The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1921-09-29

COURT TRIES ; MURDER
AND MANY OTHER CASES
CONTINUED FROM FIRST PAGE)
with several bullet wounds in his
body. He told of later being taken to
Monroe where he identified Abraham
Lincoln and Will Boyd as the two
strange negroes that he had met on
the fatal morning.
DIR. Funderburk of Pageland, trs-
titled as to the nature of the wounds
received by Cans Funderburk
Sheriff J. #. Grant told the story
of taking up the tral--the shoe tracks
of two men-at the stump and fol-
lowing it along {: creek bottom to the
rear of Steve Leegars' place, where
it was lost. The trail was again TAX
en- up when ne secured information
of two strange negroes who had Wis
tied nei~hhorhood church the pre-
ceding Sunday. After considerable
wor'. suspicion pointed to Will Boyd
and Abraham Lincoln, residents of
| North Carolina. The two were arres-
ted and brought to Chesterfield. Will
Boyd went crazy and was sent to the
State asylum.
Lincoln made a full confession,
| Said the sheriff, after he had been in
jail for some time. This confession
tailed with all the facts in the case
that were already known to be true.
Though the jury was not permitted to
the testimony that implicated
Steve Seegars, much of it had
to do with Seegars and mas
| boys. Abraham, confessed, he said
to shooting Cans Funderburk; while
| Boyd shot Relias. He told how See
gars and his boys had induced him
and Boyd to visit them and then urg-
ed upon them the killing of Cans
Funderburk who had killed Will See
gars, son of Steve and cousin of Abb
ham Lincoln. He said they had been
| piled with drink on several occas-
ions. Sheriff Grant said the negro
! gave as his reason for confessing
that he wanted to get right with God
Abraham Lincoln YVES next called
to the stand. His confession was in
complete harmony with the testimony
of the preceding witnesses. He
| seemed to make a deep impression on
the spectators who crowded the
courtroom and congested the isle.
More than one spectator was heard
to say. "That nigger is telling the
truth"
His attitude was that of very
penitent sinner, who was making con-
fession of sin the contemplation Of
which seemed to overwhelm him.
He did not spare himself except
to lay the blame for it's incentive at
the door of Steve Seegars.
He told how he had been brought
to the Seegars home in Seegars' bug
gy by Seegars boy and how the fel-
low Clark took him to church that
Sunday and introduced him to the
Funderburk boys. He and Will Boyd
went out before day, at the instruc-
ton of Seegars, he said, on the morn
ing of April goth to the field where
tho Funderburks would soon be at
work. He told the same story of
their processing to be cold and
hungry and how, after a fire was
built, Laney Funderburk went to the
house for some bread and while he
was away the shooting took place.
When the prisoner had told of the
shooting at the stump which preceded
the killing the judge asked him who
had laid the plan for the actual kill
ing. 1t then developed for the first
time that the method of shooting the
two men had not been definitely
planned. Cans Funderburk, he said,
saw his pistol in his pocket and asked
to see it. He next asked permission
to shoot at stump near by, which
he did with Lincoln's pistol. He then
handed it back to Lincoln and fired
at the stump with his own pistol.
Then when he went to look at the
stump and was leaning over, shot
him and Will Boyd at the same time
shot Relias Funderburk." He said
they started away Immediately and /
Will Boyd returned and fired two
more shots at Relias.
He told Of meeting Steve Seegars !
in the woods back of his place and
Of telling Steve what they had done.
He said Steve shook their hands and
thanked them. He could not be :
shaken from any part of his story.
The next 'witness this papers rep
was able to hear was
Steve Seegars in his own defense.
. Steve made quite contrast to
Lincoln. He is q much larger man
- I<&<>Icsx II