The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-04-19
TEE CRIME COLUMN.
The Story of a Murder that was
Committed Years Ago.
KILLED BY MEXICAN oUTLA WIS
A Fight in Kentucky-A Reign of Terror in
Santiago de Cuba-Arrested for COM
hitting Pension Frauds.

Especial to THE HERALD = Examiner Disnatch
GAFFNEY CITY, S. c., April 1S-Samuel JEFF
ferries, an aged retired farmer and one of the
WealthieSt men of the state, was arrested last
night, charged with numbering DIR. Alexander
White, twenty-six years ago, The revelation is
most sensational one and nearly all the prom
nent people in the state are deeply interested
In IT, The story dates back to the end of the
rebellion. at that time Samuel Jefferies killed
ne1ghbor named Shelton Sparks. Jefferies. on
account OF his riches did not go to the war but
sent substitute, Sparks was conscript officer,
ana near the close of '64, attempted to compel
Jefterles to go into the army. He refused to do
so and went into the woods and hid away from
the conscript officer. Bloodhounds were put
on his track but by some mishap he never was
apprehended. Enraged at the conduct of the
conScrlpt officer, JeIerieS soon sought q diff
Guilty with him and killed his official purSuer
AZ ABOUT the close of the war when everything
was IN chaotic condition. the trial of JeflereS
1or the murder was held. Everybody was in
tereSted IN the case, and men of means who con-
demned the murder, ATTEMPTED to have justice
meted out fairly. DR.. Alexander White an in
huential physician, denounced the murder and
worked until he had obtained some damag-
ing testimony against JefferieS. This was made
known to Jefferies and his friends. At last it
was determined TO forever silence the tongue of
DR.. White by DEATH
One dark night in August, 1865. while rocking
ms motherleSS child toESleep in his county
nome, DR.. White was killed, The shot was
hred through the door. Shortly afterward the
prattllng child seeing the blood on its father
sat down and dabbed in it and covered itself
with gore until it fell asleep The murderers
of DR.. White were unknown. although suspi-
clon pointed to Samuel Jefferies and several
others. However none were arrested Soon
atterward the trial of Jefferies for the shaving
OF Sparks was held. 1t resulted in his acduft-
tal despite the fact that Jefferes was unan-
lmously condemned by the people. Since then
ne mas prospered, andis to-day a very rich man,
People who knew him declared publicly that he
rarely ever slept. and frequently saw appari-
tlons of his victims. When Dr. White was
murdered JefferieS and a man named Medlin
We're intimate associates. 1t was be-
l1eved that Medlin had either been hired
by Jel1erles to kill White or he was
an abettor in the deed. Medlin had
TO leave the state and went to Texas. There he
died some years ago. While on his deathbedhe
MADE statement exonerating. himself and de
clar1ng that JeffereS had murdered Dr. White.
His confession was kept secret by the Medlin
family. Not long ago Mediums son told the tale
related by his father This started anew the old
sensation. The prattling child who had dab
bled unconsciously in his parents ife-blood is
now man. He has secured much testimony
and has wound the coil tightly around his
fathers murderer. He is pennilesS, but he has
been aided by friends in obtaining testimony.
and the case has been successfully worked up.
When JefrleS was arrested at his home in CAT
feny City, he was SICK and is now guarded by
deputy sherifS in his room.