The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-12-14

Hughes would suspect him Of q tendency TO.
wards suicide, much less the more horrible
crime involving bis family's GENERALIZATION
He had his peculiarities like other men and
now that he is dead, mysteriously dead, there
are persons who can recall what they now
say were recent actions more peculiar than
were usually noted In his conduct. But this
may mean nothing It Is known that bis
family life was happy, though be had his
share OF trouble and worry, his wife having
been on to Baltimore within the year for
treatment. That he was hard pres ed for
money or anything OF that sort was not
imagined as on the contrary he was supposed
to be prosperous-and that was his condition
In truth SO far as Is now known.
A PEACEFUL n
Hardly 200 yards from where the tragedy
occurred there Is almost completed an ornate
and attractive dwelling which Mr.. Hughes
was building and into which the family ex-
peoted to move in the next few days. the
house they were living in was merely their
temporary residence until this other should
be finished. The new house IL directly In the
rear of this store, a general merchandise es-
tablishment such as one sees In the average
South Carolina town of this size. Here Mr..
Hughes did a good trade among his neighbors
OF this excellent, prosperous and progressive
community. Across the road-or street.
from the destroy ed house lies a fertile and
valuable stretch OF land belonging either 10
him or TO. his wife. Two doors from the
burned house and just across the street from
ln6 lew uWcllluk 10 kuO uuueuoilJ
nome OF bis brother, Mr.. Steven Hughes, one
ofthe best and most substantial men not
only In this section but In all Edgeheld
county.
The Hughes family and that OF Mrs. Hughes,
the Millers. embrace a connection as SUBJ
%stantial, as respected and as refined as any 10
the borders OF South Carolina. The sorrow
and the horror which this mystery has
brought upon them can not be told in cold,
unfeeling type, and the Giro umstances make
the relation OF the facts a sad and undesired
duty.
This afternoon, just as the December sun
was beginning 10 sink In all Its chill
splendor. four caskets we're carried from the
destroyed homo TO the little Baptist church
where these good people had worshipped GOD
in the purity Of mind and heart which He
gives to His elect. In this congregation the
father had been the consistent and unassum-
ing member while the good works OF mother
and daughters will live after them. NO bel.
ter woman was known to Trenton than she
who had trained up her girls SO that every
one In the village mourns their death. To-
t hGrr SNus .ne yb 1ener ,he WIN had 1s So ceru tout al
tended, and the four bodies will DO buried at
EheneZer cemetery.
Whatever one may think or be forced to be-
lieve as probable, nothing has been LETT un.
done or will be left undone to solve the
mystery. A coroner's jury was empaneled
early this morning, and Solicitor Thurmond
was soon on the scene. The solicitor had
J ust started 10 his plantation from Edgeield
when he heard OF the affair and be went at
once 10 Trenton In his buggy. Mr.. Thurmond
said that a com potent jury had been selected
and the facts obtainable would be thoroughly
sifted without a doubt. The county blood.
hounds were put on The trail early, although
many persons had even then walked around
the premises, but the dogs could not catch
the scent. ~ these dogs are young IL was at
tempted to get dogs from Columbia but
there were nom to be had. 80 far as the
human eye can see there was no eign OF any
one having left the premises. but anything
on that line Ia merely speculative.
THE HoME VAS DESTROYED.
The,ruiTs were raked In hopes OF f1nding the
implement with which the aides were bruised
but nothing resembling that which must
have been used was discovered except the pea
nf a steelyard. Other things, such as a watch
and jawelry, were found although The house
WAS az pearely conn letely consumed with It's
was employed TO conceal the greater crime OF
murder the guilty party had reckoned well.
The fire evidently started at the rear of Inc
house and II had burned It's way well towards
the front before il. was seen. When the first
arrival reached the scene the entire ROOF was
in a blaze and before the other toWnsmen got
there the house was practically raZed.
With these meagre facts 10 60 on ana Inc
improbability of anything additional ever
being disco yered, II seems likely that the
coroner'rjnry Can only decide that the family
OF Mr.. Ben b. Hughes came to their DEAN al
the hands OF parties unknown. The inquest
has been adjourned until Monday In the nope
Of Obtaining further evidence. and ooth the
coroner aud the solicitor will exert them
selves 10 that end.