The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1910-11-01
FOULLY SLAIN
Negro Farm Hand Charged With Nurder.
ing Florence Farmer

In aIS COUNTRY HOME
Four Loads from Shotgun Find
Lodgment in Victims Body
Killing Occurs in Dead Mans Res
idence where Slayer Evidently Lay
in Waiting for His Return. =
IA dispatch to The News and Cour-
ier from Florence says to be foully
murdered within the confines q, bis
own home was the fate OF Mr.. Elihu
M. Moye, well known and highly
respected farmer and citizen of the
Ebenezer section. about ten o'clock
Friday night, and CLARENCE Ham, a
ginger-cake colored negro, about 80
years old, Is in jail. charged by the
coroner's jury with being the, man
who committed the heinous crime,
and using Moye's own gun TO XIII
his victim with.
The news OF the horrible deed
was telegraphed in to Florence at
an early hour Saturday morning
to the sheriff, asking that he come at
once to Ebenezer and bring with him
Coroner Cooper, as Mr.. Moye had
been found dead on his piazza, sup
pcsedly from the hands Of nlnrder-
er.
Sheriff Burch and Coroner Cooper
hastily went to the scene. and the
news. as telephoned in proved TO be
reality. The news spread through
out the Ebenezer section with lgnt-
ning-like rapidity, and it was only 4
short time before hundreds OF people
had gathered about the Moye home,
with the hope OF gaining some inIor-
nation rs to how he met death in
such foul and dastardly manner.
All the while from the time the news
became known until the coroner's S
jury had been empHnelled, the entire
neighborhood was wrought up and
there is no telling what might have
happened had it been known at that
time that Clarence Ham, the negro
now in jail, had had anything to do
with the taking Of the life of Elilu
Moye.
The Sheriff had learned that Clar-
ence Ham had been in the employ OF
Mr.. Moye some weeks ago and had
been discharged because he failed to
work to suit his employer. Last
week, however, Mr.. Moye agreed; to
take Ham back and put him to work.
Saturday morning Ham was the only
negro on the plantation who failed
to show up. and Sheriff Burch, IN
order to see what there was in him,
put him up before the jury to testify
and he stated that he had left the
place late Friday and went to q wo-
mans house by the name Of Ethel
Wilds Friday night, where he stay
ed. While he was testifying, Deputy
Sheriff Harrell was sent to the WilGs
woman's house to bring her also as
a witness and while at the house
Deputy Harrell thought he would
search the premises.
He found in g bureau drawer a
coat belonging to Mr.. Moye and a
pair of trousers These he took
along with him to the inquest, and 1t
proved to be the right evidence on
which the murder could be laid at
Hams door, for it was the coat that
Mr. Moye wore Friday night, and
the one he had just divested him
self Of few moments before the
killing took place, as was sworn 70
by Mr.. Harold Cole, who had accom-
panied Mr.. Moye to Timmonsvil!e TO
protracted meeting. Letters and
other papers Of Mr.. Moyes were
found In the pockets, going still fur
ther to prove Mr.. Coles testimony,
and tending to show that Ham is
the criminal
iMr. Moye was married several
years ago to Miss Minnie Harrell,
who preceded him some eighteen
months ago. He has since lived
alone. excepting when his maiden sis
ter visited him. He was a son of the
late Wash Moye, Of old Darlington,
and is survived BY one brother. Mr..
Theodore A. Moye, and two sisters,
Miss Mary Moye aud Mrs. Sarah
Mum, all Of Florence county, togeth-
er with d large and wide circle of
near relatives and hosts OF friends.
The horrible murder has been the
talk Of the town and county, for all
the people knew Elihu Moye, and
they we're terribly shocked when the
rews was first handed out.
Clarence Ham. the supposed slay-
or Of Mr.. Moye, is behind the bars
OF the Florence County prison and
stands charged by the coroncr's jury
IS the slayer of Mr.. Moye. Had Il
not have been that petition was
quickly circulated Immediately after
the inquest, calling upon Solicitor
w. H. Wells, by Mr.. John NcSween
Of Timmonsvllle. asking the Govern
or to order Il special term Of the
Criminal Court in he coun:y to try