Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-07-20
Leeaburq Sumter Aduanee.

Leesourg Sumter Advance.
For the past three weeks our town has
been under excitement over the first at
tempt of Mr.. j. ]. Dickson, Jr., to kill Mr..
Lewis Beach.
We will here give short sketch of his
career In Leesburg previous to this time.
More than year ago he came to Leesburg,
having to secretly leave Quincy for shoot
Ing negro. As he became acquainted
with the people, it was found he had gen.
erous disposition, but with 1t he was tyran-
pical and overbearing, especially when drink
Ing. He had not been here long before 1t
was evident to everyone's mind that he was
a desperate man, and was pronounced by
the community to be desperate and out
law, as he bad defed the law on every oc-
casion. His career was such that
people feared him; they were uneasy when
ever he came to town, for as soon as
he began to drink he began to fuss with
any aud everybody, and no one knew at
what time be would attempt to kill them.
About the middle of June he attempted to
draw the town Marshal into a difficulty.
He drew his pistol and asked him to do the
same, cursing him, calling him a coward
and Gefying him to attempt to arrest him.
The Marshal told him not to shoot; that he
had nothing against him, and did not want
to arrest him. We were present on this
occasion, and Colonel Smith also. We both
NAU al IL Jul pOWGI W E6b ulL4 Oll1 Dub ulO
not succeed until he had insulted the Mar
shall in every way possible.
The particulars in the affair with Mr..
Beach are as follows: On the 28th of June
Mr.. Dickson came to the barroom of Mr..
s. w. Wallace, where Mr.. Beach was stay
Ing, and threw an empty beer keg through
the door and blinds, making fearful racket.
Mr. Beach came out aud accused him of the
act. Dickson denied it, and at the same
time draw hts Y1istn1 opd oslya6 Roonh ~ ha
wished to shoot it out Beach saw the
weapon In his face and drew his ALSO
Dickson seeing that Beach had au equal
showing with him, proposed to replace the
pistols and let the matter drop. Beach was
only too glad to comply, and, believing
Dickson to be man of honor, and relying
on what he said, accepted the treaty OF
peace; but Dickson only sought to gain
the advantage, for no sooner did Beach
put up his pistol than Dickson
drew his and fired, fortunately without
effect. Beach returned the fire, striking
Dickson in the arm. Dickson stepped
aside, out of range of Beach's pistol, and
fired, but again without effect Dickson
then ran, and Beach followed him, firing
two other shots, but missed, when Dickson
disappeared in the dark. Dickson was ar
rested the day after, and set at liberty under
simply peace bond OF $780, His wound
was cared for by DIR. Stevens, and when he
left town he said that the affair was not
through with, although he had sent for
Beach, made friends and expressed much
sorrow at what had occurred. This state
ment is certified to by several witnesses.
Dickson came to town several times after
and acted In a way to lead every one to be-
lieve that he intended to attempt Beach's
life. The suspicious of the people
we're so thoroughly aroused that they
went to Beach and warned him not to
have any intercourse with Dickson. Beach
listened to this counsel only partially, for
on Monday night, July 11th, Dickson called
Beach out back of Baer's store to converse
with him. The discourse was strictly of a
friendly nature, which threw Beach entirely
off his guard. Dickson stepped off from
Beach about thirty feet and began to feel
around as if looking for something. Beach
asked him what he was doing, when he
said "Besch, God d-n you, you have said
enough to me-" and raised a shot gun, which
he had concealed, and fired. Beach received
the load In the shoulder, and Dickson,
thinking he had killed him, ran off. Beach
gave the alarm, and the Mayor sent posse
OF men in hot pursuit. for it was the most
cold blooded attempt to murder ever perpe-
trated in this county. Beach's shoulder was
filled with buckshOt and two of his arm
bones were broken. He is now under the
treatment of DIR. Stevens, and is doing as
we'll as could be expected.
Dickson had made threats to take the
lives of no less than six of our good citizens,
for no reason whatever The names OF
these parties we could mention If necessary.
One OF the parties in particular ne said he
intended to kill while asleep in bed. The
day he shot Beach, while coming to
town he shot at negro Just to try the gun
he shot Beach with. He hailed the negro
and told him be wished to try his gun. The
negro jumped behind a tree, which saved
his life. The load from his gun was buried
in the tree behind which the negro stood.
With the attempt 10 murder Beach and
knowing the thu eats he had made, the clti-
Zens determined to capture him If possible.
The Sheriff summoned a posse and began
the pursuit Tuesday morning. The woods
around his house were secured and he was
routed Tuesday noon, but the party did not
get up with him. They learned that he had
crossed the Ocklawaha river, secured mule
and was heading for Ocala, and the chase
was holly pursued on horseback, about
twelve in the party. They finally struck his
trail, and after riding hard all Wednesday
night found him at daylight Thursday
morning. Dickson was asleep ia a house,
which was surrounded, when he was sum-
moned to surrender. He had a shotgun
with him, and for a short while he thought
of making a rush on the party, kill as many
as he could and make his escape. Knowing
this would be certain death to himself, he
finally surrendered. He was brought to
Leesburg Thursday evening and lodged In
jail with strong guard placed over him,
and now we are panied to chronicle his
doom. About two O'Clock Friday morning
a masked body of men, numbering between
twenty-five and thirty, Overpowered the
guards, forced them to open the door, and
shot Dickson with double barrel guns.
We DO not approve of lynch law, and are
sorry that this community had to resort to
such extreme measures. We have sketched
the foregoing short account Of Dickison's
career In Lsesburg to let the world know
why such severe measures were resOrted to,
and as the deed is done a number of our
most influential citizens have requested us
to give an impartial statement of Mr.. Dlcki-
sons career, showing that this county is not
lawless, but law-abiding, and that they feel
much relieved at the death of Mr.. Dlcki-
son, for no mans life with whom he came
In contact was safe.
After the Coroner's inquest, which rem
dered a verdict that he came to his death by
shots from guns in the hands of unknown
parties, his remains were inferred In Lone
Oak Cemetery.