The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1881-01-27
The Most Horrible Crime Ever Re-
corded.

COIuGu'
PROSPERITY, s. c., Jan. 19.-On the
evening Of the 18th as Miss Bette
Wertz was going home from her
brothers, whom she had been visiting,
she was assaulted by two negroes,
Dave Spearman and Sam Fair, who,
efter effecting their 6endish purposes
tied her to bush, first gagging her,
and then went to Mr.. Wertz's and
got their supper afterwards, return
ing to their unfortunate victim and
again committing acts of violence,
they killed her by choking her. At
the Coroner's inquest suspicion rested
on the above named parties and they
were arrested, and confession on the
part of Sam first, and then Dave, con-
firmed these suspicious. They were
thon lodged in the guard house. Last
night. they wero takon from the
guard house by the infuriated popu-
lace. Sam was shot on the spot and
left as being dead, but Dave was CAR
ried to tho spot where the crime was
committed, tied to a pine tree and
then shot. On returning, the crowd
did not find Sam, and at once search
was instituted. He was found at his
mothers and brought back to Prosper
ity, He was then taken about one
mile from town, whore his own lifo
paid for his helish acts, the negroes
assisting in the vindication Of right.
Quietude prevails tonight. Miss
Wertz had gentleness of disposition
and personal beauty not possessed by
every one.
Miss Wertz was buried yesterday
by the Good Templars Society, Of
which she was member.
DETAILS OF THE CONFESSIONS.
The following dispatch to tho Co
lumbia Register gives the details Of the
confessions and punishment of the
two criminals:
Several parties were arrested on
suspicion and the evidence pointed
directly to two boys working on Mr.
Wertz's place. On thoir being first
sworn both denied it, but on calling
Sam Fair to tho stand again he made
a confession duplicating David Spear
man. The confession of Sam Fair was
that last Spring Davo had made q
proposition to outrage Miss Wertz, and
last Fall ho again made the same pros
position ; and on ths 17th instant, Just
after dinner Dave again told Sam that
he meant to outrage hor.
Dawes testimony was to the effect
that ho and Sam were to perpetrate
the deed IN The evening; at u given
signal he was TO come to Sans assis-
tanco. But Sam could not leave his
horses. When Dave saw Miss Wertz
approaching he went to the spring
and gave the signal agreed on with
his confederate. He then went on
and met Miss Wertz, to whom he
spoke and then passed her. Turning
suddenly around, however, he clutch.
cd her neck from behind and choked
her down and tied her. He thon went
and got Sam. The black devils then
secreted their victim near the path
and returned to their work. This
was about 5 p. NJ. They went to the
house and got their supper, after
which thoy returned to the body and
killed her. They then carried the
body OF the unfortunate young girl to
the crossing at the fence whore the
path crossed.
Dave went and dug up the hand
kerchief with which ho had strangled
Miss Wertz, together with the rope
they had tied her with. Onthe handker
chief were found bloody marks, which
he said came from her mock when he
strangled her.
Dave was summarily dealt with on
the spot whore he had committed bis
fendish deed.
Sam was captured this morning and
hung near this place by a party of
aroused citizens, estimated at from
six hundred to eight hundred persons.
His body is still hanging. where the
Ouniah menk waa m nted ont to h;oa