The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1911-11-01
DENIES CHARGE
Richard Absrnsthy Says he Did MOI
Murder William A. Abbelt.

BE- RECITES HIS STORY
Abbott Was Killed in the Old Smuts-
Vile Section Of Spartanburg Coun-
ty, But Abernathy Claims That
He Did Not Murder the Man Or
Know Who Did.
Free for thirty-two years, but
charged with taking the life of a fell
low man, Richard Abernathy occupies
a cell at the Spartanburg County
Jail and officers and relatives of the
man, who, it is said, was murdered
by Abernathy, are endeaVoring to
secure evidence that will send this
old man to the gallows or conlne
him in prison for the remainder OF
his life, for a mistake that he may
have made in the year 1919.
Speaking of the case The Journal
says:
James Abernathy lived near Spar
tanburg until four years ago, ac-
cording to statement made by them
to reporter through the heavy iron
bars that stand between him and his
home, where he makes seats. for
chairs, out of peculiar kind of woo
ihairs, out of peculiar kind of wood
He said that the reason he moved to
Blacksburg from MS former home,
near this city, four years ago, was
that there was no more OF the par
ticular kind Of wood in-this section
and he had to go where he could get
other.
Abernathy stoutly asserts his inno-
cence, and all efforts to make him
vary his first statement We're fruit
less. He has told his story and it is
thought that he will stick to 1t. He
is charged with the killing Of VIII
liam A. Abbott, on a Sunday in 1879
1t is alleged that after killing the
man, he put the body on the railroad
track and a train passed over it. 1t is
also said that the body was cold when
the engineer jumped from his engine
and examined it.
From what can be learned Of the
killing from older residents, William
Abbott was returning from camp
meeting service, which was held al
Cannon's Camp ground. He was rid
ing horse back, The last seen OF him
alive was when he rode from the
meeting, and when next heard OF, his
body was found Immediately after
being run over by the train and was
cold in death. It is claimed that there
was a party of men on the road to
spartanburg and that these killed
Abbott because he had improper re-
lations with a woman named Dora
Abernathy, the wife Of z cousin oi
the accused man.
Some history of that section OF
spartanburg County will be interes'
ing at this time. Of course, i has
changed entirely from what it was
in 1879, and resident returning
would not know it. The name Of the
section was Smutsville. Its reputa-
ton as geing bad place extended fal
far and wide. Strangers dred not pass
through Smutsville at night, and few
went through it during the day. II
is said that there have been numer'
Gus murders committed at or near
smutsyille in years gone by.
There were three families who
lived in Smutsville. but there were
several branches of each family. The
names were Sattecfeld, Abernathy
and Finely. They have all scattered
now, but in recent years many Aoer-
nathys came to Spartanburg and sold
home made chairs and "ightwood.
There is not resident in Spartan
burg who has made this city thelr
home for ten years, who is not Ia
uiliar with these people. The only
other occupation that he had besides
selling chairs and frewood was peg
eing and raising children. The >Ao-
ernathys were past masters in Dotn
Of these arts and for years it seemed
that a new Abernathy child would
appekr at the doors of Spartanburg S
homes each month. There was one
more resident of smutesTille, besides
these families. He was Will Hines, a
negro, who was somewhat of king
pin" in that community. 1t is not
known whether or not he is dead or
alive. These people did not live III
houses made Of wood or of brick, ike
the other surrounding homes. Their
abodes were constructed of brush
piled up and covered over with mud'
which, when hardened by the sun,
made warm house but devoid Oh
the comforts Of the modem nome.
Alternately, who is now in jail, is one
of the three brothers. One of his pro-
theirs was shot and killed. The son
of the dead man was tried for the
crime but was not convicted. Mucn
could be written OF the history OF
the satterfelds, Finleys and Aberna-
thys.
A renorter talked to Abernatny
in his cell at the county jail. He IS
an old man and has long grey wh1sS-.
ers. He is not tidy, his clothes are
dirty. his hair and beard are dlsman-
tied. His eyes are small grey eyes
and he glares at one until the stare
is returned. He then looks away. he
talks rapidly. Asked his age he says
that he don't know, but he does know
he is forty some odd; he says he was