The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1894-02-21
MYSTERY OF THE SWAMPS.
A CHASTITY AFFAIR WHICH PUZZLES
THE CORONER.
Finding Of the D sad B od7 OF an Unknowa
White Man Nea- the Glty-Au UnavaIl-
ing Search Yesterday:

ing Search Yesterday:
! COLUMBIA, S. c., Feb. l2.-At noon
yesterday negro glri named Ellie Nav.
ers, accompanied by another named Car.
RE Jefferson, came to Police of. .e. Jones
upon t'le streets apparently very much
frightened, and told him they had walked
up the Atlantic Coast Line track from q
point about FIVE uilss from the city.
They told him that just beyond, the
.restle, at Hampton's pond, about tWeu-
ty.fVe or thirty feet distant from the
right side OF the trestle, they had found
the body Of 3 white man lying in toe
briar patch near the water. They fur.
ther stated that his pants were off, but
ne still had his shoes and other clothing
on. They said that he looked like
tramp, but had evidently been desd for
several days, Judging from the swollen
appearance OF his face. Officer Jones
notified Chief Of Police Radcliffe, and
the chief Of police forthwith notified
Coroner Roach. In a short time the
news spread over the city, and consld.
cradle excitement was caused. It was
generally supposed that the man was
one OF the desperadoes who had robbed
the houses on the Hampton place dur
ing the early portion of last week. It
will be remembered that this patty
OF desperadoes was fred into and the
general belief was that this man was
wounded and craWled off into the swamp
to die.
About 2 o'clock Coroner Roach, &C.
companied by Deputy Pollock and Dc.
Frank Green and several newspaper
men, departed in the rain to hold an in.
vestigatlon. They drove to the scene
OF the supposed trouble and began to
search for the remains of the man. This
search was very complete, and contiued
for several hours ID the pouring rain. but
although several miles of tue swamp
land was gone over by the searchers,
never trace Of the alleged dead man
could be found. Coroner, Roach, after
getting wet through to the skin, stated
that it was the first time IN his expert.
ence as coroner that hs had eyer had to
search for dead body. Heretofore, he
says, the exact location has always bsen
pointed out to him. After q search Of
about three hours, the coroner and those
assisting him fually gave up the search
and returned to the city, reaching here
at about o'clock.
Upon his return to the city Coroner
Roach who, when he left, had no fur
ther lnformaGio than that given him bY
the chief of police, sought Officer Jones
and obtained from him the Whereabo puts
and names Of that officers lnformants.
This morning the coroner will take :
charge Of these witnesses and carry them
down with him for the purpose of1ocat-
lng the body. He is determined to solve
the mystery, let it cost what it may.
he believes that the body is to be found,
and if il is not soma one will very like.
ly be made to suffer for the chase which
the officers Of the Law were compelled to
lead yesterday afternoon in the puring
down rim.
The coroner and all Others who heard
tine story OF the two women are inclined
to the belief that this dead man, about
WHO'LL Gnere Is so muca mystery at pre-
sent, is one Of the despersdoes referred
to above.
There were some very amusing Incl.
dents of the search yesterday afternoon,
and, not the least was the disappoint.
ment Of theneTspaper men, who wasted
nearly all of the day ii such a fruitless
search as was showa by the statements
made at the very damp conference held
under q dripping tree at the completion
OF the search for the purpose OF deciding
whether to return to the city Or resume
the search until darkness fell. Every
man IN the croEdgas pretty wet, and
not a single o1swished TO remain longer,
oreven accompany toe coroner back this
morning,-State.