The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1894-03-22
MURDER AT EASTOVER.
MR.. J. F. GAYoEN KILLED BY THE
THIEVES HE PURSUED.

R'chlsnd and Sumter Arou,ed nv . r,,,
3 Murder-The Interesting Story OF Gay
den's Fatal Chase after the Robbera-
Ready for Lynohine Boe.
WEDGEFIELD, Sumter County, March
lC.--Mr. j. f. GaYden, a well.known
and most popular citizen of Richland
County, who lives at EastOver, was muir.
dercd late last night near this place.
Mr.. Gayden, had taken q young lady
home from the O'Clock tram on the
Atlantic Coast Line, and was on his
way back to hiN residence whom he saw
q light in tho depot at E.stover. He
called to the person in the depOt think.
irg that it was the night watchman.
The man in the Gepot ran and MIR. Cav.
den pursued him, but could not catch
him. He aroused the whole town, but for
various reasons no ono would 20 with
him to pursue tho thief on account of tho
lateness OF the hour. Mr.. Gayden, ia a
very courageous man and determined to
pursue him himself. He said he was
going and he caught the next train. He
got eff at the Wateree Junction and moth.
ing more was heard of him until this
morning, when his dead body was found
| lying along the railroad side little dis
tance above this place. He had bull
lot in his neck and had been struck on
the forehead by heavy instru uent.
The people here were mystified, but
they knew Mr.. Gayden and telegraphed
back to Eastover. They suspected at
once that he had caught up with tho
thieves and had been murdered. There
was great excitement about Eastover
and q special coach was attached to q
| freight train, which brought large
crowd armed with shotguns and pistols
to the place this afternoon for tho pur.
pose OF searching for tho murderer.
Nothing was known as to who or where
the murderers were, but there was a do.
termination pictured on every face to
bring the murderer to justice swift aud
sure, without the formalitY Of legal
trial.
How Mr.. Gayden came to be shot is
not positively know, but the theory is
that after getting Off the train he came
, up with the robber or robbers and they
, shot Linn. The murderer fred Eve shots
at him and then jumped out of the rail-
road cut and went some distance In an
adjoining field. He came back to where
his victim lay, probably 10 300 what
damage his bullets had done. All this
, is from tracks which were carefully traced
) from where Mr.. Gayden fell. At
a certain point in tho fold the murderer
! had emptied the shells from his pistol
and left them lying there. Mr.. GaYden,
before he left Eastover, borrowed two
pistols and both of them were found on
his person. One of them was in his
hand but had not been fired. One cham
Nfx I>,rt
got it. There are two theories advanced
as to who the murderers are. One ia.
and 1t is the most plausible theory, that
o negro named John Cloud did the kill
ing.
When tho robber was In the depot
he was trying to break open tho safe.
He had pulled Of his coat and laid 1t OH
the floor, and when Mr.. Gayden called to
him he ran and forgot to tako 1t away.
1t was found there last night. and tho
negro pump hand at Eastover positlves
ly identified itas coat that he had seen
Cloud wearing abont sundown that af-
ternoon. He had talked to Cloud and
had no doubts as to the identity Of tho
coat. CloId is from Sumter, but has
been living near Eastover lately. He
has suddenly disappeared, and this In it.
self is suspicious circumstance. Some
gentlemen at this place are inclined to
believe that two white men were con.
nected with the killing. Two trsmps
and negro were seen at the junction
yesterday and they said they were go.
ing to Eastover, but would he back that
night. The tracks leading from the
place whore the murder occurred show
that the man had about q pumber 7
shoe and had high instep. The coro.
ner has been holding an inquest here to.
day, but so far the above are in substance
facts as developed.
Mr.. Gayden's body was brought to
this place and was prepared for burial.
It now lies in box car on q side track,
but will be taken back to Eastoves to
night. The crowd from Eastover that
came down are the beat citizen Of tho
community. They are qllet but deter-
mined, and should they catch tho right
man or men short work will be made of
them. Mr.. Gayden was a universally
popular man and was prominent citizen
of the vicinity. He was at ono time
county commissioner, and was postmas.
ter at Eastover when killed. Heleaves o
wife and large family. It should have
bsen mentioned before that Mr.. GaYden
knew tho direction the robber took, aud
| 9b11 10 why uo tOOh tuo LTHlu 10 OV0r--
take him. EIe carried lantern, and
this probably gave the robber tho best
opportunity to shoot with fatal effect.
The lantern was found short distance
from Mr.. Gayden aud 1t was still burn.
ing, only one shot hit him on the left side
of the neck. The bullet was 38-calibre
and went clear through. 1t was picked
up on tne embarkment this morning
covered with blood. John Cloud, the
suspected man, is about five feet ak in
ches tall and Is rather heavy set. He ia
Of dark ginger cake color, and has ono
tooth out on the right side. Telearams
have been sont TO Sumter and other
points asklng that close watch be kept
tor such man.--News and Courier,
| Tostod.
SHREvEPoRT, La, March lO.-Uni-
ted States Circuit Judge Boardmeu
presiding on q jury trial, gave iudg-