Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1919-07-30
THE ABBEVILLE MURDER CASE.
Detectives Working OH Mark Smith
Case Find Themselves Powerless.

q negro. near Abbeville, more than a
month ago. The detectives, after
spending several weeks on the case,
reported TO the Governor that, while
| the identity of the persons who did
the killing is quite generally known
in and around Abbeville, 1t is i'm
possible at this time to get anybody
who could give direct evidence to
make the required affidavits, and that
they feel that it would be useless for
them to stay on the case any longer.
| They say that many OF the good peo-
pie Of Abbevlle seem to be afraid to
! discuss the matter at all, and that
Sheriff Burts seems to be absolutely
! helpless. The detectives say it would
be easy for q local man TO secure suf-
ficient evidence upon which to ask
for conviction, but that it would be
useless for an outsider to attempt it
| now.
The killing Of the negro Smith was
one of the most unusual that ever
occurred in this State. About a year
Court at Abbeville on the charge of
assault and battery with intent to
Kill and was acquitted. 1t appeared
from the testimony that he shot and
wounded Deputy Sheriff Cam, of Alb
beville, who was searching the ne
gros house. The officer did not have
a search warrant and was acting un-
lawfully in making the search. and
1t was upon this ground that the
negro was acquitted. Smith left the
| community after the trial and re-
NAMED away for several mon his, but
later returned, and was living on a
farm several miles below the town of
Abbeville. About two months ago he
was driving to his home late one af-
ternoon, accompanied by his wife and
mother. when an automobile contain
, ing several white men drove up be-
hind them. The men opened fire and
Smith was instantly killed. The men
took his body into the automobile
with them and drove off. About a
week later the body was found in the
Savannah river and was brought
ashore, and Sheriff Burts, of Able
vile, was notified. BY the time he
could reach the scene unknown par
ties had got to the spot ahead Of him
and had mutilated the body, cutting
off the head and in!licting other inju-
ries.
| The affair caused great deal of
talk, Of course, but no arrests were
made. Governor Cooper sent two de-
tectives to Abbeville county, and they
worked on the case for several weeks
with the result as stated They say
that most OF the people Of Abbeville
seem anxious for the men to be
brought to trial ana punished, and
that the identity Of the persons who
did the killing seems to be matter
OF pretty general knowledge, but
that everybody seems to be afraid to
make move toward bringing them
to justice. The detectives gathered
the impression that the men who did
the killing, and some Of their friends,
had declared they would kill anybody
who attempted to make Il move
against them, and that tho matter is
resting in that shape. Sheriff Burts
is not making any move, and seems
TO be absolutely helpless.
The killing Of the negro Smith re-
calls the murder Of another negro
Anthony Crawford, at Abbeville sew
eral years ago. Crawford got into a
dispute with a white merchant Of the
| town and cursed him. He was ar
rested and beaten up, and then placed
IN the county Jail. Late that after
noon party Of white men went to
the JAIL took the negro out and car
rled him to the outskirts Of the town
and hanged him. and then riddled
the body with bullets. Physicians
said that the negro would have died
from the beating received earlier in
| the day even if he had not been
lynched. Governor Cooper was solic-
ltor Of the Abbcvillc Circuit at the
time and gathered lot Of evidence
against persons accused of the crime
ana placed it before the grand jury,
but the grand jury refused to return
Il true bill against the accused par
| ties.
There is more catarrh in this sec
ton of the country than all other
diseases put together. and for years