The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-12-07
BRUTAL MURDER
Prominent Citizen Of Bruason Found Dead
Just Outside Town.
WAS KILLED BY A NEGRO

Mary Harris, q Young White Wo
nan Says She Saw Richard VII
aiams, q Negro Man, Strike Mr.. j
r. Lansford from Behind With
Heavy Stick, Causing Death.
The tragic death of Mr.. ]. 4
Langford, q prominent resident OF
Brunson, whose body was founo
Tuesday night just outside the I'M
ia of that town, has created consld'
cradle excitement in hat section o.
The State. 1t developed that MT
Landlord had been brutally murder
ed by a negro man by the name OF
Richard Williams, who has been ar
rested and sent to Columbia for SAFE
keeping in the penitentiary.
Mr.. Langford left his home about
8 o'clock in the morning to go to
his saw mill, about three miles
away, stating his intention to return
as usual, at dinner. 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
aasgy. A search was at once instl-
gated for the missing man by his
ariends.
AFTER some time the searchers
we're rewarded with success. IN a
sopse Of thickly wooded land skirt
ing 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
1ound; the horse securely hitched
10 q tree, still harnessed to the bug
~. About thirty feet away Lang
ford lay dead. He was lying OH his
back on his buggy robe, which had
anparently been CAREFUL spread upon
the ground. There were no signs OF
violence or blood upon the body n
the theory of suicide was suggest
ed.
There were certain appearances
however, which reputed the suicide
aaggestion, and closer examination
revealed a bruise on the back part OF
the head near the ear. Extreme
risor mortis and other appearances
indicated that death had oc,irreI
about nine o'clock in 81" m9:a1n5'
g short time after he had left his
home.
News of the and was INN ediatel!
sent into the town and the resident
MAGISTRATE and a large number OF
citizens fastened to the scene. After
careful examination Of the corpse
the premises and surroundings, the
hody was borne to the home, whlen
he had ,a.. In such u ic neaith
pply a few hours before.
After the consolidation OF certain
facts and indications, suspicion point
ed to a negro man, whose nome
In several miles distant, but who hae
seen working In the immediate vi
siuity of the town Of Brunson the
greater part Of the year. He was
sound and arrested and contradictory
answers to questions propounded
strength ned the belief OF all IN
Ais guilt.
Near where the body was found
shere lives a white man who was
a farmer tenant Of Langford. His
samily consists of himself and four
daughters--the eldest about 20 and
che Youngest about eight year OF
age. The eldest daughter was ar-
rested, 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 ar
rest; that he stole stealtbily MP be
hind Langrord and dealt the blow
with a stick; that after the blow de-
ceased did not move nor speak.
The crowd OF men by this time
was rapidly increasing, the negro
was de~xterously slipped from the
crowd. carried beyond the county
and lodged in the Barnwsll jail. He
Is about so years of age and OF aver
z Intelligence. The young white
woman. Mary Harris, was placed IL
the Hampton county jail. The de-
ceased was about so years OF age,
He was a brother Of former County
Treasurer Langford and leaves e
childless widow and many relatives
fn the county.