The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1889-06-06
A Homicide near Pendleton.

East Sunday afternoon, about 5o'clock,
DR.. j. G. Owens was shot and killed by his
stepson, Mr.. VIM. F. G. Owens. a son of
the late Mr.. John Owens. The homicide
occurred at the home of the parties, about
threa miles east of Pendleton, in this Coun.
ty.
Theinquest was held on Monday morn.
ing by Trial Justice j. J. Sitton, who or
ganized jury with Hon. j. P. Glenn as
foreman. We have not read the testimony
taken at the inquest, but ne have inter.
viewed several persons who were present
and heard the evidence, and the particulars
Of tie afray are briefly as follows:
Fer several days preceding Sunday DR..
Owens had been on spree. BE was natu-
rally very passionate man, and when un.
der the influence of liquor was considered a
dangerous man. He had on several occa-
sious abused his wife and children, and
they dreaded to see him intoxicated, Sun
day afternoon, about 4 o'clock, he came
honae from Central. Mrs. Owens, with the
smaller children, was at home, and was
sitting on the back piazza. The Doctor
came in and took seat on the piazza, and
shcrtly afterwards Mrs. Owens went to her
BABY, who was crying on the front piazza.
The Doctor followed her. and, after cursing
her, struck her three severe blows with his
fist, bruising her face terribly. he then
pulled out his knife and threatened to cut
her throat, bet accidentally dropped the
knife into bunch of roses on tho side of
the piazza. Shortly afterwards Mr.. VIM.
Owens and neighbor, Mr.. Kelly, came to
the house. Mrs. Owens was crying. No.
ticing this and her bruised face, William
asked his mother what was the matter. She
told him what had occurred. William e1-
pected there would be more trouble, and he
at ae secured his pistol and put it in his
pc. 1t. In a short time all of the other
Chi sren of the household had come in, and
all O.. the family, with Mr.. Kelly, were sit
ting On the piazza. Suddenly the Doctor,
who was sitting at the far end of the piazza,
jumped up and, in loud voice said !:
"D--n you, now that you are all here I am
going to have this out!" He again cursed
Mrs. Owens and started towards her. Mr..
Kelly ran between them and begged Doctor
Owens not to say another word He cursed
MIR. Kelly and ordered him out OF the house,
and then rushed on towards Mrs. Owens.
William went to his mothers side, and told
the Doctor that he could not strike her
AGAR. The Doctor struck the young man
| on the head, and as he did so younger
brother, Lee, came to Williams assistance.
The Doctor then pulled out knife and
started towards Lee, who ran, the Doctor
following him down to the ground. When
he found that Lee was out Of the way, he
turned back, and swore he would kill
William, who was still on the piazza.
William warned him not to come to him.,
that he would shoot him, but the Doctor
continued to advance with the knife in his
hand, and, when within a few feet William
pulled out his pistol and fired, killing the
Doctor instantly. He fell on the piazza and
lay there with the knife clasped tightly in
his hand until tile jury viewed his body.
The verdict of the jury Of inquest was to
the effect that the deceased came to his death
by pistol in the hands of VIM. F. c. 0w-
ems, and in their opinion the homicide was
excusable aud in self-defense.
Mr.. VIM. F. C. Owens Is about 18 years
of age, and is quiet, pcaceable young
man. He is student of Furman Univer-
sity and is studying for the ministry. At
the time OF the homicide he was at home
temporarily on account Of sickness. OF
course, the homicide is deeply regretted in
the neighborhood, but the general opinion
ia that had 1t not terminated as it did, there
would have been perhaps several innocent
persons killed.
On Tuesday morning, in company with
Sheriff Bolt, and his Counsel, Mr.. Owens
went to Abbeville to apply for bail, which
was granted under bond of 1000.
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