
GERS shall do their whole duty In this matter
Coroner ]. 4. Shillito so far, las discharged
his duty fully. and he Informs US that he
vii! to-day comply with the requirements OF
OF tho law, and send to tho Governor the
evidence taken at the inquest. II the Cover
nor will let people who, may be contampla-
ting cold bloodcd murder. know that the pow
or of the State would be brought against them
it is fair to presume that crimes of this kline
will be fewer. In no county have We had a
greater number OF cold blooded murders than
in Abbeville. The Harmons, the Franklins.
William Maddox, and now Carolin e Farrow-
ta-saa3 blood while in their
own houses TX
For years the juries OF Abbcvillc have been
exceedingly lenient towards peasnn> charged
with crimes against the person, and we are
now reaping the evils Of that sickly scntimen-
tality which shrinks from meeting out n just
punishment for crime. Is there not q limit
beyond which the forbcarance OF our people
will not go? Is there not Il time when they
will assert hat crime shall stop: