The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1886-12-16
4 TALE OF MURDER.
.TRE CRIME COMMITTED BYAWOMAN
AND THREE MEN.

North CnroI;na--.in Abandoned Woman
CoInpusscs the Murder of Her Husbantl--
The AccoInplices in the Terrible Deed.
RALEIGH, n. C., December Sat
Washington, Beaufort County. muir
der trial is in progress the evidence in
which shows the crime to he the most
diabolical on record in North Carolina.
The Investigation proceeds slowly, as
the c;Se involves three lives in addi-
tiOn to the two already taken. The de-
PENDANTS are Mrs. Owens, wife of
Alonzo D. Owens, two negroes, Rev.
Isaac Jones, a preacher, and Stack
Simpson, only twenty years OF age.
The char rge is the murder Of Owens on
the night of September 23d last.
The history of the terrible affair is as
follows: \. D. Owens, white man,
was Z merchant at CresWell. Washing
ton County. His wife was 4 woman
with whom in early life he had con-
tracted a liaison, and whom he had
married later, in defiance Of the ridi-
cule of friends and the cntTeatleS OF his
relatives. He was, therefore. cast of,
and though Il man of respectable fami.
lyS was cut off from all social inter-
course Mrs. Owens had several chill
dren born before wedlock, and one OF
these, Il daughter twenty years OF age,
was suspected Of intimacy with 4 negro
named james Ambrose. The latter
was a desperate and, outlaw, and was Il
man who sometime since set fire to- the
Jail at Harrell County, while a prisoner
therein, and so made his escape. Owens,
angry ut the girls love for Ambrose,
locked her up. Her mother took her
part, not objecting to her Intimacy
with Ambrose. This led to a quarrel,
and finally to Owens death. The
quarrel occurred last September, and
Mrs. Owens, her daughter and Ambrose
at once began to plan to kill Owens.
They admitted to their confidence
Isaac Jones and Stack Simpson. All
agreed that the wife should poison her
husband. She gave him poison, but in
too great quantities, and he was only
made sick. The failure Of the plan en-
ragged Mrs. Owens. She conferred again
with Jones, who was looked up to by
all the conSpirators. Jones advised her
to give her husband an opiate. and said
that when he was under it's influence
at night she could give the signal.
They would enter the house. take
Owens from the bed and drown him in
barrel Of hot water. Mrs. Owens
heated the water and administered the
opiate. She gave the signal and her
negro allies entered. Owens was only
partially Stupefied, and all the party
stood by his bedside. Jones declared
that it was unsafe to make the attempt
to end his life in that way. Mrs.
Owens, furious; ut the repeated failures,
urged them to Shoot him. Jones con-
cured in her idea, and said that us
enough were present TO do the deed. he
would go to his church. 1t was agreed
that the negroes should return later in
the night and make noise as ii break
ing into Owens store, which adlolned
the house. The plan was carried out.
Mrs. Owens reused her husband, tell
ing him burglars were attempting to
enter. Owens declined to go out. She
urged him to do so. Finally he went
into the yard and clapped his hands to-
gether to frighten the burglars. lnan
instant the report Of L gun was heard,
and Owens fell pierced by many buck
shot. In Il half hour ne died. The
community was soon in q state of the
widest excitement. and Ambrose was
at once suspected. Two men, BoSnight
and Spruill. volunteered to capture him.
Entering his cabin they found him. He
cried out:
IF YOU want me for shooting ut
Owens you are after the wrong man."
With these words he Sprang ut
Spruill, threw him to the floor and
drawing 4 revolver attempted to shoot
him.
Bosnight seized a revolver, but AM
broSe, drawing another, again attenpt-
ed to shoot Spruill. Bosnight then
tired on him, blowing off the top of his
skull. Concealed in AmbroSe'S house
was Stack Simpson, who was arrested.
He confessed the deed, and revealed the
awful crime above stated. lie said
that Ambrose shot Owens, and also
that Mrs. Owens had promised each Of
them $50 and pair Of shoes for killing
her husband.
TO verify Simpsons statement, they
took him to Mrs. Owens door. She
came out when Simpson called. and
BoSnight and Spruill, who were con-
cealed. heard her acknowledge her OH
legation for killing Owens. Sll" told
Simpson to call in the morning and
get his money. This horrible wonan
then returned to the house. where she
had her paramour. Tic men entered
and arrested her. The people were
furious. and came near lynching her
and her two accompliceS. but they were
safely Jailed. Later they moved the
case from Washington to Beaufort
County. Yesterday upon the witness
stand, Simpson testified in his own be-
half. and retold all the horrible story,
and his statement caused profound
sensation.
Back Again To Their Old Homes.
During the past few months num-
Der Of negroes from the upper portion
of our county emigratcd to Florida,
declaring that they never would come
back again, but within Il few weeks
past nearly all Of them have returned
to this county--at least, all those who
could get back-and they now declare