The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1891-11-11
WEDNESDAY,, NlTENsss Il, 1891.
An CGaI AIGEMi:'.

AZ CGaI AiGEMr!.
A Murderer Attempts 10 Gain Reward
BY pretented Surrender-Fraud
Charged and the Governor VIII In.
yestigate-A Sheriff Nay Lose HIS
Head.
W. L. McFail sometime ago killed
another man in Barnwell, and under
such circumstances that but little ex-
pectation was had of his being able
to procure bail should he be arrested.
In consequence he defed arrest and
kept out of the way till the Governor
offered a reward for his capture.
Then he was easily arrested, as it IS
claimed his friends wished to get this
money for paying his attorney to de-
fend him. The whole proceedings,
however, were so fasrantly. outrage
Gus that the people of Barnwell would
not stand it, and at once reported the
case to the Governor, advising him
not to pay the reward. Numerous
letters were passed on both sides,
but the two following will give the
gist of the case:
COLUMBIA, Nov. S.-Special to the News
and Courier: The McFail case has taken
quite serious turn. The following letter
to Governor Iillman and the instructions
of Governor Tillman to the Attorney Gen
eral will explain themselves:
BARNwELL, November 5, 1881.
DEAR SR:-I received Mr.. Thompklns
letter of the 4th acknowledging my letter OF
the End. suppose you received mine OF
the 3rd to-day. see by the News and
Courier of to-day that Mr. G. W. n. Will
Eams has written you letter which reflects
upon me and to which desire to reply.
It must strike your Excellency as some
what strange that Mr.. Williams is cham
pioning the cause Of his clients captor, and
is trying to aid him in recovering the re-
ward offered for his vices. He is taking 8
course. which deprives his client Of the
credit Of having voluntarily surrendered,
and grows exceedingly wrothy and severe
upon those who dispute the claims OF the
reward. All of this, too, without his name
being connected with the matter in either
Of the communications addressed to your
Excellency on the subject. Mr.. Williams
says: ''Col. Aldrich was by some means
brought into the case to assist me IN the
defense Of McFail." This language is usu-
ally employed to indicate that lawyer has
insinuated himself irregularly into case,
and have no doubt that Mr.. Williams In
tends to create that impression notwlth-
standing that he knows that consented to
assist him by the request Of McFail, his
father, and Williams himself, which writings
from each of them are in my possession and
will show that my services are purely
and entirely gratuitous.
admit that MIR. Williams is Mr.. Nc
Fails principal attorney, and as he has
shown, by his letter that my connection
with the case is unpleasant to him, ! have
severed my relations with it, as told Mr..
Williams, Mr.. McFail, and the elder Mr..
McFail would do if any attempt should be
made to defraud the State out OF the reward
in the was it way rumored it would be done,
and which has been done.
Mr.. Williams called at my house on Mon
day evening in company with. Hill and in
formed me that McFail was in the hands OF
the sheriff. asked him if he had gone to
the sheriff and surrendered himself as ad-
vised. Williams replied: 'Well, prach-
CALYPSO. Thought it better to have some
one with him coming along, as l, didn't
know what certain parties might do.
was very much pressed for time, as 1t
was salesday and had several important
land sales to attend to, and the hour OF sale
was near OF hand, and very few words pass
ed between Mr. Williams and myself.
asked him to call on me that night for a
consultation and he replied, THAT he was
going away that evening, but would see me
in day OF two.
We parted and Isaw him no more that
day or since. He remarks that said moth
ing to him about my intention to write to
YOU. I had no intention Of writing to you
then; my suspicious were aroused after
wards. Nothing can be more desplcabie
than the insinuation that wished to pre-
vent Hill collecting this reward, because
McFail is witness in another case OF mine,
nor do see what possible connection the
two things can have with each other. can
furnish you with proof as follows:
First. That McFail came to Barnweu on
Sunday night in company with Williams
and Hill, and the three stayed together at
the hotel.
Second. That in the morning Williams
and Hill wentto the sherif's house, guar
ter of a mile away, to inform him OF Nc
Fails presence in town, leaving McFall
alone at the hotel.
Third. That McFail told Probate Judge
T. O. Patterson on the morning of the sur
render that he was acting under the advice
of Williams in doing so.
Fourth. That Williams went to G. n.
Hunter, county auditor, before the surren'
der, and told him they had concluded to
give CD McFail, and wanted some friend OF
his to take him in charge and deliver him
to the sheriff and claim the reward, and
turn it oyer to McFail or Williams to pay
the expenses of his case, and that they had