The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-08-28
DEAD MANS WELCOME.
Hamilton Jay in Detroit Free Press.

k3lelded up Its secret.
: More than two hundred years ago a brutal
murder was committed near the present city Of
Savannah, Ga.
rich planter named Netteton was found
dead in bed, a dagger sticking in his chest and
MS throat cut from ear to ear. He was an old
man, some 70 years of age naughty and dicta-
sorial in bearing and somewhat misery by ma
ture. He was supposed to have vast sums of
money concealed about his house and this rep
utation was no doubt the immediate cause of
his DEATH
lie had neither kith nor kin and lived in his
large, gloomy house alone, save for the house
Keeper and her husband-his yalet-all negroes
OF advanced age. They occupied rooms in a
remote wing of the building. Mr.. Nettleton's
rooms were guarded by iron bars to the win
dows and ponderous locks to the DOORS
One night in June terrific storm swept
over the place. The crash of thunder was in
tense, sufficient to drown all other noises. In
the morning the old negro valet went to ava
ken his master. He found the door broken in,
the desk broken open and its contents scatter
ed all over the floor. The whole room was in
Che direSt confusion. The old man lay on his
back across the bed, ghastly sight. His right
arm was stretched outtoyer the bed, the hand,
encrusted with dried blood, resting against the
fish times, was recognized as one which the
old planter kept hanging over the mantel in
his room. 1t was buried in the mans body to
the hilt The weapon with which the throat
had been cut was common jack knife with
four inch blade very sharp. 1t was found on
the floor where it had been dropped by the
murderer There were number of muddy
footprints in the room some made with the
bare feet, others with boot or shoe. There
were SO many of these that it was impossible
TO tell at the time how many persons had been
concerned in the crime, but later investiga-
ton showed that three of the planters horses
had been stolen the same night, and three
men were missing from that section of the
country. The country doctor who was called
an decided that the man had been dead about
twelve hours, which made the hour of his
murder II p. IN. The assassns thus had o
very good start.
About one mile and half from the extreme
limit of the Nettleton plantation was little
stream called Mud Branch. On its banks was
a common log hut, and this hut was inhabited
by family three i'll number father and two
sons. Their name was Gainter, father about 90
years of age, the sons IL and %, respectively.
They were Sullen, unsocial, vicious persons
eking out meagre living by hunting, fishing
and occasionally chopping wood. They came
originally from Alabama, and lived in the Net
fletOn neighborhood some two years. Long,
iank and muscular, dark browed and sullen,
they looked adapted to any crime, and
were rather evaded by the people around them.
For this they did not seem to care, but OH the
contrary rather enjoyed it, and courted dislike
as if it was mark OF distinction to be envied.
They were seen by some negroes the day of the
murder lounging about their hut at full noon.
They disappeared the night of the murder and
were never seen again. They passed out of
the circumscribed existence of that place as if
the very earth had opened and swallowed
them up.
OF course the negro who discovered the muir
der was frightened nearly out of his senses.
After one glance at the bloody corpse he rushed
yelling out of the house. Fortunately the over
seer was near by, and being o man OF strong
nerve. he soon mastered the details from the
lips of the terrified negro, and was prompt to
act A messenger was dispatched for the doc
tor, another for judicial officer near by, and
ACCOMPANIED by two of the older and more in
telligent slaves. the overseer repaired TO the
bedroom of his late employer. His quick eye
took in all the surroundings at once. The stiff
fened arm stretched cut above the head at
Tracted his close attention, and he drew near il
for q better examination. Then he saw that
the old planter had recovered consciousness
after the assaSsins left him, thinking their
work completed. He recovered consciousness,
but his likelihood was flowing fast away He
was too weak to get up, Or to hope that his cry
for help could be heard. Feeling his death ap-
preaching swiftly, with last desperate effort,
he had dipped his forefnger in the blood ooZ-
ing from his throat and attempted to Scrawl
upon the wall the names of his murderers.
There, written in blood, stared out terrible
Witness four trembling half formed letters
Gain, struggling downward in a vain attempt
to form another. Strength had departed sud
denly, and the outstretched arm remained in
Ats weird position, stiifened by death. OF course
the utmost efforts were made to track and cap
ture the criminals, but all in vain, and as time
wore on the memory of the tragedy became
almost extinct. The murders got about a
thousand dollars in gold. Stealing from the
house quietly, but with no sense of emotion,
they went to the barn, saddled three of the
best horses and rode off at a breakneck pace.
They had their rifles and their gold
After three months of aimless wandering
they happened on the locality of New Smyr-
ma, and, finding this house deserted, took pos
session Of it and settled down at home. The
house had been built by the Spaniards many
years before and was built for security as we'll
as comfort. The walls are Of coquina and are
etill standing strong as ever. There is a good
chimney at the end. The ioists overhead are
cedar poles and run through the walls on either
side, projecting about five feet Upon these
ends was probably laid an upper porch, or
Seranda rather. Outside Of the door is a niche
In which stood a crucifX. The floor is made of
cement, but large trees are growing through it
now. On the outside wall is cut the date, 1911.
OF course this building was in very good con-
dition when the GalnteIs took possession, and
1t soon became favorite rendezvous for all the
desperate characters of the coast. The family
became agents for pirates from Cartaeena on
Che Spanish Nam, and reckless slaYers from
everywhere. a stockade twenty feet high was
built in the rear of the house, of which the
gums can still be seem Here slaves stolen
srom different points were kept until arrange
raents could be made for their sale to the Span
iards AID others. They soon became known as
she most desperate of desperadoes, and enjoyed
b perfect immunity from social intrusion. Oc-
casionaly one of the young men would take
cruise with one of the vessels that came TO the
place, but the father never left it.
In July, ten years after the arrival OF the
Gainters an incident occurred which led to the
eliminating tragedy Of this story. Both the
Sons were at home when terrible storm came
up. 1t began at O'Clock in the morning and
lasted until o'clock tie next morning, subsid-
ing es quickly as 1t sprung up. About two
miles from their house large schooner was
stranded high and dry upon the land. The
Ganters, heavily armed, boarded it. 1t had
evidently been deserted by the crew nearly
Heek before the storm. In the hold were len
degrees tied hard and fist. Eight were men,
one powerfully built mulatto, the Others
woman and a baby both Of them evidently
very near death. When the lashings around
HE slaves feet were removed they could hard
BY stand, but food and water we're given them