The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-08-12
SEGBORN HAYES ARRESTED.
CAPTURE OF vARNADOE'S MURDER
Err AFFECTED LAST NIGHT.

MendeI, Constable whitaker and
OtherS-NcErO SpOtter Turned the
Trick for the POsse-Hayes Had No
Chance to Resist-He Took His Ar
rest Quietly and Now Asserts That
Varnadoe Shot First aud He Only
Acted in Self Defense-This story
VIII Hardly Bear Investigation.
Seaborn Hayes. the murderer Of Motor
man Lucius B. varnadoe, was arrested
last night by posse headed by Police
Sergeant Henry ". Baughn and includ-
ing. besides Justice w. H. Mendel Con-
stable Edward Whitaker and a negro
spotter. The arrest was effected at a point
near the seven-mile post on the Ogeechee
road, at the house of Josh Butler.
So rapidly did the events by which the
arrest of Hayes was Immediately preced-
ed follow each other, that the negro had
never an opportunity to make or offer an
effectual protest Before he had time or
opportunity 60 realize that his liberty was
endangered, he was covered by revolvers
and shotguns in what must have seemed
90 him unnecessary profusion and direct
ed to throw up his hands. He submitted
to the Inevitable with a good show of
grace and seemed to be not particularly
aggrieved that he was finally under ar
RESI- and relieved of the disquieting fears
that must have been his portion since
the night of the homicide.
The negro spotter is the man to whom
credit for the arrest of Hayes is primarily
due. He seems to have been gifted in this
case with a degree of intuition, for he Sc
Iected the house of Butler as the most
probable place for the hiding place of the
murderer and, watching it from the sur
rounding woods. soon discovered that
Hayes was one OF its inmates.
This fact he communicated to Justice
Mendel and the justice in turn apprized
Sergt Baughn of the wherea bouts of
Hayes and the ease with which he could
be captured. The plan was Matched at
the station house on yesterday. and last
night it was carried into effect with to-
tai absence of delays or missteps. Had
there been a dozen rehearsals, with
Hayes himself assisting and playing his
own part, the drama could not have been
played with fewer errors
The party left the city at about 10
O'Clock. Sergt Baughn had only hrs re-
volver, but the magistrate and his con-
stable were both provided with shotguns.
The negro spotter was to enact the part
of the decoy, in carrying the plan of ar
rest into execution. and 1t was thought
best TO let him appear as harmless as pos
sible.
At the six-mie post on the
Ogeechee road, there is country
Jane that leads toward the east Buffers
house is situated about three-quarters of
a mile down this road, and quite near the
Little Ogeechee river. There is a country
church in the vicinity, but this section of
the county is but sparsely inhabited and
there as few houses.
AT 11:3O o'clock the party had reached
the house and surrounded il and the spot
Ter was sent forward to draw Hayes out
into the night. The idea was to get him
beyond the reach of help from any ac-
complies he might have on the premises
and TO prevent the possibility of his firing
from cover. The idea was to take him
without trouble and without bloodshed.
The spotter walked up to the door and
tapped upon the panel It was opened for
a few inches and he called 10 Hayes TO
come outside. II want 10 speak to YOU"
he said, and Hayes gave reluctant con-
sent. First peering out from the doorway.
to satisfy himself that the man by whom
he was accosted was alone, he came out
into the yard surrounding the house and
for few minutes talked with the spotter.
He seemed to have a premonitlon of evil,
or else his guilty fears suggested precau-
tion, for more than once he walked back
into the house and had to be drawn out
again by the use of other persuasive de-
vices.
Finally he walked several PAGES from
the doorstep and the three white men
slipped gradually closer and closer 40 him.
1t had been arranged that Justice Mendel
should blow a whistle that he carried as
signal for the onslaught. Hayes want
ed the spotter to read for him an article
that was printed in newspaper he car
ried, and as the heads of the pair were
benz over the paper. the justice sounded
the shrill blast that had been prear-
ranged.
In a trice Hayes was looking into the
muzzles Of three weapons and three stern
voices exhorted him to throw up his
hands and submit. His nerve left him in
a moment and with faltering voice he
assented. In another moment the brace