The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-04-04
4 MURDER IN L
How q Black Democrat WINS Killed by
"A Radical N~egro-The. Facts OF the
Cnse.
IRON AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENCE

FROM AN OCCASIONAL coRREsFoSDEST.l
MARION, March 90.
The monotony Of our county talk has at last
been broken.> For months nothing Of general
public importance had transpired, but on Sat
urday last o deed was done which has startled
the community and put all to pondering,
ssWhere are we going ?' and "what will come
of II ?n
Robert Miles, a colored man, was shot in
open daylight by another oolored man named
Charles Godbold. The finale occurred last
night, when poor Bob died of his wounds. AS
this tragedy will be judicially investigated, it is
not de sthcd proper to do more than. give an
outline of the facts:
Some year or more ago. the deceased
bought. or contracted to buy OF Senator
Hayne a part of a body Of land which had been
purchased by the land commission. He settled
on and cleared for planting the portion which,
to say the least, he thought ne was to get
thaving paid something like an hundred dol
lars Of the amount he was to pay and has
since been in possession of it. Charles Godbold
10y some means or other obtained o claim on
The same land from some person connected
with the land commission, and for some
months past there has been hard feeling be-
tween Miles and Godbold. On Saturday, Miles
discovered Charles Godbold at a place where
he had stacked som fodder, and having al
ready torn down the fence pen made around
1t. was pushing down the fodder with o pole.
With or. NEAR Charles were three other colored
men. Miles went out of his house accompani-
ed by some members Of his family and one
Tom Taggart, another colored man, and ap-
preaching Charles Godbold, called to him and
made some remarE asking why he was acting
in such a manner. The reply was Q warning
To Tom TaggarL 10 get out OF the way, which
being done. Charles GOdbold shot Miles with
a musket. While reeling, Miles attempted to
return the fire with a pistol he commonly car
ried with him. and did fire, without doing any
damage. Miles fell and was carried back 10
his house, where he fingered until last night.
| when he died. While the poor fellow was
down Godbold was only kept from shooting
again by Tom. He had called for and obtained
another gun from one Of his companions.
This is the whole matter as far as our informa-
ton (Which is reliable) extends. Bob Miles
was a staunch Democrat and then Relormer,
and it is impossible to rid tones self OF the con-
vlction that this caused much OF his troubles,
alA. perhaps, uau soAlcshihS w WIN mo
untimely end. The community is wondering
| whether the Northern friend and brother will
class this outrage as chargeable to the x. X.
KS. It is said by some that Miles was at
tempting 10 shoot Godbold with bis pistol
when he received the fatal shot; but as 1t does
| not seem TO be as direct as the account given;
it Is scarcely entitled to much credit. How
| ever, it may be true, and 1t Is certainly Unfair
| not to state that the account given by them is
| very different.
Taxes are being collected, and have general
" been paid, though at q great sacrifice.
| Marion, too, could raise her voice Of suffering,
| caused by the extorlion Of their few dollars by
the tax-gatherer to build mp and sustain the
gorged themselves by stealing the public
money. but'tis apparently useless. We sit In
apathy. and think, in Gods name what Is to
become of US? Can any one answer?
MARION,