The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-03-14

Murder of j. r.. Gayden.


On last Friday night Mr.. ). E. Gayden,
postmaster at Eastover in Ricbland County,
was shot and killed within a few. hundred
feet of the depot at Wedgr6eld. The circum-
stances of the killing, so far as they have been
developed, are us follows: Mr.. Gayden bad
driven lady friend from Eastover to her
home, she having arrived on the $40 train
of the Atlantic Coast Line, and was returning
homeward when, as be passed the depot, he
saw therein light. Thinking that the per-
son carrying it was the night watchman,
Mr.. Gayden hailed, and the person ran out,
pursued by Mr.. Gayden, who failed to over
take him. MIR. Gayden gave the alarm,
and aroused the town, purposing 10 follow
the tibet, who bad fed in the direction OF the
Wateree river, taking the rairaad. No one
would accompany him, it being then near on
to midnight, but Mr.. Gayden determined,
very unwisely, to 60 alone in pursuit.
Boarding freight train he go off at Cam
den Crossing, and there all trace OF him was
lost until Saturday morning when his dead
body was found by the side of the railroad,
short distance from Wedge6eld station, with
SO calibre pistol ball through his neck, and
wou1d on his forehead apparently inflicted
by heavy implement, as club or stick.
lantern be had carried was lying near him
still aligh,, and his pistol, undischarged, was
in his band Evidently be had been shot
from an ambuscade Shots, seven in num-
Der, were heard by some of the people of
Wedge6eld and Eve empty shells were found
at certain point in an adjoining field, where
the murderer had emp,ied and reloaded his
pistol 1t WAS in a Gu, that the shooting
occurred, and the tracks Of the assassin
were found leading to The point in the field
as mentioned, from which they led back
again to where bis victim lay. He had
evidently returned 10 see wha: effect bis shots
bad had, and had taken the railroad, after
viewing the result. Here the trial ended.
1t is copjeciured that Mr.. Gayden had pro-
badly arrested one or more of the robbers,
and had been shot by them, or by the third,
for, as will appear, there were probably three
persons concerned.
WHO DID THE KILLING.
The man who was in the depot at Eastover
at the time Mr. Gayden hailed, was eDdeavor-
ing to break opeu the agents safe. He left his
coat on the floor when he ran This coat
was Unidentified by the coored pump minder
at Eastover as the property of John McCloud,
who is Sumter negro, though living a,
Eastorer lately McCloud has disappeared
from Eastorer and is not in Sumter, which
is suspicious. 1t is said that two white men
and negro were seen ut the Camden Cross
ing on Friday, who Stated that they were
going to Eastover, but would return that
night. 1t is surmised that these may be the
guilty parties.
These three men were Robert Weeks, Robert
Andrews and John McCIeud. They went
towards Eastover on Friday evening, but
they have none Of them returned home, and
none or their relations know where they are.
Since then, as stated below, Robert Weeks
has turned up in Charleston, and is now held
by Chief Martin. These circumstances, taken
in connection with the finding of McCloud's 5
coat in the depot at Eastover, are, certainly:
very suspicious, and indicate the probability
that the officers of the law are on the right
track In addition to The above, it
is said that John McCoud, who is an old
penitentiary bird, had in his possession 3S
calibre pistol.
When the body was discovered at Wedge
field, teiegrams were sent to Eastorer stating
the fact of the killing, which produced great
excitement, and brought to Wedgeaeld. Satur-
day morning. a number Of Mr.. Gayden's
friends heavily armed, whose plain purpose it
was to lynch the guilty party or parties, had
he or they been apprehended. After remaie-
ing several hours, and ascertaiung the state
of the case, this party returned to Eastover on
the Train which left here NJ $50 Saturday
nigh, for Columbia. 1t is "A subject of sincere
congratulation that no lynching occurred,
for however foully Mr. Gayden was murdered,
that fact furnishes 20 excuse whatever for a
further violation of law in civilized commu.
nifty wherein adequate machinery exist for ad-
ministering justice.
On Sunday, Mr. Ben Weeks, go long fore
man at tine Sumter Cotton Mills, butfor some
nephew, Robert Weeks, who had arrived in
thai city early Sunday morning, and had
gone to his uncle's house, and delivered him
to Chief Of Police Martin, stating that as The
young man had been suspected of being i'm
plicated in the murder of Mr.. Gsyden, he
preferred to place him in Chief Martins
care This fact was communicated to Trial
Justice Moseley, at Wedge6eld, who had been
conducting the inquest, and he replied, re-
questi, Capt Martin TO hold Weeks IN
Safety and SecluSl0n.
PARTIES IN PURSUIT.
Sunday evening party of gentlemen came
here from Eastover, having heard that per-
sons on the Government dredge in Wateree,
had seen three men u boat going down the
river on Sunday morning answering the de-
scription of the parties wanted. Genera!
Manager MilIard Of the c. S. & n. gave them
y engine and coach 10 ro aS far as the Santee
bridge on bis road, with e view 10 intercept
ing them Several men from Sumter accom-
panied this party, arriving at the bridge by 9
o'clock, and remaining all night, the parties
sought not having passed that point. The
Eastover aud Gumter men returned on Mon
day, having spent wretched night in the
storm, unprotected from the rain and wind.
They left guard at the bridge and others
have gone out on both sides of the river to
look for the supposed assassins. Mr. F. II.