The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1886-09-30
ENPIATING HIS CRIME.
PAYS THE DEATH PENALTY FOR A
HORRIBLE MURDER.

A History of tho Terrible Crime Commit
ted in Baldwin County. Ca, by Frank
Iumphrics, in March Last-lIc Confea-
ses His Guilt to the Sheriff.
NEILLEDGEvILLE. Sept. 2r.-On the
evening of March 5th last. one OF the
most brutal aul hellish murders ever
chronicled i'll the history of crime. was
Committed in Baldwin county near this
city. On the evening III question. about
Shutdown. Frank Humphreys was at his
brothers.. Elijah Humphreys. and
under the influence Of whiskey. Ella.
the daughter Of Elijah, was to go to her
uncle Franks. distant about three miles.
She objected to going. rs Frank was
drinking and had his shot gun with hlm.
Miss Carrie Rains. visiting at Elijah
Humphreys, volunteered to 60 with
Ella. The three started, and the next
thing heard of them was Frank Hum
phrcys coming home next morning and
stating that they had been attacked by
PARTY Of four masked men (he was
bruised up little and his clothes were
cut in various places.) and that they
knocked him insensible and he was
afraid they had killed the girls. \
search soon found the two young ladies'.
They were killed about half way be-
tween the two Humphreys homesteaqs.
Ella Humphreys was shot through the
neck and Carrie Rains was shot through
the heart-both shots causing instant
death. They were dragged some 200
Yards from The road and left lying side
by side. All night long the dead lay BY
the dead. without covering or shroud.
with unclosed eyes rejecting back the
stars, The only vigil keepers they had.
The evidence showed that both barrels
of Frank Humphreys gun had been dis-
charged, and that all the injuries which
he had received were inflicted by HIM
self. so as to mislcad The evidence
further showed that the girls had been
outraged. 1t Is evident that he (Frank
Humphreys made improper advances
to them. and, failing, shot both OF them.
to prevent his exposure and to accomp-
lish his purpose. y close examination
Of the bodies Of Miss Rains and Miss
Humphreys revealed that some OF the
wads from the murdcrcr's gun adhered
to the flesh. They were compared with
others found III IIumpllrcys's house. and
were discovered to bear a close re-
scmblancc to them. They were evi-
IDENTIFY homemade. They fitted Hum
uhrcys' gun. Further investigation at
the scene of the murders suggested that
Miss Rains was killed first, and that
afterwards desperate struggle took
place between Humphreys and Miss
Humphreys. 1t is believed that the
murderer spent the greater part OF the
night at the scene OF his horrible double
crime. Humphreys was Immediately
arrested and lodged in Jail at Mllledge-
VILE. but when it was generally known
that lie was the murderer threats OF
lynching were freely made, and, in fact
it was decided to lynch him on the night
following the murder. TO prevent that
Sheriff Ems Immediately and secretly
removed him to the Macon Jail to await
his trial. which took place at the Au-
gust term Of Baldwin Superior Court,
and resulted III his conviction. lie was
sentenced to be hanged Oh Friday. the
24th ofScptcmbcr, and to-day explatcd
his crime on the scailiOld. lie made no
statement to-day. but confessed his
guilt TO the Sheriff last night.