The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-09-09
A BULLET IN HIS BRAIN.
The Body Thrown I'm ROckey River
1t Kises-IS Buried-The Murders
Go Free.

Go Free.
The Savannah side where once resided the
culture refinement and wealth OF AbbeVllle
County, has been the scene of another ln-
eXcusable murder. Without either WhisKey,
anger, jealousy, or resentment, a foul muruer
was plotted and carried into effect on Satur
day night. August 18th, on the estate OF the
late James Ed dward Calhoun in this County.
A similar occurrence happened in the same
neighborhood several years ago. A whlte
man and some negroes, II Is thought. Killed
and buried negro In the "Hominy Iot on
the Savannah, and now another deed OF blood
has been enacted by a white man ana Two
negroes This last victim, like the first, was
a negro-both unfortunates were buried In
the water, with rocks attached 10 their
bodies.
In the neighborhood of Calhoun Falls lived
a bright mulatto about twenty-five years o'
age. He was born near Mount Carmel. Dur
Ing sometime in the past he was a memDer
of the bridge building gang on the q; I. ~ ~:
railway, and being capable and industrious 'is
man he had saved some money. during Ut
rest from labor, he run with 1.-THE Doys, atu
when he was in Rome, he did as the hninallS
do The "boys" about Calhoun~falls 90 ,,n aS
namely; engaae-fn 7gsases-o chance, or, m u
put In plain language, they samole n'''o VII
cards. -
1t Is presumed that this negro Coleman
1--WE did not learn his full name)-hau poasteu
of his ready cash. Son OF MS assoclates
counted the money, which they thought ne
had and which they needed in their business
Three Of them plotted or p,iehnhea me- oynars nI
COeman's wealth. The particulars OF tnls
plot or scheme Is best revealed by the STATE
ment of what followed. On the SATURDAY
above mentioned man bought rope from
Mr.. Granville Bealle, merchant, and ousin ess
manager of the Calhoun estate. or course so
innocent a purchase as that OF ploWline,
thought no more of the rope transaction
until after the bloody occurrence become
known.
The purchaser OF the rope, Coleman and
two others arranged for q game on Saturday
night. One OF the party had the rope wrap
ped in q loop over his shoulder, but Coleman
thought no more of the circumstance than 10
remark on the foolishness of a man In carry
ing around with him rope on Saturday
night.
Coleman was cheerful and light hearted.
badgering the boys as to how he ana MS
partner would beat them In the game ana
pocket the odd change of his adversarles.
All joked and everything was merry. Iney
proceeded to secluded place in the WOODS
where IL was agreed that the game should pe
played.
Suddenly and without word Of warming,
one of the party, which was composed OF Two
negroes and white man, drew ms PlStoI anu
sent ball 1hTonghh the centre E1 oe The
former agreement between the parties, was
fired by one Of the negroes. who did not hesl.
tate 10 undertake 10 be chief executioner In
Except his undershirt, the body Of the dead
man was stripped of everything. The cloth.
ing being carried away for examination oil
the pocket and for division OF the SPOTS,
small amount of ready cash, and check on
the 6, G. & n. Railway for thirty dollars was
found.
II was then to be seen that they had made
but little by their deed, and then the fear OF
detection was discussed. The body, II left
where the man was slain would soon pe dls'
covered.
The fatal shot being fired prematurely,
the difficulty in carrying out the first
intention OF throwing the body into the
river, lay In the fact that 1t was three miles
to the stream.
The body was taken to the bend in Rockey
River, which Is about halfmile from the
mouth that empties into the Savannah.
Resting there from their iatiguing task
they secured two rocks. weighing each about
legs and the other to the body-and as the
sun rose and cast its light on that holy Sab
bath morning they sought TO bury forever
from the sight Of man the evidence OF thelr
misdeed. 1t was plunged into the eddy wa
ter where it was something like ten feet deep,
and Immediately 1t sank from view.
On the fourth day after this occurrence his
The fact was reported. Half dozen men as.
sembled on the scene. The Uody was taken
out of the water and the rope was identified
as that which Mr.. 5eale sold on Saturday.
A shallow hole near the edge of the water
was dug. c.nd the slain man was cast therein,
when the earth will hold him.
And thus IL was man was slain In cold
blood. The perpetrators OF the deed could
not have hoped Tor more than from Sl5 TO S25
apiece. AS far as we have heard no effort
has been made, or will be made, 10 bring the
murderers to the bar of Justice.
The dead body was simply buried out OF
sight and it seemed that nobody desires to
punish anybody. The negroes seem not to
have sufficient civilization TO demand the
punishment Of either their own race, or
member of the other race who had done SO
badly. 1t is said that the white people Of
that section are afraid or unwilling 10 do
anything to bring the deserved punishment.
1t is a fearful condition Of morals when
men will murder for 80 small sum. and IL Is
lamentable that any community should be
willing to tolerate such lowlessness. And
this in Abbevile county in the very center
Of what was once the highest civilization Of
the up.country OF South Carolina.
Since writing the above Green Davis was
lodged In Jail charged with the crime. He
expresses willingness to turn Staies evidence
against his brother-in-law, William Elmore.