The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1906-05-23
An Entire Family Of Nine Killed
and Cremated.
CRIME Is A MYSTERY.
A Minister, His Wife and Seven Children
Are Slain Near Milton, Florida.
Tf,.ir Heads We're Crushed BY
Heavy Blow, and the
Houeo Rsrnod lawn
House Hmrned Down.

An entire family, consisting Of the
father, Rs7. Mr.. .AckeTman, who Is an
itsnerant preacher, bis wife and
seven children, the oldest being about
IA years OF age, was murdered and
bneir bodies c,ema5eG In their home
which was fired by the assasstns In
Santa Rosa county, 10 miles North Of
Milton, NoriCa, Sunday night.
rne CRIME vas discovered the day
after by parties with vnon Ackerman
aad an appointment, who fouad the
louse LASS of fulns, and The clarred
oodles Of Ackerman, his wife and sew
IN small clildren among the wreck
aye. Ex .milation Of the b31tes by
DR.. q. &. E,drldge disclosed the fact
mat Ack5rman and MIS- wife had been
struck on the head with some blunt
instrument, their skulls being crush
ed IN. Tne bodies was scattered aoou5
IN dlherenu parts Of the ruins.
Details Indicate that the father,
mo5-er and eaen OF The seven child
ren we're murdered before the Driid-
.Dg was fred, as the skull OF each
.as csu,hed. The body OF Ackerman
as found near The location OF che
door leading from the bed room In
nnica he slept, and by his side was
revolver. Tee. body OF Mrs. Alderman
Sho gave birth 20 child on Erloay
oefore, was found with that OF her
lnfanJ child outside Of the sill at the
front Of the house. The oldest child
was found near the door leading out
20 the front porch. Ali OF the bodies
we're badly burned, practically only
the trudks remaining. The bodies OF
three boys were found practically
where the bed upon which they slept
8 God previous TO the hf.gratton.
When party from Milton reached
The scene about IL click the sills OF
che building were still burning, which
seemed to Indicate thai the fire had
been started several hours after mid.
night. The country near by Is spar
sely settled the nearest netghbor re-
siding about one quarter Of a mile
away. This neigh0or says he knew
nothirg Of the fire until early the day
alter when he saw that tine building
had been destroyed and no5ifed oLhar
nelgnbors before trying to ascertain
che damage. The feeling throughout
Santa Rosa, county Is high over tho
uastardly deed and every effort is be-
ing made to app1euend the guilty par.
GleS.
Investigation brought out tha fact
that the crime Was one OF the most
brutal on record and has not q pa1all-
el In the criminal annals Of the state.
Ii appears taal the six childiea were
muruered while In bed, while the par.
ents apd one caild net deaIh outside
OF tne house. The cnarred bodies Of
six children were found in the ruins
Of the Louise, which had been dr d
soon afler the murder. While the
bodies Of the parents and one child
were found outside OF tho house, and
not burned al all, they were butcher.
ed beyond recognition. Tnese bodies
Here the oaes which developed the
fact that murder had proceeded the
ac5 Of ars1n.
Officers OF two COUNTIES are endeav-
jag 10 get clue 70 GGe miscfeants,
but So fss They have been unsuccess-
full. There is suspicion IL some
quarters that the family vas murder.
cd by negroes who make living
travelling from one iuspentire camp
20 auoLner, as II this suspicion Is
founded on facts aad the enlecreants
ale csugnJ, there ccu.d be no saiva-
Siou OF The prisoners by any number
OF officers, judging from the feeling OF
une populsce OF Santa Rosa county, In
Rhica Che clime ,Cok place.
Aukernan muv~d Go tbs settlement
which was Known as Alien. own, fiom
Opp, Ala, abou5 three years ago, and
mas always bssn Considered a good
and peaceful clliZsn. Mr.. Acksryan
Vas a'Me5lodisG preacher, and while
ne had no regu.ar charge it was nts
custom to preocn occasionally through.
CUT that section CT Santa Rosa coun-
6y. He vas not known to nave any
enemies and the motive for the atro-
c:ous crime is mystery. A fund OF
over $1,000 has Oeen raised by the
citizens VI muton, which will be cffer.
ed as a reward for the apprehension
Ut the murderers, and tine governor
has been appealed to to offer a reward
On behalf OF the state.
Killed b, Fau.
Atttred as bridesmaid Frances
Graboski, OF No. lib IonneIe avenue
Jersey City Heiga5s, met dsath Wed