The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-10-06
WOMAN SHOT FROM AMBUSH.
MURDERoUs HUSBANDS DEADLY
WORK.
Ian Davis Lies in Wait for His Wife,
and Shoots Her Death, near Her
Home In Anderson County.
anderson Intelli0cncc

anderson IntetfDcnccr.
One of the most atrocious murders 1t hos
ever been duty to chronicle occurred In
this County last Saturday morning. The
scene of the tragedy Is in Brushy Creek Town
snip, about one mile south Of PiEgah Church,
and about fifteen miles from this city. The
muruerer's name is Jasper Davis, a. white
man about IS years Of age, and his victim was
his wife, who was about 40 years of age.
edy he started to the place tohold the INQUEST,
but when he reached the scene Trial Justice
Sitton had taken the matter In hand and was
Just concluding the inquest. Mr.. Sitton had
rot filed the papers in the case with the Clerk
cf Court up to Tuesday night, and we are un-
able to give our readers the testimony taken
by him. We have conversed with severa.
gentlemen, however, who were present at the
| Inquest. and have learned the following facts
| in reference to the terrible crime:
| The murderer Is familiarity known as Jap.
Davis. About three years ago his mind be
came slightly deranged. and he was sent to
the Stale Lunatic Asylum, where he remain
cd short time and was returned nome, nav.
Ing been pronounced by the Superintendent
sound and we'll. Since that time he has fire.
quently mistrcated his wife and family, and
several times threatened to Kill his vile.
Mrs. Davis was naturally afraid OF her hns,
band, and for several months past has had
very little to do with him. Davis, being la-
zy. worthless fellow, would not support his
family, and Mrs. Davis, with herflve children,
had to earn her own livelihood on the farm;
This she did with considerable energy and
y
crop growing. Davis would occasionally
come around the premises. About twelve
days preceding the murder he was seen there,
but suddenly disappeared and was not seen
any more until the nlGhL before Tile cflihe was
enacted.
About one-quarter of mile from where
Mrs. DAVIS resided lives one of her brothers,
Mr.. Ben. Moore. For some time past, fearing
| that her husband would injure her In
some way during the night time, Mus. Davis,
with her children, has been sleeping Mt her
brothers. house, where she would be protect
As usual she sbs %ehs had and
| aslecD Davis came 10 the house and was ad-
mitted. He talked with MIR. Moore for some
time, and finally asked for his wife and chill,
dren. During the conversation he asked
| Moore to try and induce Mrs. Moore to for
give him for his past conduct towards her, so
that they might live pcacet.bly together again.
| He got up and went TO the bed where his wife
and youngest child were sleeping, and called
| the child by name No response was had,
and he came back TO Moore who Invited him
to 70 to bed, at the same time telling him that
| he could have talk with Mrs. Davis on the
morrow. Davis then lay down In an adioin-
ing rooin, but before daylight got up anu went
Early Saturday morning Mrs Davis arose
at once started for her home. Near Moore's
house Is Il thick oak grove, and through thls
Mrs. DAVIS had to go. One OF her children
was walking In trout Of hrr, ana The ntner io,T Of
|
the woods the loud report Of n gun washeard,
followed by a shrill shrek from the poor wo-
man, who turned around and was running
bacl, To her brothers house. Mrs. Moore also
heard the shot and the scream, and ran out of
| the house towards the sound uG the report.
She ran on and met Mrs: Davis, who was IN
the act of falling over. The fatal shot was fir
| cd from ambush, withOa moments warll-
| ing the whole load of shot entering tie left
| side of the face of the victim, several shot
penetrating the eye ball, causing death in q
| few minutes. Mrs. Davis never spoke q word
after being shot. The weapon used was q
double barrel shotgun, which the murderer
had stolen from his brother.in-law, Mr.. ow-
ems. 1t was loaded with s9uirrcl-s!iut ana one
| or two sugs. AS soon as the gun was nred,
the murderer was heard retrcuting through
the woods. No one saw him.
| The news of the terrible tragedy spread
| through the surrounding country rapidly,
and il was not long before o large ciowd had
gathered at the scene OF the murder. Seircli
WIS at once instituted for Davis, but he could
not be fotrnd- Trough nc had Geen seen enter
The jury Of inquest, afier hearing the evi.
dencc in the case, returned a verdict that the
deceased came TO her death from gunshot
wound, inflicted by parties IN nnkn0Wn' n0vin hocoroe
more indignant, and pnrtics were organized
to go and search for Davis In every direction.
Threats or iynchinG were made, ana had liie
murderer been found near the scener lie would
no doubt have been tied up to the first limb.
These parties contiCued to hunt for Davis
through Sunday, but without success.
On Monday morning, about daylight, Davis
came to the house of his nephew, Mr.. Dave
Owens, near Piereetown, and asked Mr. Ow-
ems to protect him from the cnraged citizens
Mr.. Owens sent for Nr. III. B. Williams, !r.,
and together they brought Davis to the city
and turned him over To- the Sheriff. Rumors
reuched the city Tuesday that the prisoner
would he taken from the Jail and lynchcd.
Sheriff Bolt was determined to protect the
prisoner. and, after conferring with the So"ci-
| ior nd other officials he sent him away I, q
place OF safety for few days. Messrs- Print
4 Vandivcr have been employed as counsei
| for the prisoner.
There is no doubt rs to the guilt of the pris.
oner. In fact, he does not deny the crime, but
refuses TO talk about II.
The murdered woman was buried OF Plsgah
Church on Sunday. Four Of her five children
are under twelve years Of age.