The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1903-07-10

father he expressed the opinion that
one OF the Evans negroes had COM
mitted the crime. The child, Ruby,
who was wounded, surprised the peo-
pie who quickly assembled ut the
house, by her actions, and it was
found after some Investigation that
she was running about the house try
ing to find an old pistol that she might
kill, as She said. her fath,r's slayer.
Mrs. Phillips was in such condition
Of nervous prostlation that the entire
village sat up to nurse and care for
her and try and save her husband who,
it seems, was the greatest favorite In
the town, and much respected because
OF his valiant service during the war.
A MAN OF IRON.
DR.. G. II. Abels, who was called In
to examine the wounds OF the old SOL
dier, said that lie could live but q few
hours and when night came Tuesday
and the old man was Still alive no one
could understand 1t. The doctor said
that it was simly his wonderful con-
stitution that had kept him alive, and
that beyond the perad:enture or Il
doubt he would die before morning.
That he had lived us long as lie had, !,
the physician said, was one OF the
most remarkable things that he had
ever encountered in his practice but
at the same time pointed out that the
old man had Il constitution second to
none that lie had ever known TO
hear out this statement Dr. Abcls
pointed to the arm dangling ut Mr.
Phillips side. 1t was almost shot
away at the battle of Deep Water,
Va, and has since hung practically
by the skin. every connection with
the bone below the shoulder having
been severed. Then again, said the
magnificent physique of the old man
was illustrated by Ills family which
has numbered two wives and 10 chill
dren, l3 Of whom are living. All this
was known to the village people and
the farmers for miles around, and
they watched and waited around ttc
bed Of the old man, hoping against
hope that In some miraculous way his
| life would be spared. 1t was first
warm weather that the county has
known this year and the house was
open SO that any one in the village
could come and 20 at will and wit
ness the dea tn struggle Of the veteran
who lay dying by the hand Of a mis-
creant negro. There may have been
thought OF other things through the
long, long dreary watch Of Monday
uight but there was no action.
WHERE IS THE sIURDERER?"
1t was on Tuesday morning, when
all hope Of Mr.. Phillips life was given
up that the leading men began to
consider the ACCESSIBILITY Of trying to
ascertain the name of the assassin
an assassin Of a character that made
the whole community rcck with hor-
ror. Then the Phillips boys and 9TH
crs began to put two and two together
and two together and recall that they
had heard that Evans had beep max
ing threats. 1t was brought to mind
,tl.a t. tho two negro bIUdiIurs lIau lriaue
the sthrca.ss and that they had not
been seen about the place since Satur-
day. Inquiries were made and it was
learned that they had both been seen
near the dam across the railroad from
the village, armed with two guns. A
| prominent citizen or the town sent to
Bamberg and got Some bloodhounds
that bell ng to the chaingang there.
They were put on what was supposed
to be the trail but the ground was so
dry that they could do nothing. Fur
thcr Inquiries were made and the con-
fession was forced out of negro that
he had seen the two black dcspera-
does hiding behind the dam with their
guns. The men who obtained this
confession are two of the most prom
inent citizens in the whole communi-
.ty and their word could not be gain
said. But every one wanted to, snake
sure and nothing was said in public
because it was known that the young
farmers in the vicinity were angry,
and not inclined to wait for tile slow
process Of the law. Several of them
finally determined to get evidence
themselves, and they went to the
Phillips house and began to pry
around the premises for some. clues
that would lead them to make arrests.
VERY LEADING CLUE.
The very dry ground that had
thrown the hounds Off the scent helped
the young farmers. Near the Phil
lips house they found the tracks of
two negrOes--negrocs presumably for
the reason that all Of the race living
in the immediate vicinity, even to
the educated Evans brothers wore a
peculiar shoe shat was bought at one
store in the village. They followed
these tracks across the cotton field
and on TO the dam. There other
tracks were found, leading across tile
road and over the cotton ffeld--,a
nearer way to the Phillips house hold.
Coupled with the story or The man
who had seen the Evans boys hiding
behind the dam with their guns this
was deemed sufficient evidence to ar
rest Charles, the other brother hay-
ing disappeared. He was taken with.
out great difficulty not far from his
home and the spirit Of bragadocio
with which he denied his guilt did as
much to arouse suspicion az the tell
tale tracks across the fields. Further
inquilies developed the fact that It
was only half an hour before the
tragedy that the Evans's were seen
hiding behind the dam.
THE FIEND JAILED AT. LAST.
ChaS. Evans WAS lodged In the guard
house early Tuesday morning and the
news began to spread around the
ncighborhood. The crime was not dis
torted. not exaggerated, ministers and
Otbpr pnminont oitiyaY G On if FI,,,ac,rl., =,