The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-05-18

John v. Watt and Jane Brun were married.
watt soon began TO take an interest in the
affairs OF his father-ln-laW.. AS the practice
OF DR.. Brnn was large, and his son was on at
school, the management OF the farm was
turned over to the son-in-law. Every thing
went on pleasantly for near year:
"Several years before the marriage OF his
daughter, DR.. Brun fell heir to a large legacy.
The exact sum do lot know. BY some IL
was said TO amount to ten thousand dollars.
Othels said II was more. and others said "
was less For several years DR.. Brun had
been storing away his cotton until the price
would rise. This cotton was sold and the pro-
ceeds, together with the legacy, whatever It's
amount, put into the hands of Watt for the
purpose of paying for some properly which
DR.. Brun had lately purchased, either In Col
umbia or Charleston. Watt kissed his wife.
bid her good-by, mounted his horse and was
not heard OF for ten years. Dillgent search
senger was sent to Virginia. but no such man
was known by any one either In Richmond
or Petersburg. or in the surrounding coun-
try; ,,,, ,-uo 49,, >, o,,,,.,oa .,. .c.,
tain, "a most atrocious murder was commit
ted In the State OF Alabama. These were the
circumstances: In certain neighoorhood
there lived 8 widow Smith and her two
daughters, both about grown. She was pos
sessed OF a large pi operty. In the same COIN
munity about Two miles distant there lived q
man by the name OF Hiram Jones, who had
married the daughter and only child OF a
widow lady by the name OF Alexander.
These two families, although not related. hnd
for many years been very Intimate and fre-
queptly visited each other.
One afternoon Of the Summer OF lS4S Mrs.
Smith mounted horse and rode TO the home
Of Hiram Jones for the purpose of spending
the afternoon with Mrs. Alexander and her
daughter, Mrs. Jones. About the middle OF
the afternoon 1t began to rain and rained
hard and long. Near midway between the
two families there was q large creek, the
name OF which Captain Dillson had forgotten.
and by that Time the creek was impossible.
Mrs. Smith was anxious TO return home.
but Mrs. Alexander, Jones and bis wife all In.
sisted on her remaining until morning. An
hour after sunset negro was sent to the
creek for the purpose OF ascertaining whether
or not 1t could be crossed. The negro return
ed and reported that the creek could not be
crossed before midnight. Mrs. Smith insist
night and then go home, giving as her reason
for this the fact that her daughters were en-
tirely alone except the negroes. the overseer
having gone to visit his father In addition
to th is she stated that there was, In the house,
In bed room Of her daughters, large sum OF
money which had been paid her few days
before. The family she was visiting insisted
that she 60 TO bed and thut at the break OF
day she should be sent home. Reluctantly
she yielded to their persuasion, went 10 bed,
but could not sleep.
During the afternoon that Mrs. Smith was
visiting at the house Of Hiram Jones u gentle
man called at the gate OF Mrs. Smith and
asked permission OF her daughters TO remain
until the rain ceased. This gentleman had
through the west. On the previous night his
horse had died and he had carried. his saddle
and saddle bags on his shoulders during the
day and was very much fatigued.,
The rain continued 10 fall In torrents. When
the traveller, whose name Captain Dillson
could not remember. saw that further pro.
Yrcss was cut off for the day, he asked the
young iadies-Mrs. Smiths daughters the
privilege Of spending the night with them.
With some degree OF reluctance the request
was granted.
At an earley hour the traveller asked TO be
shown to the room In which he was to spend
young ladies that, should they need his as.
sistance at any time In the night, he would be
pleased II they would call on him: The
young ladies' thanked him and agreed 10 ac-
cept his aid In case or an emergency.
The stranger was shown his room and the
young ladies went 10 their own.
The dwelling was large tWo story strnc'
ture. Through the house there was Wide
imediately to the right was the door entering
the parlor. On the left and directly opposite
the parlor door was the door opening into the
family sitting room. Parallel to the sitting
her daughters. The stairs began just at the
side OF the parlor door most distant from the
front door, and, Instead Of banlstering, the
stairway was closed In with ceiling on both
door.
The room assigned the traveller for the
night was over The parlor. During the night
he WAS aroused by shrek. He raised him
self up In his bed and listened that he might
be able to learn from whence the noise came
Soon he heard another shrek Of terror.
Trembling for his own safety and for the
safety OF the young ladies be grasped his pis-
noise as possible. SO soon, however,, as he
opened the door OF his room he saw through
the stair door, which had not been closely
shut, light. Softly as he possibly could,
his way down 10 the foot Of the stairs. On
partially opening the stair door he discover.
ed that the light proceeded from either the
sitting room or the young ladies' room. On
with a candle search ing drawer OF q bureau.
The stair door which the traveller had open
ed fell back and made noise: This attract
ed the atten ton OF the man who was search.
the IRA seller he seized u large knife, all red
with blood, und rushed like demon at the
traveller, who raised his pistol and fired and
the man, with the bloody knife In bis hand,
TELL The traveller Immediately began 10 call
the ladies, but receiving no answer rushed u
the frOot door and began TO Gull the negroes
on the place. Soon the yard was full OF ne.
groes. The traveller stated what he had
room where the dead man lay they all ex.
claimed, that IL Mr.. Hiram JONES' On enter.
ing the bedroom or the young ladies they
were both found with their thrOats cut and
although not dead, unconscious and rapidly
dying"
Immediately negro was sent TO make
the sad announcement 10 Mrs. Smith, ana IN
some respects NO less sad, ~ Mrs. Alexander
and her daughter.
By day light the terrible tragedy had been
published all over the country. The sheriff
he county was sent Ior, nnd before ten O'CLOCK
In the day hundreds OF people had assembled.
The traveller narrated the facts In the case
and surrendered himself 10 be dealt with &C
c0rding 10 law.
or after the creek had fallen, Hiram Jones
had crept out OF bed from beside his wife and
child and gone 10 the house OF Mrs. Smith,
murdered her two daughters and, ut the time
he was shot was engaged IN ransacklng the