Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1885-10-01

and Steve Hammond, while they were
drinking water at the branch that Holmes
told him they had two hundred more men
along out in the woods; that he started in
the direction thereof and was advised by
Holmes not to 60, and he therefore return
ed home. That on Monday night about 10
o'clock he was aroused and called out and
saw three men, one of whom was Wyatt
Holmes, who cautioned him to keep his
mouth shut.
II. Wood testified that on Monday even
ing he saw crowd of men in the vicinity
of Antioch Church, among whom he recog-
nized Ned Bussey, Collier Hammond, Pat
Bussey, George Vance, d. Bussey, Jasper
Talbert and three of the Holmes boys,
whose names he could not recall.
Other witnesses testified to having recog-
nized most of the parties mentioned.
The verdict of the jury is: That the de-
ceased, O.. T. Culbreath came to his death
from gunshot wounds in the hands of Will
liam Parkman, Wyatt Holmes and others
unknown to the jury being accessories
thereto"
FAMILY AFFAIR.
The Augusta Chronicle gives the follow
ing account of the circumstances which led
to the assassination of Hammond and the
subsequent lynching of his supposed muir
derer:
The circumstances surrounding the ter
rible tragedy are peculiar, and the parties
are all connected by marriage or other re-
lations, making it one of those unfortunate
family affairs which are so disastrous in
their consequences and so deeply to be de-
plored. From gentleman acquainted with
all the parties and the circumstances of both
chapters in the bloody tragedy, we get the
following facts which have bearing upon the
matter: The parties are all respectable,
well-connected people, and stand high in
of the late Captain VIM. Prescott, one of
the most respected names in South Carolina.
DR.. William Prescott, a brother of Mrs.
Culbreath, married sister of Mr.. Culbreath.
The brother of young Hammond who was
assassinated, was engaged to be married to
daughter of Culbreath. Culbreath was a
man past forty years of age and had grown
children. Owing to his cruel treatment of
his wife, she was forced to separate from
him about two years ago. 1t is said that
on the separation she gave him $4,000, ex-
pecting him to 60 away to some other place,
and leave her alone. Instead of this, how
has since then kept jealous vigilance over
her, making threats against any one who
went to see her, and constantly importuning
her to let him come back. He is said to
have threatened young Hammond's life
more than once, and his own daughter testi-
fed at the coroner's inquest over Ham,
mond's body that she had heard her father
VOW he would kill him. Young Hammond
was about q years of age, a near neighbor of
Mrs. Culbreath, and had been employed as
sort of overseer on the Culbreath place.
His mother testified at the inquest that her
son had told her few days before that
Io1 10 n6 hn
told her so she 'might know in case he was
killed who was his murderer"
Said our informant, in view of these
facts, there is little doubt on the minds of
the people Of the neighborhood that Cul-
breath is responsible for young Hammond's
death. There is fence running along by
the Culbreath house and there is a door at
either end of the house. There was beat
en- path along the outside of this fence run
ming the length of the house, showing that
Hammond's murderer had been waiting
the opportunity to kill him for some time,
and had paced backward and forward from
door to door in the attempt to see in the
house or secure an opportunity to shoot.
When Hammond came into the yard with
the child the desired opportunity was af-
forded and he was shot down like dog.
Said our informant: While / was not in
Edgefeld at the time of the killing of Cul-
breath, I know the feeling which existed
towards him, and the reasons which led to
his being dealt with by the mob, viz: the
firmest conviction of his guilt, the inability
to prove it, and the knowledge that his ar
raignment and trial would be mere farce,
resulting in his acquittal. 1t is not certain
that Culbreath did the killing; he was, per-
haps, too smart for that, and learn he
wrote letter to DR.. Prescott assuring him
that he could prove an alibi. 1t was firmly
believed, however, by the men who killed
him that he was responsible for the MUIR
der if not the actual slayer, and that if a
negro or other person did the shooting, it
was merely as a tool in Culbreath'S hands.
The report that there were improper re-
lations existing between Mrs. Culbreath
and young Hammond is utterly without
foundation, and receive no credence from
the people who knew her. She is one of
the most estimable ladies in Carolina and
is above suspicion. Said our informant: 1
do not give you these facts in justification
of the action of the mob that killed Cul-
breath. I deprecate the sad occurrence as
much as anybody, and heartily disapprove
of their course.