The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1874-09-19
VOLUME 8.
COr0ner's Inquest OH the Body Of
4 James w. Browning.

HELD AT BAMBERa ON SUNDAY, BOTH
z AUGUST, 1874, ny OLIVER nEwETr,
TRIAL JUSTICE, ACTING AS coRoN Err.
Information having been laid in this
case by + NJ Bamberg, lawful jury of
inquest was duly summoned, composed
of the following persons, to wit Ii }
Brabham, foreman, Hon. James NJ
Smith, G Y Patrick, w Il Patrick, S
b Jones, + Jones, w w Smokes L
o Fairy, Henry Smith, Andy Hamitou,
Jack jenkins, G a Rice and Jerry
Thomas.
IA The jury having viewed the body,
then lying in a room of B l. Slatcr's
store house, aud post mortcos of the
body having been made by DR.. j L
Baggot in the presence of the jury, the
following evidence was taken:
DR.. j Il Bnggot sworn Have made
post mortcm examination Of the body of
James w Browning, and am of opinion
that the said James w Browning came
to his death from pistol shot wound,
the ball entering the right breast, near
the right nipple, ranging through the
lower lobe of the right lung
(Signed) j. L BAGGoT,
William L LConnelley sworn do not
know anything of the shooting of james
( w Browning; was at Murphy's store,
and heard the shooting.
(signcd) w l. CoNNELLEY.
Brooks + Slater sworn: On Sutur
day evening, 29th August, 1874, after
supper, James w Browning came Into
my store, came behind the counter, and
asked me for pistol; | asked him what
he wanted with it; he said that j w
Crum had Threatened to shoot him;
gave him a pistol, a small seyen shooter,
and l went with him; we walked from
my store up towards Dixun's store,
going towards and along the rail oad
platform; when We had passed null
berry tree, near Dixon's, Mr.. Crum
spoke. He (Crum) was standing right
by tho tree. MIR. Browning mad passed
the tree. Crum asked, "Whois that?
B Mr.. Browaiug replied "itwa him" aud.
turned arouad; saw u flash from Il
. pistol The hand sGruh.; tisreeogtiiia
Mr.. Crum from the lisht Of The tlas!, ol'
the pistol; previously did MT rcco,
nize Mir. Crum's. person, ouly by his
voice; Crum was about four feet from
Mr.. Browning when he fired; after Mr.
Crum fired, Mr. Browning eth + struck
Crum or pushed him; Crum fell, with
MIR. Browning on top Of him. Mr.
browning said as soon rs he was shot.
"IIe has killed me-" I told him d d
not think he was hurt; scconl shot
was fired when Mr.. Browning was On
Crum; | do not know who fired the
shot; after the secoud shot, and while
Mr.. Browning was ON top Of Cram,
heard pistol cooked; got down on my
knees, and took pistol out Of Crum S
hand; it was cooked when I took it out
of his (Crum's) hand. The pistol now
produce is the one l took out Of Mr..
Crum's hand; Mr.. Browning was not on
Crum over a half niinutc--a very short
time; MIR. Browning got off Crum of his
own accord and started for my store; on
entering the store, Mr. Browning re
peatcd that she was killed" more than
once; | told him 81 did not think he
was" He went into the back room and
sat on the floor; l got him on the bed;
just as l had got him on the bed, aud
went back TO the door, two other shots
were fred some distance in trout OF tho
i office; it was very dark during the time
OF the fracas; Crum was in the shady
Of the tree. All Of this happened in
the town of Banberg on Saturday even
ing, August 20, A. d. 1874, Between
/, the hours Of aud 8 p. NJ, | think Sir.
Browning died about five minutes after
he entered the store; l sent for DR..
Baggot and he got there just as Mr..
Browning was dying.
(Signed) BIZ SLATER.
Edward Z Slater sworn: At Bampern
on Saturday evening, August 20, 1874,
about 81 O'Clock r. MI came down
from + NJ Bamberg's;I l came to "pride
Of India" tree standing opposite to
Crum's store; | heard Crum say some
thing about Mr.. Fairy and John Smiths
fight; | heard him call both names;
Crum said "it was not so;" Mr. Brown
ing was present and asked if he meant
that for him; Crum replied 'thas he
could take tito himself" Crum got up;
Mr. Browning was sitting on the bench
in Crum's piazza; MIR. Browning had a
chair in front Of him, and when Crum
rose he picked up the chair and pushed
him (Crun) down with it; he (Crum)
apparently fell back against the wall: