The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1891-10-27
e,. to be Hong.

Wednesday ofthe murder of Ell M. Fore
on January 10, 1885, and sentenced by
Judge Izlar to he hanged on Friday, the
18th day of November proximo. The
trial was IN many respects the most re-
markable ever had in Marion County
and excited more interest and feeling
than perhaps any trial had in Eastern
U Carolina In many years.
When EdFore was killed it was I0t
supposed that he, quiet, peaceable as he
was, had an enemy in the world. Such
being the case 1t was impossible for his
friends and the public generally to fix
upon any theory as to i6S7p he came to
Bs death, or suspect a motive on the
part OF ,iny human being for the perpe-
tration OF the crime, aud his death was,
therefore, attributed to accidental
causes.
All suspicion of foul play was lulled
into inactivity. Days, weeks, months
and even years rolled by, and still the
guilty parties remained In security. But
thunder will out" 1.-THE damned spot
willlnot rub out" William Somersc
The bold, cunning hireling on Ed Fore's
plantation, lulled into security by an I'M
~suspecting public, became holder and
holder in his conduct. With nothing to
recommend in personal appearance, and
with only the manners and mind of an
ordinary negro, in some ~unaccountablc
way he managed, before the death of his
victim, to insinuate himself into the
good graces of the wife of his employer,
n strange to say events proved that
II possible she vas more in love with
him than he with her. Before Fore
died 1t camo to his ears that Somerset
in his absence wns taking too many lib.
critics with his household, but noble mar
that he was he refused to listen to the
ISLANDERS that were being whispered
about IN connection with the woma
whom he had vowed at the altar to
'love, honor and defend," and the out
side public knew nothing of what was
going on or was suspected.
Somerset continued to work on the
place. Peter Godbold, an old colorcd
hireling on the place and whom Mr..
Fore regarded as n Of the trusty dark
les Of the olden time, warned him of
Sonerset's conduct. Somerset's next
move then was to get rid of old Peter,
and he cunningly got Mr.. Fore to sus-
pectlng Peter OF having committed some
offence, for which he was elected from
olls o plSLuloCos ANU iCollCloCV uo-
sisted the constable in eiectipg him.
River. But Mr.. Fore became more
increasing vigilance caused Somerset to
the way. Monday morning, January
tious time to commit the bloody act.
Mr. Enrp nyuroI n ,1oon al NVtrrinc1c
Landing on the river. To reach 1t he
The road was in q terrible condition and
encompassedo on either side with marshes.
thick underground and the low, flat
s'slash" land. At the time he was en-
gagged in hauling lumber to his river
place to make some improvements there
ON in tho way of buildings.
About sunrise on tho morning Of the
10th Somerset came up TO the Fore's
house and asked for him. One Russell
Berry was engaged at the time loading
told that MI. Fore was in the house
warming brick to put TO his feet to pro-
tect him from the extreme cold oithe
day. Upon getting such information
Somerset Immediately left and went in
ChC tukCCGpOu IllC wagon was W ~, uhiN
was about one hour ahed of it. He was
not seen about the place that day anT
more until late in the afternoon. Mr..
Fore started and reached what is known
as Balary Marsh Causeway in the
"Slashes." The causeway is only abou;
eight feet wide and flanked by a wide
ditch on each side, which vas then
about two feet deep in water. On that
oo,onyuou NJ, ISo,o u,oo rD,,,,l o1,nSt II
o'clock leaning against his wagon an1
his team standing perfectly quiet in tho
road. There was a deep indentatlon O
the skull on the right side ofthc head
apparently made by an aye from behind
MIR. Charles Haselden's house, but never
spoke after he was found.
From that time forward Somerset con
tipued to live on the place and to man
ageit, as if it belonged to HIM. He as
sumed more authority I'VE it than any
n else. 1t Is said that he even ate al
the widows table with Ed Fore's chill
dren, and slept a good deal of his time
holder and holder, and finally became
q stencil to the whole community
Somerset received numerous warnings
!" thO uOlSlnDOlIlOOu W CCdoC is
lecherous conduct, but to no avail.
Finally it became intolerable, and ar
incensed body of citizens had him taker
up under a %pretensive warrent, and ar.
rested by constable. The intention
evidently was to lynch him, and stait
old Marion County would have beer
stained by a first-class iynehing if By
some mean Somerset had not escaped
from the constable III charge Of him
He fled then to Columbia. whittier his
infatuated paramount followed him. That
was about two years ago. The wretchet
woman, however, came back last year
for q few months, and Somerset slipped
back several times to see her. About
the first Of the present year she wen
back to Columbia, where they were liv'
ing when Somerset was arrested ant
brought to Marion.
1t is unnecessary to further relate the
sickenlng details of his career since the
death ofEd Fore. A motive was at lasi
found for the crime, and as time wore
on Somerset, in his supposed security
began to let drop hints as to the cause
OF Mr.. Fore's death and to threaten Other
people with a like fate should they gel
in his way. Various quasi acknowledge
monts oflthe crime made by him at diff
ferent times were proven by many wit
Lnessesy and The web of clrcumstantla'
E. ouiJnnAa lonon to ,ynaua ;Ioo1f arornf