The Monroe journal., 1921-05-10
CONFESSES HE WAS PAID
So TO KILL FUNDERBURK
Abraham Lincoln, Also Colored. Got "A
Like Amount. According Ia
VIII Boyd's Statement
WAS DELIBERATELY PLANNED

Olu man SteNe SeeSafS. Weil-t0-d,
negro of the Bethel community. paiC
Abraham Lincoln and Will Boyd. hi!
inephews. five dollars each Tor KILN.
Ganson and Relias Funderburk. tw,
negro brothers. according 10 a con
fession made by Boyd TO Sheriff
Fowler early sunday morning.
Extradition papers granted. BoyC
and Lincoln were carried TO Chester
field county yesterday afternoon b!
Sheriff Grant and his deputies. Be
fore they We're carried across the line
however. Mr. ]. c. Skies. counsel EN-.
ployed by a negro lodge of which
Lincoln is member, examined the
witnesses. permission having beer
granted by Judge J. Bis Ray. To him
and in the presence of Sheriff Grant,
Boyd reiterated the confession he
made previously to Sheriff Fowler.
Lincoln. who is well-known locally
denied emphatically his alleged part
in the killing. maintaining that he
was at home on the day the offense
was committed. and claimed that he
could establish an alibi in court by
both white and colored witnesses. He
said he hadn't been down in South
Carolina for some time.
Early Sunday morning Sheriff Fow-
Ter and the Jail cook, when they en-
tered the prisoners quarters. found
Boyd crying and praying. When his
cell door was opened. the weeping
man said: Sheriff. what will they
do to me?" Nothing. IL you are
innocent" replied Mr. Fowler "Sher-
iff." continued the man. 'after pray
ing I've decided to tell the truth. >
ever. Mr.. Fowler told him that he
was not demanding a statement. inn
pressing upon him the fact that what
he said must be voluntary. absolutely
free from coercion. With this under
standing. Boyd related the gruesome
tale of the murder. apparently spar
ing no one, not even himself.
Approached BY Seegars Here
The Saturday before the killing,
which occurred on Wednesday, April
Goth. Boyd declared that a son OF
Steve Seegars approached him on the
street. near the English Drug Com
pany. and proposed that he assist In
the murder of Fuaderburk to avenge
the killing Of his brother and Boyd $
first cousin. He refused. he said, to
entertain the suggestion. returning
to his home near Mineral Springs a
short time later.
III Boyd's story Is true, he would
doubtless be free man today had
he stayed at home the following Mon
day instead of coming to Monroe. for
that was the day he met the Seegars
boy and Lincoln. who again tried
TO induce him to become party to
the crime. Again he refused, leay-
ing the pair to 20 to a ball game !.
but, later in the afternoon. they en-
countered him once more. and he
finally consented to get in the buggy
bound for the Bethel community with
them.
On their arrival at the home of
Steve Seegars. Boyd said, they found
the widow of Will Seegars. the son
who was killed by Galson Funder-
burk when he thought VIII, who was
resisting arrest, was about to kill
Constable Rogers of Pageland. They
had some whiskey, supplied by Steve
Seegars, and that night and the fol-
lowing day, whFOh was Tuesday. they
made their plans. Late In the eve
ming Seegars son drove them to the
woods near Funderburk' s home. where
they hid themselves until the next
Plan Slightly Miscarried
Shortly after daybreak. they ap-
preached Ganson. Relias and LaneyI
he continued. while they
were plowing in the field. Pretend
ing to be fleeing blockaders. they
explained to Ganson that they were
cold and hungry. Atlanta. Georgia.
they said, was their destination. "You
needn't be afraid. we won't hurt
you," Is the salutation Boyd alleges
they made when they first greeted
the Funderburk brothers.
Here Boyd explained that II was
their intention to kill Ganson as he
started to his field, but that this plan
was abandoned when they saw that
there were three in the party. and |
besides the Funderburks had spotted
hem before they could kill them un-
lwares.
On hearing their story, Ganson
said to his brother. Laney Funder-
ourk. go and get these men some
hing to eat: we may be away from
home some time and these very men
nay feed u.s." Laney started on his
as heretofore related.
After Laney's departure. said Boyd.
Lincoln exhibited his pistol to Can
ION, who likewise showed his. They
'ondled each others gun. admiring
heir good qualities. and making vari-
'us comments upon them. Lincoln's
pistol barrels were highly polished.
lie stated further, causing the sun to
effect upon II in the faces OF the
,air. IL don't like shining gun,"
,anson Is alleged to have said.
Boyd stated that he also showed
lis pistol. handing II over to Ganson
or examination.
Lincoln and Ganson. he went on.
egan firing at a stump. causing all
our of them to cross low place
o view the target. Boyd and Lin
oln. however. held back. and as
ianson and Relias we're bending over
he stump, Boyd said he heard Lin
oln fire several times. LOOKING
round. he saw both Ganson and