The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-03-21
The Gayden Murder.

Last Thursday morning Robert Weeks,
believed to De implicated in the Gayden
murder, and surrendered to the police In
Charleston by his uncle, was brought here by
Deputy Sheriff Gaillard, and lodged in Jail.
Weeks, upon being questioned, told what
appears to be a straight story. He said he
and Andrews had "beaten' a ride on the
freight from the Camden Crossing on the
Friday previous, to Columbia, arriving there
about 4 o'clock p. H.; that they two went
to a Mrs. Strobel's on Washington Street and
got their supper, leaving there about 9
o'clock, and repaired to the depot, where
they boarded another freight for Augusta {:
that they reached Langley about 8 o'clock
next morning, when Andrews got of, while
he went on to Augusta that returning later
to Langley be waited there until about 6
O'Clock D. m. when he boarded a freight
going to Charleston, arriving there about 5
o'clock Sunday morning. The rest is known.
Mrs. Strobel appeared before the Coroner at
Wedge6eld Monday morning, while in this
city where she spent Sunday night. Mrs
Strobel corroborated Weeks story as 10 his
whereabouts up to about 10 o'clock Friday
night. 1t would not have been possible, if
this is the correct hour, for Weeks aud
Andrews to have reached Eastover by the
time the robbery at the depot occurred that
night. The result of Mrs. Strobel's testimony
was to effect the release of Weeks. 1t is said
that the Indictment against Andrews will also
be withdrawn for the same reason.
The deputies sent to Barnwell on Saturday
to indemnity Il man supposed to be Mcleod,
returned Sunday evening, the man not being
Mcleod.
Neither Mcleod nor Weeks nor Andrews
have been seen on this side of thu Wateree
river since the robbery of the Eastover depot,
but McLeod's coat, if it is his coat, found in
the depot, fixes the crime of robbery on him,
it would seem, but beyond that the evidence
does not go. 1t is plain, however. that Mr..
Gayden was not murdered tor his money,
because his body was not robbed after
be was shot. 1t is therefore most pro-
bable that he had arrested or had come up 90
the party or parties that shot him. Who
these were it is impossible at this time to say.
1t strikes us, however, that unless the alibi
sought to be proved by Weeks and Andrews
is sustained by u more exact and complete
story of his or their movements from supper
time Friday, until Weeks appearance iu
Charleston Sunday morning, his release is
rather premature. Did either or both of the
freight trains on the W. C. l. A. road leave
Columbia that night after 9 o'clock. This is
very important Is there a freight leaving
Columbia for Augusta at II O'Clock at night !?
Does 1t make less than eight miles an hour?
For if it took from II p. M, until between s
and 9 a. IN, to make Langley, which is not
more than seventy miles from Columbia, the
train is phenomiually slow. Why should
he and Andrews part company at Langley,
when both were going ioto Georgia, and con-
sequently. through Augusta? Why did he
also not get of at Langley when Andrews
did, if be had changed his MUD and intended
going to Charleston? Many other questions
suggest themselves, such as an explanation of
their conference with Mcleod, and the depar-
ture of all three afterwards towards Columbia?
But we suppose that if we had all the testi-
mony before US, as the Coroner did, we would
be able to answer some at least Of these ques-
tions to our satisfaction.