The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1885-11-26
AsHdekrNt, rs.AatspY,
ThfeS Men, Fathor and Two Sons, Killed
bya Rinsinan : Particulars OF the ooeur-

renee.
(b''om tie Ne,os and Oouriei,.
Atnoon on Wednesday the 18th inst,
Q white man, named Corley, and
negro, named Charles Brooks, galloped
into Edgefield with the news of
most horrible crime. The victims are
Edward Presley, white man, who is
over eighty years of age, and his two
sons Charles and Edward, aged about
twenty-six and thirty years respect
lvely. Tho murderer, is Robert Jones,
also white, who married the grand
dang hter of Presley and who lives
on the farm with them. The scene of
the tragedy is about eight miles west
Of the courthouse. Sad,
The representative of the Ne,us and
Courier, upon hearing of the occur
renee, at once set out to investigate il
and gathered the following details of
the horrible affair: Jones, the mur-
derer, it appears, came here from
Georgia several years ago and married
Mr.. PressleY's granddaughter. The
Fressleys rent some land in the neigh
borhood, portion of which was occu-
pied by Jones, who, however, paid
no rent for it. On Tuesday evening
before the homicide Charles PRESLEY
went to Jones's house and told him
That he would have to vacate the land
as nc and his brother could not afford
TO pay the rent for him. On Wednes-
day about II O'Clock Jones entered the
field where old Presley and his sons
Charles and Edward were ploughing.
a colored man who lives near the
scene OF the murder states that he saw
Jones go up to Charles Presslev and,
without any words, raise q double
oarrelled gun to his shoulder and
empty the contents of both barrels
into the body of his victim. He then
turned and walked off in the direction
OF the woods. Edward Presley, the
brother of the murdered man, putting
down his plough, started to pursne the
murderer of his brother. Jones waited
until he came up and, then taking q
knife, stabbed him in the right side
ripped the knife entirely across his
chest, killing him almost instantly. In
the meantime old Presley was in the
held trying to hold his sons plough
horse which had been frightened at the
sound of the firing. Jones deliberate-
~ reloaded his gun, approached the
Old man and shot him dead. He then
went home, mounted his horse and
rode off. John PRESLEY, the only
remaining son, was in the house at the
time and came out after hearing the
firing, only to find his father and his
two brothers lying dead in the field.
n messenger was dispatched to the
courthouse to get out warrant The
Prcssleys have the reputation of being
respectable, quiet and orderly people,
the elderly son, John, having served
through the war with bravery. Jones
came to Edgefeld about six wears ago
and settled in the county. His sistcrs
are married there, one of them being
the wife of Mr.. Parkinan, one of the
defendants in the Culbreath case.
There is the strangest sequel to this
horrible affair, however. About 2
O'CLOCK III the afternoon short, thick
SET man, attired in an ordinary home
spun suit, entered the village, carving
ON his shoulder q doublc-barrellcd
shotgun. lie went to the postofficc,
left his gun with man in there, and
then Islowly and deliberately walked
oH tosthe Jail, which is situated next to
the court house and which has a front
yard, rallied in by all ordinary airon
railing. "That's JONES'" said some
one, and as the news of the murder
had been known for some time crowd
speedily followed Jones. He applied
10 the negro turnkey, who opened the
gate, and entered the place and gave
mmself up. He was followed into the
jail by a miscellaneous crowd, but no
one made any attempt to injure him.
upon entering the Jail he remarked
to some of the prisoners who knew
MN that he had killed three of the
best men in the county, but he was
obliged to do it. At this point his
relative interposed and advised him to
say nothing more, and he obeycd the
injunction.
The evidence before the coroner's iury
was brief. Charles Brooks, an eve
witness of the killing testified as fol-
lows:
~ was at my house shucking corn
ana the first noise / heard was a gun,
thcn heard scream, and raised m
aId saw two mon running whom /
recognized as Edward Presley, Jr..
ana Bob Jones. | saw them catch
hold OF each other and I saw one
reach out of his hand as if be was
using his knife but | don't know which
one 1t was, but | saw Mr.. Pressley fall.
ana Mr.. Jones walked off with his Gun
IN his hand, and then / saw something
lying on the ground that took to be
Charles Presley. Mr.. Jones walked
back in the direction of whore Mr..
Charles Pressley was lying and stop
PED and loaded his gun, after which
ne walked to where Edward PRESLEY,
:3,r., was standing and said, "Dog gone
II, Will shoot you too," aud there
upon he raised his gun and shot him.
Mr. Jones then walked on towards
his house, about 400 yards off. Mr..
fressley, Sr., fell as soon as he was
shot. When [ saw Mr.. Edward Press
ley and Mr.. Bob Jones running Mr..
Jones was in front. The first report
Ihat L heard seemed to be as if both
barrels were discharged at once. No
one else could have done the shooting
without my seeing him. / am salts.
hed from what [ saw that Mr.. Jones
kIiled oil three of tho Pressleys. Dan
and myself were about the
second ones to get there after thew
Tell. i did not see any weapons of anv