Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-02-12

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had either been made with mans fist, or
a stick or bludgeon.
The foregoing consists only Of the OBJ
vious facts that were patent to everybody.
There was nothing in them, however, to
indicate any motive for murder or any
clue to the identity of the murderer. Peo-
pie who were acquainted with the sur
rounding conditions had well formed
opinions but so far there was not WORD
of proof. 1t was not until after the read
ing of the letter and notes that were found
upon the body Of the murdered man that
the first signs of tangible evidence began
to be unraveled.
The letter with the Blacksburg post
mark, as the only means of identity,
started out with reference to some
business matter between the writer and
the recipient. In it was enclosed a receipt
for IS of $40 that was acknowledged to be
due. The name of the payer, who was
evidently the writer, was left blank, and
there was an explanation to the effect that
if the recipient of the letter would sign the
receipt and return it to the writer, the
writer would forthwith send IS. 1t was
evidently the intention Of the writer to
insert the name of the payer after the
receipt had been signed and returned TO
her possession. There was mention OF
the fact that the other IS would be paid
after this transaction had been settled.
Then the letter went on to deal with
sentiment. The writer Of the letter ex-
pressed undying regard to the recipient,
and pledged herself to be to him as she
had been before; but it could not be now.
Then she went on to bewail her condition,
saving that she had long since lost the
respect of everybody, lost respect for
everybody and for herself, and gently
chided him as the author of her woes. 1t
was intimated that they had been ac-
ouainted since girlhood. In the copy OF
the letter from him to her, there was an
intimation that he was very anxious TO
come to Blacksburg, and in her letter she
implored him not to come.
1t was the two notes that threw the
most light on the subject. Both OF them
were written in Blacksburg, and in answer
to notes previously written by Williams.
One of them said in effect: Don't come
over, I am sorry it is so; but 1 cannot
see you now. 1t won't do. / swear Will
see you and that soon; but for my sake
and your sake don't come now. Myself
and Foster both have the measels." The
other note ran something like this: mo,
I am not too unwell to talk; but don't
come. 1t will not be safe. If, however,
you think it necessary to come, make
yourself known, and come in the daytime.
Do not come at night. 1t will not be safe."
There was no signature to either one OF
the notes; but they were of the same
as the letter, and the refer
ence to "Foster''-a little daughter Of
Mrs. Anderson's-and herself being sick
with measles, left no possible doubt as to
who was the author. The whole situation
to look clear.
Mr.. Jack Williams, brother Of the de-
ceased, reached Blacksburg on Friday
morning and took charge Of the body,
which he conveyed to Tunnel Hill, Ga.
Before he left, he employed N. w. Har.
din, ESQ.,, to represent the State in the In
vestigation, which was made by Trial :
Justice Camp, acting coroner, and jury
of inquest composed as follows: D. ID.
CASTOR, foreman Jas. D. Wilson, A. M.
Dover, NJ. F. Duncan, j. s. Lucas, j. r.
Smith, A. Urquhart, ]. w. Rhyme. j. F.
Cline, J. NJ. Allison, Geo. w. Moore and
D. L. Brown.
The inquest was commenced on Friday
and was continued until Mon
day afternoon. A great mass Of testimony
was taken. A great deal of it was irrele-
want, and for the sake of brevity, it is only
necessary to print that which seems most
directly to the point. The most impor-
tant testimony seems to be that of Miss
Mary Farington, highly respected maid
en- lady, who works for Mr.. D. L. Brown
as milliner, and boards with Mr.. G. M.
Moore, just across the street from where
the shooting occurred, and little closer
to the houses of Mr.. Reese and Mrs. An
derson. Her testimony, though not in
her exact words, is put in the first person
for reasons of clearness, is about as fol-
"About 9 o'clock Thursday night, I was
sitting in my room reading. I heard a
pistol shot. 1t was followed shortly after
wards by two more shots. I looked out
and saw two men walking down the street.
They were just opposite the residence Of
Mrs. Roberts. I heard one of them, in a
low subdued. tone, say "Hush" Then
the two men went on, one going into the
residence of Mr.. Reese, without knocking
or striking light. am certain that this
was Mr.. Reese. The other went to the
door of Mrs. Anderson's house and in
nervous tone of voice asked to be let in.
The door was opened from the inside, and
by the light that came through the aper-
ture, am certain that I recognized Dan
Luckie. IA brother of Mrs. Anderson.]
In the meantime, after the shooting, I
saw Mrs. Anderson's window shutters
move from the inside. After the men
went into the houses, heard struggling
noise that sounded as if it were opposite
the residence of Mrs. Roberts. I after
ward went over there and saw the body Of
the deceased lying near where 1 thought
I heard the struggles"
Mr.. Reese testified that he had spent the
evening, from to to 8 o'clock, at the
residence of Mrs. Anderson. He went
home at 8 o'clock and threw himself on
his bed with his clothes on. He had BEEN
here 10 minutes, perhaps, when he heard