Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1910-12-07
HELD FOR LANGFORD MURDER.
White Girl Declares She Saw Negro
Strike Man With Stick.
(News and Courier.)

Brunson Nov. 30.--The tragic
death Of j. r. Langford, promi-
nent citizen Of Brunson, just outside
the limits Of the town yesterday eX-
cited great interest and for time
much speculation as to the circum-
stances Of the affair. Mr.. Langford
left his home about o'clock in the
morning to go to his saw mill, about
three miles away, stating his inten-
ton to return, as usual, at dinner
time. His absence from home until
after dark alarmed his wife, who
sent in search of him and learned
that he had not been at the mill
during the entire day, and nothing
could be learned Of his whereabouts
or of his horse and buggy.
Tie alarm was spread and a
searching party was soon on the way
travelled by Langford to his mill,
quented highways leading from the
town. The signal of discovery was
to be a pistol shot and very soon a
pistol shot rang out in rear of the
foremost searchers.
In a copse Of thickly wooded land
skirting the broad road, and at a
point not more than fifty yards from
them, and about one-half mile from
the town, the horse and buggy were
found, the horse securely hitched to
Il tree, still harnessed to the buggy.
About thirty feet away Langford lay
dead. He was lying on his back on
his buggy robe, which had appar-
emily been carefully spread upon the
ground There were no signs Of vio-
lence or blood upon the body and the
theory Of suicide was suggested
There were certain appearances, how
ever, which refuted the suicide sug-
gestion, and closer examination re-
the head near the ear. Extreme
rgor mortis and other appearances
indicated that death had occurred not
later than 9 a. m., or about that
time, about twelve hours before the
finding Of the corpse.
Negro Suspected.
After the consolidation Of certain
facts and indications, suspicion point
ed to Il negro man, whose home is
several miles distant, but who has
been working in the immediate Vi
cinity Of the town OF Brunson the
greater part of the year He was
found and arrested, and contradic-
tory answers to questions propound-
ed strengthened the belief Of all in
his guilt.
Serious consultation followed, the
result Of which was visit to the
home OF former white tenant on
the roadside, only about two hun
drcd yards from where the body was
found. Here lived man whose
family consisted of himself and four
daughters--the eldest about 20 and
the Youngest about eight years Of
age. The eldest daughter--under
suSpicion--was arrested, and after
slight hesitation, admitted that she
was present when deceased came to
his death, and that death was the
result OF a blow delivered by the
negro under arrest; that he stole
Stcalthily up behind Mr.. Langford
and dealt the blow with a stick; that
after the blow deceased did not move
nor speak.
The crowd Of men by this time
was rapidly increasing, and the nc
gro was dexterously slipped from the
crowd, carried beyond the county
line and lodged in the Barnwell jail
lie is about 80 years OF age and Of
average intelligence, Richard Will
liams by name. The young white
woman, Mary Harris, was placed in
the Hampton county Jail.
The deceased was about so years
Of age. Ile was brother OF former
County Treasurer Langford and
leaves a childlcss widow and many
relatives in the coun'y.
Williams, the alleged slayer Of
i.angfOrd, was taken to Barnwell last
night in an automobile and lodged i'm
the county Jail for safckccping. Fear
Of lynching if left in Hampton coun-
ty was the cause OF his removal
Very little is known Of the case
other than contained in above dis
patch.
Tnnlnn In, l.,