The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-02-06
A MURDERER OF MANY.
TIE raAN WHO WRECKED TIE ".
N. C. FAST MAIL CAUGHT.


The Clever Work o. a Negro De
tective-A Large Part of the Plum
der Recovered.
The man who wrecked the fast mail on
the Western North Carolina railroad near
Statesville Aug. q last, by which twenty
three persons lost their lives and number
of others were more or less seriously injured.
is under arrest at Charlotte, n. C. lie is a
negro Damed John Boyd, and he has made
a full confession of his crime.
The pitching Of the Western North Caro-
lima train over the trestle is well remem-
bered as the most terrible railroad accident
that ever occurred in this section OF the
country.
Supt. V. f. McBee Of the Central rail-
road has spent a considerable portion Of
his time for the last several weeks
in North Carolina and the fact of his being
there so long has been a matter of wonder
to those having business to transact with
him. 1t only leaked out a few days ago
what caused his frequent and lengthy visits
TO North Carolina.
KEPT FROM THE NEWSPAPERS.
Though the arrest of Boyd was made sew
erel days ago and the officers have been
working up the case for over a month, the
matter was kept very quiet, and the news
papers have been kept entirely 10 the dark
MORNING News reporter heard yester-
day that Supt. McBee was III the city with
the implements with which the rails were
thrown out and the wreck caused, and also
q quantity Of valuables recovered from the
wreck. This, however, proved untrue.
Supt. McBee is still in North Carolina but
an account Of the arrest Of the train wrecker
and the manner in which the crime was
Of
his office.
Supt McBee recovered the crowbar.
wrench aud spike litter with which the rail
on the bridge was pried out of place, there's
by causing the wreck. He also secured
81 800 in money and about twenty-five
watches which the thieves had plundered
from the passengers. The motive for the
crime was robbery pure and simple.
BOYD SUSPECTED.
Soon after the wreck occurred suspicious
were directed against Boyd, who had made
his appearance an Statesville few days be-,
fore the wreck occurred. On the day Of the
wreck he drove the bus of the Statesville
hotel to and from the depot.
He disappeared that night aud nothing
could be heard from him. The Richmond
and Danville Railroad Company promptly
offered $4,000 reward for the arrest of the
parties who caused the wreck with proof to
convict. Probably City detectives set to
work to discover the guilty parties and
secure the reward, but all Of them were I'M
successful
Boyd was finally discovered in jail at
Charlotte, n. G.. where he had been placed
for stealing a COW shortly after the wreck
occurred. While there was strong reason
10 believe that he knew something about
the wreck there was no positive evidence
against him.
NEGRO DETECTIVE WORKED HIM.
negro detective was placed in Jail with
Boyd where he could have free access to
him. The detective confided In Boyd that
he had been arrested for train wrecking
and proceeded TO detail some of his crimes.
Boyd in return confessed to the detective
the wrecking of the train at Statesville.
The confession was listened to GU side the
cell by the sheriff and Detective Haney of
Atlanta.
Boyd told how be had planned the wreck.
and how with two assistants he had gone 10
the bridge on the fatal night, pried the rail
ont OF place and awaited the coming of the
train. TLey were the first to rush to the
scene after the wreck, ostensibly to render
assistance, but really to plumber both the
living and the dead. The wrecker said he
aud bis companions secured a considerable
quantity OF money aud jewelry.
Boyd told where his plumber was secreted
and where he had hidden the tools with
which he had executed his devilish work.
They were found exactly as he had described.
thus establishing conclusive evidence of his
guilt.
SUPT. M'BEE CONFRONTS BOYD.
BOYD did not know that his crime was
known to any one outside the Jail, surprising
his confidant to be what he had represented
himself to be. When Supt. McBae
faced Boyd and began telling him some
thing about himself the negro was sur
prIsed and terror-stricken to find that Supt.
McBee was better acquainted with his past
history than he was bimsef almost
The superintendent proceeded to give him
detailed account of his actions up to the
time Of the wreck, some of which Boyd
acknowledged, and some Of which he denied
Then he recounted the story of the wreck
as Boyd had narrated it TO the negro de.
tective.
The wrecEer denied it point by point until
Supt. McBee said:
You came across an old man pinioned in
his berth and started to take his watch and
when be tried to prevent you, you started
to cut his throat, but YOU were scared off.
He had long black whiskers.n
mo, they we're white whiskers," excitedly
exclaimed Boyd.
He then saw that be had committed him
self and broke down and confessed his
crime TO Supt. McBee corroborating his
previous story TO the negro detective.
BOYD IDENTIFIED.
To complete the case the railroad com
paDy sent to New England for the old gem
tleDan who came 30 near having his throat
cut by Boyd IN the wreck, aud had him
come to Charlotte He was taken to the
Jail and picked Boyd out as the man from a
number of other prisoners. Even if BOYD
should go back on his confession there Will
be no difficulty now in establishing his
guilt.
Supt. McBee is now in North Carolina
following up the case. Search is being made
for Boyd's accomplices. The people of the
Western North Carolina and railroad men
generally are very much inceused against
the train wrecker, and if given an oppor-
tunity would be glad to take him out and
roast him by slow FIRE. Hanging, they
say, is too good for him.
The opinion is advanced that the strong
est possible defense will be made for BOYD.
Suits for over 100000 damages have been
entered against the Richmond and Danville
by the relatives Of the persons killed and the
survivors Of the wreck. If Boyd is proved
guilty of wrecking the train the railroad
will be relieved Of its liability for the loss
OF lives and the personal injuries received
in the wreck. Consequently, it is to the
interest Of the suitors to prove Boyd's limo,
cence If possible, as their suits are based
upon the negligence Of the company, The
company cannot be held responsible for the
deliberate act of a person having no con.
pectiou with il That Ia the oninior baid