The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1874-07-22
Murder Of John Davis.
The Greenville News Furnished

Il
following particulars i .., .t u..
About two weeks ago, United State
Deputy Marshal Robertson and Col
lector Mattison seized in the upper
part Of this County, near 1000 gal
Ions contraband whiskey, the proper
ty of one John Davis, which wa,
brought to tho residence of Captain
Jennings, eighteen miles above thi.
city, aud deposited In his collar fol
the night. Mr.. Davis suoeee eded il
making In his escape. About
o'clock A. NJ :, the offioors wore arous.
ed by party Of men, who demanded
the surrender Of tho wiiskey, which
prudence dictated they should do =
Most Of the wbiskey was hauled off,
and nobody hurt. From information
received on Saturday morning last,
Captain A. Mattison and q. A Darl-
ing Deputy Collectors, proceeded to
Bolton, for the purpose of capturing
John Davis. On their arrival, they
pressed horses into service, and rode
about six miles from Bolton where
they overlook Davis and his wagon,
with three barrels Of whiskey. The
officers demanded surrender, both
parties drawing arms. After some
talk, Davis and Cromer surrendered, =,
delivering up their arms. Mattison
was iu tho road, guarding the parties,
when Darling proceeded to the mules
to procure strap, when Davis START
cd off to the woods and was fred at
by Captain Mattison. The shot took
effect, but Davis proceeded on, and
the officer retraced his steps, whom
they all drove back to Bolton, loav.
ing the establishment there, and the
two officera, with Cromer in charge,
got aboard the train and oame to
Grecnville, where Cromer was lodged
in Jail.
About 9 O'Clock on Saturday night,
a telegram was received, stating that
avis was dead, aud to have the par
ties arrested. James Il. SchoGeld,
Esq, issued warrant, which Sheriff
Southern executed by quietly arrest
ing Captain Mattison and lodging him
in Jail, whom he will bo transferred
to Anderson this morning.
From information received, Sheriff
Southern doomed it prudent to place
q guard around the Jail on Sunday
night, to prevent disturbance, but
nothing threatening transpired. The
report, no doubt arose from the fact
that four persons "a committee from
Mushy Creek Lodge Of OId Fellows)
arrived in town who were appointed
to proceed to Bolton and bring the
body of Davis home.
The coroner's jury in the case of
Mattison brought in verdict
of wilful murder. Davis was
shot in tho side, tho ball rang
ing upward through the lungs
and came out about the centre of the
breast. Tho coroner of Anderson
forwarded his warrant to Sheriff
Southern, and the prisoner will be
sent to Anderson Jail for confinement.
The body of Mr.. Davis passed
through our city yesterday afternoon
in charge of committee who had
/ cen appointed for that purpose
The deceased was about thirty years
old, lived about eighteen miles from
this city, and was single man.
The down train, yesterday morning,
for Columbia, carried Deputy Mar
shall Darling. When the trian arrived
at Bolton. the crowd marched into
the train in search of Darling, who
had taken refuge in the mail car, and
was covered up under the mail bags.
Mr.. Sholton, tho mail agent, closed
the door, snd stated that tho proper
ty in the room belonged to the United
States, and drew pistol to defend it.
BY advice of Capt. &. G. Wells and
Maj. Whitner, the crowd was quieted
and permitted Mr.. Darling to 60 un.
hurt. 1t is supposed that we will
have one Darling less IN this coMmu.
nifty for short while, at least.
The excitement about the murder of
Davis in Anderson is intense.