The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1871-07-27

A Father Shot and Killed by His Son.
On last Saturday morning, there occurred,
near Maysville, one Of the. most dastardly,
diabolical and heinous. crimes ever perpetra-
ted in the State, the circumstances of which
are as follows: - :. =. = z.
About seven miles North Of here lives the
family of JudgeT. B. Titconib, who was one.
of our oldest and most valued citizens, and
which was, at the time of the tragedy, COM
posed of the old gentleman, wife, two un..
married daughters and a son, named Edward
aged about thirty years Edward lit
comb has been married, but obtained di-'
yorce from his wife several years ago, since
which time he, has resided 1with2 his father.
For the past two years he has manifested a
quarrelsome and disagreeable disposition to-.
ward his family, using abusive and threaten
ing language on the slightest ypro7ocation.
He has also; ;atdiferent times, threatened to
kill brcther-in-law for "a fancied wrong done
him. These quarrels, always commenced by
himself. never terminated in anything fur
ther than nero bandying Of words, until last
Saturday morning, when he had difficulty
with his father about hauling some hay. The
old gentleman perceiving that his son was
bent on getting up aquarrel, sought to pacify
him by telling him to do as he pleased. Ed.
at once flew into d dreadful passion, and
Knocked his Fl her dowr.; The daughters in
terfered in behalf of their old gray.headed
fitle when the unnatural and fendish son
and brother struck the youngest blow
which dislocated her shoulder, and choked
the ether 80 that the impress of his fingers
on her throat was visible several hours after
ward. The father, after his son was pulled
off of him by the girls, mounted his horse
and rode over to the house tf Mr.. Stephen
Merritt, a aneighbor of his, to wait until his
sons passion had cooled down. fhefather's
escape only seemed to increase the furious
anger of E l., and seizing an axe he rushed
toward his mother, and threatened to brain
her if she did not instantly restore his revol-
yer, which she had taken the precaution to
hide at the commencement Of the difficulty;
and then forced to comply or suffer death,
| she gave it to him, after exacting a promise
that he would not harm his father. Getting
possession of the revolver, Ed. Immediately
rode after his father, and found hin.sin Me-.
| Merritt's yard. The ungrateful son shot
three times at his father; one shot struck the
/ old gentleman's left arm, and the shot which
proved fatal struck the lower rib of the left
: side, glanced down, struck the left hip
bone, and thence back through the centre Of
the left kidney, passed in front Of the spine
/ and lodged in the right hip, as disclosed al
/ the post mcrtem examination held on Tuesday
morning by Drs Downing and Dent.
Immediately aftor shooting his father, Ed
! came to Maysville to consult alayyer and was
the first person to bring the news softhe terrible
affair. His counsel advised him to surrender tc
the sheriff, which he did On Saturday evening
he waived preliminary examination, and
was that night taken TO the St. Joseph jail
to await the action of the grand jury at the
September term Of the Circuit Court. Dur
ing Saturday, while he was in charge Of. the
sheriff, he tried to make it appear that he
was insane, and refuselto recognise some Of
his intimate acquaintances, but the sham was
j TOO apparent to deceive any one. On his waytc
5fthe St. Joseph Jail, in charge of Deputy
Sheriff James Attcrbnry and Constable
Bacon, he showed no indication of insanity.
and convorsed freely with those gentlemen,
telling with considerable zest of:a number Of
''scrapes," not of a very moral character in
which he figured as the principal actor @He
has never, to the knowledge of his family OF
intimate friends, shown any indications Of
insanity, and on the morning after he had
shot his father, when citizen remarked that
he certainly was crazy, replied that he never
was more sane in his life. ..z,s.. .
The feeling of the citizons in tho immedi-
ate vicinity Of the horrible tragedy was very
strong against the parricide, andthero may
have been talk Of visiting summary punish
ment upon the wretch, but ealmer judgment
prevailed, and no attempts were made to
rescue the prisoner from the sheriff, as re-
ported by tho St. Joseph daily papers. We
learn from the 5Ha,ald that since the, parri-
eide confinement in Jail he has not exhibit
ed the least qualm of conscience ,forzthe
heinous crime committed by him on Saturday
last, and while the father was lying at the
point of death, shot by his owr sons hand,
that son was playing the fiddle for the anuse-
mcnt of: his fellow-prisoners! -, Z. =.
Judge Titcomb died Monday night, at 8,
o'clock, and was buried yesterday in the
Maysville. cemetery. His remains were fol-
lowed to the grave by the bereaved family,
and q large concourse Of friends and. ac-
quaintanccss Judge ,Titcomb served four
years. as County Justice of this county, and,
during his term of Office, all Of his official
transactions were marked with that honesty
and uprightness of character which belong
to the good and faithful officer that he was.
He was well known throughout our county,
and highly esteemed by all who knew him.
His many friends will deeply regret his Ia:
mentablc and untimely death. .. -.
p Naysvizle (Mo.) Register, July 8.
IDLE G1RLs.-It is painful spectacle, in