The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1919-07-24
NEGRO GIRLS KILL
FATHER WITH AXE.
Confess to Brutal Murder Near Null
drO'S Mill.

Florence, July 18-Brutality of an
almost inconceivable nature marked
the killing last night of Sylbert Myers
a respected negro farmer, by his two
daughters, Lillian and Rebecca, aged
respectively 16 and Is years.
Using an axe as weapon the two
girls struck their father On the back
of his head while he was seated at
the table eating his supper. The
blows were struck from behind. My
ers lived only a short while after the
first blow was struck.
According to the statement Of his
daughters, Lillian first attacked her
father. She brought the blunt part
of the axe down upon his head with
terrific force, breaking in the skull.
AS the man leaned over on the table
she struck again, and he fell to the
floor. Rebecca then took hand and
grabbing the axe from her sisters
hand, struck the man as he lap upon
the floor. They then dragged him out
into the yard where they watched him
die.
Hide Body and Attend Party.
After hiding the body of their faith
er in the woods the girls returned to
the house dressed in their Sunday
clothes and went to an ice cream sup
per just few hundred yards from the
spot where the body lay.
The murder occurred last night
about dark. Myers lived near Null
drows mill and was highly thought of
by his own race as we'll as by the
white people Of that community.
When placed under arrest this morn
ing by Sheriff Burch Lillian and Re-
becca Myers confessed to the murder
and told the officers all about it. They
also made a voluntary statement to
the jury of inquest which was en-
paneled by Coroner Smith. In their
statement they declared that they
killed father because he would not let
them go a party at tobacco barn.
He said he would kill us if we went,
said one of the girls.
After watching their father die
the girls placed his body in wheel
barrow and carted it into the woods,
placing it near path about so yards
from the public road. Then they went
back to the house and dressed for
the party. The path near which the
body lay was taken by the girls in
going to the party. All of this happen
I'd, however, after they had washed
up the blood in the house and had
swept the yard. They did not attempt
70 hide the axe and it now in the pos
session Of the coroner. 1t is heavy and
blood stained.
Dead Body Discovered.
Two negroes who returned home
With the girls from the party saw
he body of man lying near the path.
)ne of them, Isear Law, called, but
'eceived no answer. Isear testified to-
lay that he knew Myers was careful |
lbout his girls, and he thought it
vas Myers lying in the bushes wait
ng for them to come home. When
he negro men called the girls ran on
o their home. The men returned to
he tobacco barn and getting others
o follow, came back to the spot and
ound the dead body of Sylbert My
RS. The daughters did not tell OF
heir connection with the crime until
aced by the officers this morning
vhen they broke down and confessed.
'oth of them tell the same story as
o the manner of the murder.
Sylbert Myers was about AZ years
Id. He was we'll thought of, his ac-
uaintances stating that he had al
7ays been anxious to rear his chill
rem correctly.