The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1889-06-12
DOUBLE EXECUTION.

w u OIA L-AA4S - 44O-N'
THE Brutal MURDER OF ". c. ABER-
NATHY AVENGED By THE LAW
John Feaster ana Charles colston
Hanged at Yorkville--Both Men Die
Protesting Their Innocence Of the
Crime for Which They Forfeited Their
Lives.
YoEHvILLE, June 7.-[Special to The
Register. John FeaSter and Charles
Coiston were hanged here to-day for the
murder Of ". c. Abernathy. a mer-
chant At quarter to twelve o'clock the
condemned men ascepded the Scatfold,
after which the death warrant was read.
a hynn was then sung in which the
condemned Joined. The Rev. c. {.
Piuckney (colored) offered prayer, AZ
the conclusion of which Feaster aQd
ColS;on were asked if they had any
thing 10 say Both protested their IN
noccnce, Colston claiming that the con-
feSSion he made was brought about BY
one Jack knoX. The black caps were
then dawn over their faces and their
. feet and hands pinioned. At three MN
utes to twelve the drop fell, and IN
twenty three minutes they were pro
nounced dead.
Colston was very nervous, and for a
while supported himself by holding 10
the rope. Feaster was remarkably cooi,
and died with Z smile on his face.
\. large crowd, white and colored, was
in town. but very. few outside Oh tAe
military guard and the reporters VII
messed the execution.
Feaster'S body was taken II cnarSe oy
his father and conveyed to Fairfield Tor
intermeut. ColSton'S remains were IN
tered in Potter'S Field.
HISTORY OF TIE CRIME.
On the night of the 25th OF January
last, W. c. Abernathy, a merchant 40
jnr business at Catawba Junction, IN
this County, was sitting in his store
after supper, as was his custom, MS
residence being only short distance
away. The evidence given at the triat
established the facts and circumstances
of the crime as follows: John FeaSter
and Charles Colston went into the store
6Sccnsi5,ly TO make some purchases, ana
found their victim sitting by the stove
reading a newspaper. Some heaVE
swineletrees were lying upon box near
and Just behind Mr.. Abernathy. inns
was the instrument used IN the tataI
blow. 1t did its work well, as he was
Knocked senseless at the first blow.
The murderers then proceeded 10
get what they could from the
money drawer, but their victim was
beginning to show signs OF regaln!ns
consciousness. when he was again struck
They then became frightened and ran
off. This occurred between eight ana
nine o'clock. About eleven o'clock, TWO
hours after the brutal work, Mrs. Aoer-
nathv heard some one groaning near the
front door, whereupon she got up, ana
went out to find her husband lying
there in dying condition, whittier ne
bad wandered and fallen IN his de!lrl'
Gus state. He fingered for some Gays
and died without ever regalnlnS con-
sciousness. The crime for some time
remained mystery. At last Suspicion
pointed to one Charles McNanus as
the last party who had been seen around
the store. He was arrested and lodged
in iail. Some ten days or two weeks
later John Feaster and Charles ColSton
were arrested and put i'll the guard
house at Rock Hill, the latter confessed
the crime, duplicating Feaster and
five others. The citizens were so en-
ragged that these murdererS came near
being lvnched then and there, but
wise counsel prevailed, and they were
brought to Yorkville and lodged in jail.
Some weeks after their commitment the
Sheriff was informed that an attempt
would be made to lynch them here,
whereupon they were taken to Columbia
for safe-keeping. While in the Columbia
low priS0pt. term OF tie
court they were brought back to York
vile for trial under an escort of the
Jenkins Rifles of this place. The party
to whom the confession was made IN
Columbia was the principal witness
against them. The testimony adduced
proved conclusively the innocence OF
Charles NcManuS, and no verdict was
asked for against him. The jury, after
remaining out five minutes, brought in
verdict of guilty, and Judge Frazer
passed upon them the sentence Of death.
John Feaster, alias Henry Will
iams, was born in Fairfield County
little more than thirty-six years
ago. He had to leave his home in that
County on account of the commission of
several crimes. He next turned up in
Lancaster County, and TWO years ago
found employment with one Of the con-
tractors Of the Three C's Railroad. He
was notorious character, and was old
in crime.
Charles Colston was born in Stanly
County, n. c., and was about 2S years
of age. he, came to this County about
year before the commission of his
crime, and also found work on the same
railroad. 1t is reported that ne bore 4
good character at his former home.
The crime for which they paid the
highest penalty of the law was a most
brutal one. and it deprived widow and
five small children Of their support and
protector.