The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-07-10

branch and meadow and thicket OF woods in
the neighborhood was searched by the ex
cited porulace for while to no avail.
DISCOVERY OF A DEAD BODY.
At last the attention of some of the
searchers was attracted by large number
of buz2ards flying around a COW mire.
Upon investigation it proved that the OBJ
Jsct which attracted them was a dead COW
in the mire which had become stalled in the
mud and was unable TO get out. The sus-
plCiOns of the men were aroused. BY this
time fully 500 persons were searching for
the missing woman, from whom no tidings
could be obtained. At length the cow was
removed from the miro. An iron rake was
sunk deep into the hole, which was filled
with mud and water. a ftet several trials
the rake brought up piece of human flesh.
The crowd was Mortified. Repeated efforts
were made and at last a guanO sack was
drawn from the mud, which contained the
mutllated remains of woman
The sight was SO sickening that several
perso S tainted. The body of the woman
was so badly mutilated that it was past ali
recognition, bat no one doubted that it was
the wife of Scott Portin. The arms and
legs had been severed from the body, which
was otherwise mutilated, and the skull had
been broken in several places
Rewards aggregating 81, 900 we're offered
by the state and by private individuals for
the capture of the criminal. One man,
totally disinterested, offered 81 900 for the
capture of Portin. Once he was very nearly
in the hands of the law. 1t was known that
he was still in the neighborhood and that
he was probably sleeping in small barn.
The barn was surrounded while he was in
it. He quietly raised one of the planks in
the floor and slipped under. Strange to say,
his pursuers never thought to look under the
barn. For thirteen years he eluded pursuit
1t was supposed be was aided to escape by
his brother, who had been arrested at the
time of the murder, but had been dis
charged for the want of any evidence.
SUSPICIOUS TRAMP.
On June % tramp appeared in the town
of Selma, village on the North Carolina
railroad, just twenty five miles from the
scene of the crime The stranger attracted
no special attention except by his terrible
curses. 1t happened that there was man
by the name OF Price living IN Selma who
knew Scott Portin. The suspicious of Price
on seeing the man were at once aroused.
He locked at the stranger closely. He
asked him to show his right hand, but this
the tramp refused to do until forced to do
so, and then it was only to show the missing
joint of the index finger on the right hand,
the very same one that was missing on
Portin's right hand. The man was put
under arrest and sent to Smithf1eld jail
He pretended to be an Irishman, but his
brogue was said to be feigned. Again, it
was suggested that the murderer Portin
had a scar over his left eye. The prisoner
was examined and there was the scar. By
this time several persons had arrived who
knew Portin. Two of them identified him
at once, while two said it was a different
man.
TELL TALE MARKS FOUND.
The prisoner has been brought to Raleigh,
W ere he is now in Jail. Many people say
they positively identify him as Portin,
while others affirm it is most remarkable
case of mistaken identity. One of the most
convincing circumstances is the statement
Of a woman who said that if the prisoner
was POrtin he had a scar on his abdomen
which she had made with a knife while he
was trying to assault her. Upon examina-
ton a scar was found in the exact place de-
scribed. The faihero the murdered woman
thinks it is not Portin. The district solici-
tor, Col. L. NJ. Argo, it is reported, thinks
he has the right man. He intends to have
him taken to the scene of the crime that his
actions may be closely noted. On the whole
the authorities say IL is the most remarka-
bic case on record.
1t is said that some years ago POrtin killed
a pedler for his money, threw his body in
an old well and then ran blind horse in
the well to avert suspicion. A knowledge
of this fact induced the searchers to investi-
gate the case OF the COW being in the mire.
Portin has been supposed to be in the state
for some time, and the general opinion
seems to be that the prisoner is the right
man.