The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-05-11
FOUR CHARGED WITH MURDER.
TWO MORE ARRESTS FOR THE
KILLING OF OLD MAN MURRAY.


Ben GriswOId and Ben Graham Car
tured rs They Were Leaving Sn-
vannnh for CnrOIina-BOth Deny
Any Connection With the Crime,
Ffnney and Edwards Also Protest
Their aforementioned Excite
Inent in Beaufort County over the
Murder.
-Four negroes, who are charged with be-
ing concerned in the murder Of the old
storekeeper ". II. Murray, at Levy's
Cross Roads in Beaufort county. s. c.
are now under arrest by the police. In
addition to Stewart Finnie or Phenix and
James Edwards whose arrest by the de-
tectives and police was mentioned in yes
terday's Morning News, two more negroes
have been arrested.
The whole of Beaufort county appears
to be stirred up over the brutal murder
of Murray, and determined efforts are be-
ing made to bring the murderers to jus
tice. The information which led to the
arrest of Phenix and Edwards, was
brought to the city Sunday night by Con-
stable w. ]. Cleary. Two more consta-
bles arrived from South Carolina yester-
day in search of two other negroes, who
were believed to have been concerned in
the murder. The men wanted were Ben
Griswold and Ben Graham. who disap
peared from Levy's Cross Roads shortly
after the murder was committed.
The fact that the constables were in
search of these two men is supposed to
have been conveyed to them. Parties in
the neighborhood of the West Broad
street dock were requested to look out
for the men. Shortly before noon a tele-
phone message was received at the police
barracks, requesting that an officer be
sent to the West Broad street dock at
once. Lieut.. Reilly understood the mean
ing of the message and Mounted officer
Sandiford was sent with instructions to
lose no time. Policeman Norris and De-
teetive Barrett were telephoned to meet
Sandiford at the dock, which they did.
When the officers arrived they found
that the men who were wanted had al
ready left the dock in their boat for the
other side. A boat was secured, and the
officers put out after the suspects. They
caught up with them in Back river, placed
them under arrest and brought them back
TO the city.
The four alleged murderers were seen
at the barracks by a Morning News re-
porter. None Of them had confessed to
any connection with the crime and all
denied any knowledge of it, except such
as was gained since the crime was discov-
cred. Griswold and Graham, the two Z e.
groes arrested in the boat, stated that
they lived within two miles of Levy's
Cross Roads. When the heard of the
murder they went to the house and helped
prepare Murray's body for burial. They
left home Saturday, they said, came to
Savannah, and were returning home when
arrested. Griswold is a simple-looking
old fellow. Graham is a stalwart look
ing young black giant, with a rather for
bidding countenance, but very straight
forward in his speech. All four of the
men are in different cells.
Edwards is a large. powerfully built
man, with a rather intelligent counte-
nance. He protested strenuously that he
knew nothing of the murder. He has been
employed for several years in handling
lumber for the Georgia Lumber Company,
being in the gang of Mr.. Mack Pelot.
MIR. Pelot's books will show" he said,
that have worked for him every day
for the last eight days, and that l could
not have been I'm South Carolina when
the murder was committed"
Edwards was arrested In FrogtoWn He
was rather ugly and inclined to resist ar
rest In spite of his statement that he
was at his work here as usual on the
morning after the murder, the detectives
believe that there is good circumstantial
evidence against him. Edwards answers
the description given by the constable pre-
xrSfa t- s,es. - a..
who were seen leaving Murray's store
early on the morning of the murder
pair of old shoes was found in the
store, which are said to have been the
same that Edwards was seen to have on
the night before. In addition to this, a
pair of leather pattens. said to have been
taken from Murrays store were found in
Edwards house after his arrest. The
theory of the detectives is that Edwards
left the scene Immediately after the muir
der was committed and came directly TO
the city, arriving in time to go to his work
as usual.
Stewart Finnie or Pheuix answers the
description of the man who was seen leav-
ing the store with Edwards about the
time the murder is believed to have been
committed. Finnie said that his home
was at Levy's Cross Roads, but that he
had been in Savannah for the last eight
days. coming here before the murder was
committed.
Constable Cleary received a telegram
from Magistrate w. N. Hayward at Har-
deeville yesterday, instructing him to
have the men held until acquisitions could
be secured. IL Is believed that there were
other negroes concerned in the murder.
and efforts are now being made to appre-
bend them in South Carolina.
--s-o-s-
THE MILITARY ENCAMPMENTs.