The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-10-23
AFTER 81 YEARS
DENIES MURDER
Alternately, Arrested on Charge
of Killing Abbott in 1879,
Tells His Story.

spartanburg. s. c.. October a2-
Shaggy and uncouth. nervous and gar
rulous, Richard Alternately. the aged
ohair manufacturer, who was arrested
yesterday on charge OF having MUIR
dered William A. Abbott, "a young
printer. on the outskirts of Spartan
burg thirty-two years ago. clutched
| the bars of his cell in the county jail
and Vehemently protested his inno-
cence.
1t was at the suggestion of James
Z. OTIS. prosecuting attorney of this
circuit, that the reporter was admitted
. TO see the man in whose arrest George
a. Abbott, u painter, OF this city, be-
| ieves that his lifelong search for his
brothers slayer is terminated. Solicit
tor OTIS said he had the word of half
dozen reputable men. two of whom
he knew personally. that Abernathy
had told them he killed Will Abbott
On the contrary, Alternately said he
not only' had not killed Abbott. but
barely knew him. He was near when
the railway track. he said, and it had
made deep impression on him, and
he had been talking about 1t lately.
He had also been talking. he said.
about shooting negro when he was 4
young man. The persons who said he
told them he had killed Abbott were
mistaken. he asserted. They had mis-
understood him or had put two and
two together and given out as facts
what were only unfounded suspicious.
His Cousin Referred To.
He was asked about the friendly
relations said to have existed between
Abbott and Mrs. Abernathy, from
whom the accused was then separated.
The old man said there had been talk
that Abbott had been paying atten-
tons to Dora Alternately. but she was
the wife of his cousin. Thomas. though
separated from him. He said the
Abernathy family had washed their
hands of Dora long time before
Abernathys death. and neither he nor
Thomas was concerned with what she
did or who her friends were.
George Abbott continues to be re-
ticent as to the evidence which he
says he obtained against Alternately
He has made 1t the business of his
life to avenge his brothers death.
There was only years difference in
their ages and they were companions
When Williams mutilated body was
picked up from beside the railway
one Sunday night in September. 1879,
within minute after train had run
over 1t, and was found to be cold
and stiT. indicating that he had been
killed before the train came, George
set out to find the murderer
II was established that William had
been seen earlier in the evening with
party of dozen men, two of whom
there was reason TO believe, were un-
friendly to him. One of them was
kinsman of Mrs. Alternately. and the
other a man suspected Of being in
fatuated with the woman. but scorned
By her for Abbott.
There were two grudges against
Will in that party" said George Alb.
bott to-day, land the problem was pre-
sented to me of finding out which
grudge resulted in his murder
George Abbott acted as his own de-
tective. He collected a mass Of cir
cumsrantial evidence. and several
months after the killing caused the ar
rest of Jack Sherbert. The evidence
was so flimsy that the prosecuting at
torney nolle pressed the case.
Tirelesn Pursuit.
Abbott set to work anew. There was
little he could do except Keep an eye
on those whom he suspected of being
implicated or of having a guilty
knowledge. but he held to this self i'm
posed task with bulldog persIstency
He also studied the testimony which
had been given and analysed It's worth
Some of the suspects died. Others
moved away, among them Richard
Alternately. lie said hs kept track OF
most of those who left except Aber-
natny.
He learned within the last year that
Alternately was living near Blacksburg
in an adjoining county. Abhotts pas
sion for vengeance survived the pass
age of time, and no took steps to keep
Alternately under surveillance.
The subject of William Abbotte
murder was presented to Abernathy
in conversation. 1t was noted that
he was uneasy. It was reported tina,
Alternately, though seemingly in health
did not sleep well at night, The sus-
pect became untidy in his dress
Though he lived alone, he courted COM
partnership.
George Abbott laid what evidence he
had before Solicitor Otis SIX weeks
ago. The attorney said 1t was insuffi-
Client to Issue O. warrant, but suggested
that Abbott employ ]. C. Duncan. for
merly chief of police at Gaffney. who
! has reputation as a detective, to
make an investigation.
Duncan has been at work since Alb.
bott presented additional evidence TO
Solicitor Otis on Tuesday. and the
prosecutor told him to swear out a
warrant.