Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-02-23
THE EMANUEL TRAGEDY.
Details of the AtrOciOus Crime.


WAYNEsBORO, GA, Feb. 20.-It is not
often that our tOwnis so startled as it was
on yesterday, when news reached us that
Mr.. Alfred G. Inman, of Summer
vile, Emanuel county, had foully
murdered his wife. There were
at first many conflicting rumors in
regard TO it, and for some time it
was hoped that the statement that Mrs.
Inman had been thrown from horse and
killed was the true one, but we were not
left long in doubt, later developments con-
frming the worst apprehensiOns as to the
manner of her death, and from all that we
can now hurriedly gather it appears that
she was indeed deliberately murdered by
her husband.
The perpetratOr of this horrible deed is
son of the late Jeremiah Inman, of this
county, gentleman of means before the
war, and a family fayOrably regarded by
the community in which they lived.
Notwithstanding the disastrous effects
of the war, Mr.. Inman managed to leave
his children comfortably provided for, but
/ this young man, by course of improvi-
dent living or poor management, has spent
his property. His wife, formerly Miss
Grubbs, "A lady of worth and good standing
in this county, owned a separate estate.
and II seems "A short time ago had sold n
piece Of her land, receiving 500 for il.
This money her husband was anxious to
get into his possession, but she refused to
allow him to use or control 1t in any way.
This greatly enraged him and was the occa-
sion of several family feuds, one of which
occurred the night before the tragedy, i'm
which, 1t Is said, she was severely beaten
by him.
The next morning having business at a
neighbOring Clubhouse, she proceeded to
go on horseback, using a family horse,
we'll known as being remarkably kind and
gentle. As she was leaving the house
her husband inquired of her ''where her
money was" She replied that she had it
on her person. Afterwards he remarked
that he would accompany her a part of
the way on foot, as he had business in the
same direction. The next seen of him was
at a store near by where he rode up on the
same horse his wife had used. stating to
the gentlemen there assembled that his
wife had been thrown from her horse and
killed, and he wished to procure a buggy,
that he might convey her remains to their
home. According to his story, the horse
becoming restive and unwilling to go, his
wife turned and asked him to get her a
bush, and, while he was procuring it for
her, burr fell from a pine tree on the
back Of the horse, frightening him beyond
her control. Unable to manage him. she
was finally thrown and killed.
The inquest, however, developed very
different state of facts. The unfortunate
lady was found lying by the roadside, her
head having the appearance of having
been beaten with club Of some kind.
lightwOOd knot was found near by, and
upon examination it was found that the
pTOtuberance on the HghtwOOd' CORE
spOnded perfectly with the wound on the
head. 4 lady's hair was also found ad-
herring TO the lightwOOd knot.
On the person of Mr.. Inman was found
his wife's necklace that she had worn at
the time, also the money he had been so
anxious to get into his possession. These.
in connection with other circumstances at
the inquest, seemed to point so clearly to
his guilt that the jury rendered ii verdict
against him of murder in the first de-
gree
1t appears that Mrs. Inman had for
some time previous feared an untimely or
violent death, and had requested her
mother and others that if she died sud
denly to be sure and have the cause of her
death investigated. Her presentiments
have been but too truly verified.
Having been arrested, Mr.. Inman is
now i'm the custody of the Sheriff awaiting
a preliminary trial and such other legal
proceedings as may be instituted for so
foul and horrible crime. j. :. X.