The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1893-11-08
After SEVEN LONG YEARS
MYSTERIOUS MURDER. is REVEAL
ED BY

rno Confession of the Negro Criminal.
erred to KlIi an Old Man to Secure
Hi, Properly. The Full Story.
In Muscogee county Jail, one morning
last week, negro man confessed to one
If fine most heartless crimes that has
bopn committed in this state in long
time.
The negro is Jim Foster, of about mid
de ace. He was carried there from
Fairly county some ten days ago for safe
teeping. Not to be protected, however,
from the citizens Of the community so
much as from the anger of the men at
whose instance the crime was commit
nd, and who are going to suffer the pen
ality of the law, from the negro's comics
sion. sworn to in cell at the Jail before
Jnstice ]. M. Lennard of Columbus and
Mr., L. E. Black, the sheriff of Early
county.
About four weeks ago the readers of
The NEWS remember having read an
scconnt of the arrest of Ben and Charlie
Talifferro, charged with the the killing of
Seaborn Sheffield at Arlington, Ca, over
seven years ago.
The murder until then had been
MYSTERY but now, with the negro's con,
fesson the conviction of all the parties
under arrest would seem to be an easy
matter.
The story of the crime and the causes
which led to it's commission are now
printed correctly.
The old man Sheffield was prospectus
farmer and had two daughters. One
was married to Mr.. Ben Talifferro and
the other to Rufus Lawrence. The old
man also had an illegitimate son, whom
it was said would receive all of the old
mans properly. Sheffield had made
known his intention of willing all his
effects to this son.
The sons-in-law, according to the ne
gros afiadavit, decided to make way
with Sheffield before the will was perfect
ed. Accordingly they employed Foster
to do the killing for the sum of 500.
Foster, after he had agreed to the
murderous undertaking, attempted to
back out but the brothers-in Jaw and
3 Charlie Talifferro,a brother of Ben Talif
fewo, interposed and through threats
and persuasion compelled HIM to adhere
to his first promise.
One night abou58 o'clock the old man,
while sitting in his bed room reading,
was shot down.
The crime was so we'll covered up that
until four weeks ago it had remained
dark and unsolved mystery. The neigh
I bors had their suspicious, but nothing
could be proven and no arrests were
made. In fact there was no tangible
evidence.
Fster described to an Enquirer-Sun
reporter the way in which he went abou.
the commission OF the deed.
Old man Sheffield lived alone, with
y male servant 1t was about s O'clock
that Foster, armed with a shot gun, and
accompanied by Lewis Conner, another
negro vent to the house. The old man
was sitting by the fire reading, and the
servant was lying on the floor asleep.
Foster stole safely into the hall, pushed
the barrel OF the gun throuh the half
open door and fired, the entire load en-
ering Shefield's body, killing him in
stantly.
Foster and his mulderous companion
fled to the home of Rufus Lawrence,
where they spent the night. The muir
der created the greatest excitement in
the community and strong efforts were
& made to locate the guilt, but unsuccess-
Jul we've the attempts.
The affidavit taken by Sheriff Black in
tle Nuscogee county Jail will be used as
evidence in a preliminary hearing. Ru-
luS Lawrence has not been arrested yet
Positive and Negative.
The race question is unsettled But it
s&s u Settlpd tbat uoOI7c GarCanariIla leads