The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-07-11
WAS HE KILLED FOR HIS MONEY
A Report to the Effect that n Dying
Negro Confessed to Have Commit
ted Murder Sixteen Years Ago.

The recently reported confession of Andy
johnson brings to mind the circumstance
related below:
PROBABLE DEATH. Very serious appre
tensions are entertained Of the safety OF Mr.
NJ. L. Edwards, who Is reported to have been
drowned in Long Cane, near Cannon's Bridge
on night before last. He Is said to have been
heard by some blacks calling for help during
the night. Search has been Instituted but the
body has not yet been fouud.-Pyess and Ban
ner, March u, 1872.
The above paragraph is all that was publish.
ed in reference to the death OF Mr.. Edwards
At the time suspicion rested on two colored
men, Andy Johnson and Jack Morris. He
left Abbeville ON the afternoon OF March 25
1872, on horseback, somewhat under the in.
iiuence of liquor, going In the direction OF
home, but from Andy Johnson's his horse
was tracked towards Cannon's bridge, across
down fences, and going in the opposite direc.
ton from his home. The mule tracks were
with those Of the horses tracks to the edge OF
Long Cane creek. The horse went In the
perhaps hundred yards, where 1t came out
on the bank of the same side of the stream,
where 1t was found next day.
The neighbors gathered in numbers and
No trace of him was found, except Mr.. Ed
wards hat and cravat He was last seen with
Andy johnson and Jack Morris-and Andy
Johnsons wife, since his death last week.-Mrs.
house after dark of the same day that he left
the village.
A company of white neighbors went to the
house OF Andy Johnson, arrested him, and
Of O tree, when brother of the deceased in
terposed objection, because Of the lack Of pos
tive proof of his guilt,
Jack Morris, several years ago, tosether
with others, was charged with stealing cotton
from Mr.. John A. Devlin. After his arrest ne
escaped from the constables and he has not
been heard from since that time.
Andy johnson died about two weeks ago
on the place of Mr.. r. c. Wilson, some three
miles South OF Abbeyille, and it is currently
reported that he confessed that he and Jack
Morris killed Mr.. Edwards; that they first
abandoned the idea. Before telling where he
was buried, he became speechless, and died
without concluding his confession.
There are all sorts OF rumors in reference TO
this matter. Nearly every one has talked
over the matter, and while there is some d.
vision Of sentiment, we are confident that
large majority who have spoken of the mat
ter are Of opinion that the negroes killed MIR:
Edwards for the money which they supposed
he had about his person. Mr.. Edwards had
spoken of having three hundred dollars In
money, but he had left 1t all In Abbeville, ex-
cept about eighty cents, having IN pocket on.
ly forty cents as reward to each OF his MUIR
derers for their trouble and their crime.
Whatever view may be taken as to the
manner by which Mr.. Edwards came to his
QeatQ IL Is SLlll SQTOuQeQ III uySU6Ey.
If he was drowned 1t Is most remarkable
that no trace of his body, lor Of his clothing,
except his hat and his cravat, has been found.
Long Cane is small stream, every foot o.
Msich could be examined.
II he was murdered, It was one Of the most
successfully concealed murders that was ever
committed in Abbeville County.
The theory Of those who believe he was
murdered is somewhat thus: The negroes
supposed Mr.. Edwards had large sum Of
money on his person; that Andy Johnson
and Jack Norris sought to possess themselves
OF It; that after the murder they led bis
horse to the swollen stream, and drove the
animal. into the water, throwing MIR: Ed,
wardss hat and cravat in the creek as blind
or misleader.
Most OF the route as travelled by Mr.. Ed
wards's horse between the negroes house and
the creek, was dense forest. partly OF marsh
lands, and with which Mr.. Edwards was pre-
sumed to be unacquainted.
MIR. Edwards was an unmarried man of
about fifty years Of age.