The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1905-07-26
Offered for Fiends Who Assass=
mated a Man and Daughter.
GIRL FOUGHT HARD
People Are Greatly Incensed Over th'
Horrible Crime. 1t Is Believed that
the Young Lady Was Criminal
ly Assaulted Before She
Was Murdered.

Citizens OF Miami, Florida, and sur
rounding country, are greatly ince7sed
over the brutal murder Of c. e. Davis
and his daughter, Miss Elsie Davis,
which occurred recently. Rewards
have been offered by private parties,
organizations and the citizens general
ly ranging frcm 500 to 81, 900 for the
6ends and evidence to convict. MI.
Davis and his daughter lived about
four miles west OF Miami and we're in
the habit Of coming to Miami quite
frequently, in fact aloost daily.
Mr.. Davis was nurseryman, having
a fine grove Of orange and grape fruit
trees, which yielded good return for
his laborS in the past years and did
quite an extensive business in budding
and selling both nursery stock budded
and in the seeding state. BE was q
man OF about 81 years OF age. 1e was
born il Delaware county, OHIO, and
had lived in the Vicinity OF Mama for
the past fourteen years. BE was well
liked by the pubic generally, but it is
thought that he must have had some
enemies, as bis fine patch OF water
melon vines vas totally destroyed some
weeks ago by being pulled out OF the
ground. No trace OF the perpetrators
has ever been discovered.
Miss Elsie Davis was an exceedingly
attractive young lady: was about
eighteen years Of age, rather small,
with lithesone, graceful figure, quite
pretty, with blue eyes and light brown
hair. She was very bright and lively
with a fondness for society and de-
cided talent for the amateur stage.
She frequently appeared before the
Miami public in amateur Performance
es for the benefit OF some local organi-
zation and always made a success OF
her part. On Sunday Mr.. M. S. Bur.
bank, a friend called at the Davis
home and knocked, but securing no
rsoly and seeing 10 one, concluded
that the father and daughter were
rot at home, while at that time their
murdered bodies we're weltering in
their blood in their respective bedrooms
on the second floor.
YOUNG MAN SUMMONS HELP.
He went again on Sunday after
noon, as be had to 60 on a trip with
Mr.. DAVIS, and to tell him that be
could not 60. He callsd third time
on Monday morning ant still not see
ing any one went to the home Of one
of Mr.. Davis sons, who lived near,
and told him OF the circumstances CT
his having called three times and
could fnd no onesat home. Mr.. Ed
DaYIs went with Mr.. Burbank, and
nos b,jpg welcomed as usual, be en-,
tered the house, and to his horror he
discovered the dead bodies Of his loved
ones. He rushed back to Miami, told
the terrible ne8s and sought sympa-
thetic friends, who fastened to the
scene and found his surmise only too
true, that his father and sister had
been cruelty assassinated by an un-
known foe.
The sheriff, corner and other officials
we're at once notified and the news
spread ike wild fire throughout the
city. Crowds visited the spot Of the
foulest murders that have ever been
committed in Dsde county. Mr. Davis
vas lying in bed with a bullet hole
through his neck. From his peaceful
position is thought that he was shot
while asleep and did not know what
ended bis earthly existence, though
there are indications that he was
strangled, too; also that he was the
first one murdered, as his daughters
room, which was quite near his, was
in disorder, showing that there was a
struggle. & large rug on the floor was
disturbed AMI the bed clothing in a
tumbled condition.
Miss Davis seemed to have been
thrown on the bed with her head to-
ward the foot and her hair over her
face. She had been shot in both
breasts, one ball passing through her
body and the mattress and lodging
in the floor under the bed. 1t is the
same number as that used by her
father and his pistol which u.ually
was kept CO the first floor cannot be
found. therefor" it is generally believ
ed that the murderer OF murderers
used Mr.. Davis pistol to kill both
himself and his beloved daughter.
Nothing in the way Of money, jewel.
~ or silver seems TO have been remoy-
ed from house and the supposition is
that the object was criminal assault.
Fonnd Negro in Room.
A special from Athens, Ga /, to the
Augusta Chronicle says Will Howard,
ie Ia iail on tho chorna Of