The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1910-12-15
PATHos MIXED WITH TRAGEDY.
The Murder Of j. r. Langford Due
to Extraordinary Causes.

Brunson, Dec. 10.-There is moth
ing here in this little Hampton coun-
ty village to indicate that less than
two weeks ago tragedy was en-
acted here, which in it's infinite sad
ness, surpasses any that has been
known IN the State for years. Men
and women go about their occupation
in the usual way, rise in the morn
ing and, as Carlyle says, assume
perpendicular position and at night
lie down again and become horizon
tai Children play in the streets.
The sun rises and runs his course
and the silent stars shine in the
heaven. There is no excitement and
the murder of one of the towns most
prominent citizens less than two
weeks ago is not talked of unless a
stranger brings up the subject.
Yet in the two homes there is
great sorrow and in another-not
home, but rather, hovel-there is the
sorrow of shame made bare and ex-
posed in all it's hideousness to the
gaze of a public which, now that the
blow has fallen, realizes how little
was done to prevent it.
Distasteful Story.
Distasteful as is the task it is best
that the story of the killing of j. R.
Langford be told and necessarily in
the telling of it there must be related
the too tragic story of Mary Harris,
the young white girl who is in the
penitentiary at Columbia, an eye-wit-
ness of the killing and the occasion
of it. There is no charge against
her. 1t is possible there may be one
brought for by her own admission
she was accessory after the fact to
the murder of Mr.. Langford.
After hearing of the life and en-
vironment Of this poor child, one
can but recall what was traced in
sinners: ''He that is without sin
among ye, let him first cast the
stone"
With hardly an exception the peo-
pie of this place and, indeed, all
who have heard the details of the
case, think the coroner's jury which
fixed the killing of Mr.. Langford
upon Richard Williams, the negro
now in the penitentiary, were right
in their finding. Two other negroes
have been arrested and released un-
der bond to appear as witnesses
when the trial is held. These are
Ed. Rouse and Jake Brown.
The Crime.
The evidence adduced at. the in
quest in brief is: On Tuesday morn
ing Mr.. Langford, who ran a hotel
at Brunson and also operated saw
mill, left his home in buggy, about
g o'clock. He drove by the telegraph
Office and sent message which was.
h1ed at $50. This fixes the time
essentially. From there he drove to-
ward his sawmin at Bopeep, but
stopped short way from the cor
porate limits at the house of Bob
Harris, where he talked to Mary Har-
ris, who was cutting wood in the
yard. He drove off short distance,
turned out of the road, tied his horse
and got out Of the buggy. The girl
having made a fire crossed the field
and met Mr.. Langford in the woods.
sOn her way she saw a buggy coming
up the road and recognized the oc-
cupants as Ed. Rouse and Richard
Williams, negroes, both of whom she
knew. She did not know she was
followed by Williams, and did not
see him again until he was standing
over Mr.. Langford with a stick or
club upraised. The blow fell and
/ SLangford's head dropped. He groaned
but did not speak, though she called
to him. The negro upbraided her
with being unfaithful. She was
frightened and ran home. The ne
gro did not follow. She wanted to
tell Of the crime but was afraid.
Talked Freely,
The girl talked freely when she
did tell. Her story was straightfor-
ward and despite traps that were
laid her evidence was never shaken
In the least.
The story of the search for Mr..
Langford and the finding of his body
on buggy road in the woods has
been told.
Suspicion fell on Williams before
Mary Harris told of the part she had
played in the tragedy. While the