The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1888-03-15
4 DIABOLICAL DEED.
The Keeper of the Broad River Bridge
with his Wife, Beaten with a BludGeon
and their Cottage Set on Fire-The
Assistant Bridge-keeper Killed.

Especial to the News and Courier
COLUMBIA, March l2-For years past
| Richland County has been remarkably
! free from that class of crime which can
ONLY be committed by the most cold
blooded, black-hearted and premeditat-
! inc murderer; for years her Courts have
| been free from genuine murder cases,
and the citizens Of Columbia and of
| RichlanG have had just cause for graft
| fication that law and order were the
| rule in this section. Last night, how
ever, this bright record was broken;
| the ruthless murderer and assassin
were abroad and their cruel work has
left dark spot upon the history of the
county, spot which would have been
still darker had the murderers succeed
ed in carrying out al OF their first plot.
The scene of the crime was the little
cottage occupied by the keeper OF the
Broad River bridge and his wife, Mr..
and Mrs. Adam Buff both of whom
have probably seen Sixty-eight or
seventy winters. This cottage is Just at
the Columbia end Of Broad River bridge
and three miles from the city. The
time of the outrage was about 40 last
evening-Sunday evening-when there
Was no travel on that road.
ALONELY TRAVELLER.
At the hour named Mr.. William
Kraft, of Kraft & Son, this city, was re-
turning to his home in Columbia from
a visit he had been paying in the coun-
try. He was walking on the Columbia
and Greenville Railroad track, which
runs about two hundred yards east of
Broad River Bridge. When just oppo-
site the bridge he was attracted by see
ing tongue of fire issue from one of
the windows of the keepers cottage
Mr.. Kraft, knowing that the houses
was occupied by an aged couple, imme-
diately determined to go to their assist
ance, and if unable to eXtlnguish the
| flames, to save the furniture. He was
accompanied by his dog, which, when
near the house, gave chase to some one
who must have been near the roadside
and was probably on the watch.
THE SCENE AT THE COTTAGE.
Upon reaching the cottage a horrible
spectacle met his eyes. Lying upon the
porch in a semi-conScious condition,
with his face and head covered with
/ cuts and bruises and the blood stream
ing from the wounds to the floor, was
the old bridge-keeper. The young man
liftud Mr.. Buff up and the wounded
man Immediately asked for his wife,
who, he said, was in the room IN which
the fire was. Mr.. Kraft rushed into this
room, but there was no one there; but
as he was crossing the room he heard
the crashing of glass in the rear room,
and upon going into that he found that
some one had jumped through the win
dow sash, taking out four panes of glass
and the window frame work.
EXTINGUIsHING THE FLAMES.
Mr.. Kraft next turned his attention
to the fire A lounge, several pillows
and bed quilts had been saturated with
kerosene oil, and oil had also been
poured over the floor and wall of the
building and set on fire. Mr.. Kraft
dragged the lounge out of doors, then
pulled out the burning bedding, and
afterwards eXtinguished the fire in the
woodwork, where it had not made
much headway. He then placed Mr..
Buff upon a bed, bathed his wounds
and bandaged his head. For three long
hours the young man sat by the wound
ed keeper, who was now unconscious.
No one passed that way to give him any
assistance. Mrs. Buff was not to be
found, and Jno B. FELTON,, who lived on
the place and helped Mr.. Buff, did not
answer when called-his voice had been
forever silenced. Just before II O'Clock
horseman came over the toll-bridge,
and Mr.. Kraft got him to give the
alarm. DR.. Kendall was summoned
from Columbia, and he made the
wounded man as comfortable as posi-
BILE.
FELTON'S DEAD BODY FOUND.
Daylight came and revealed more
evidence of a diabolical crime In a
cotton patch sixty yards from the keep
er's cottage, forty yards from his own
house, which was on the opposite side
of the road from Mr. Bluffs house, and
about ten steps from the main road,
Law John FELTON,, cold in death. Under
his head was found a razor, by his side
the barrel of Winchester repeating
rifle, which had been taken out Of Mr..
Bluffs house, and in the road ten steps
away was the stock Of the rifle. FELTON,
was a medium-siZed negro about 50
years Of age. He had received a terri
BILE blow on the back Of his head and
his throat had been cut, but not in such
manner as to produce death. The
wound did not appear to have been
done by knife or razor. 1t is believed
that this cut was either caused by the
finger nails of a man who was choking
him or by a small rope which was
drawn about his neck to make him con-
fess where the money was concealed III
the keepers house.
MRS. BUFF's WHEREABOUTS.
Shortly after daylight information
was received that Mrs. Buff was at the
house of Noah Huffman, about a mile
and half over the river, in Lexington
County, and that she was in q critical
condition.
THE DAY AFTER THE MURDERS.
A representative Of the News and
Courier visited the scene of the MUIR
ders. The charred remains of bed
clothes were scattered over the yard and
feathers were flying everywhere; blood
was all over the floor and steps Of the
cottage, and where FELTON, had fallen
the ground was soaked with blood, and
pieces of wool, which had been struck
from the negro's head, were scattered
around.
THE DEADLY WEAPON.
On the steps of the cottage was found
green hickory club, two and a half
feet in length, one inch in diameter at
the smallest end, two inches at the butt,
a murderOuS WeaOOn. The butt end
was covered with blood. This club had
been used upon Mr.. Buff:
At the back of the house were found
evidences that the murderer, surprised
by Mr.. Kraft, had dashed through the
window and fallen upon mis- hands and
feet. His tracks showed that he had
sprung up and made for the railroad,
running across the cotton patch at d
high rate of speed. Judging by his
tracks, this man must have weighed
about $50 pounds, and he wore a pair
Of No. : shoes, which We're conpara-