The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1889-06-12
AN UNUSUAL HOMICIDE.
ONE NEGRO KILLS ANOTHER TO AFENGE
A PRIVATE WRONG.
Cornelius Means Lies in Wait for Alfred
Prioleau, and Shoots Him to Death
for Running His Daughter. The First
Case Of the Kind in South Carolina.

RDGEwAY, S. c., June G.-[Special to
The Register. This little village was
thrown into some excitement this morn
ing by the killing of Alfred Prioleau by
Cornelius Means, both colored, little
before 5 o'clock, as Prioleau walked
from his house, on the sidewalk near
the railroad track, to the street crossing
the track. As he came on line with a,
vacant store building about Is feet
from the track, he was fired upon by
Means, who was standing just in front
of the store The weapon was a double
barrel shotgun. The charge struck
Prioleau on the right arm near the
shoulder, breaking the arm i'll three
places, seven shot entering that mem
Der. Five shot were found in the
body, having entered near the right
arm-pit. Death was almost in
Stantaneous. Means, Immediately after
his shot, stepped rapidly forward and
struck the head of the dead man three
times with the gun, breaking the weapon
at the point where the end of the barrel
joins the stock. Returning to the store,
Means put up the gun and again ap-
preached the body with a pistol in his
right hand. Standing over the body,
he fired, but the bullet struck the wooden
bridge upon which the corpse lay. The
physician who made the examination
preliminary to the inquest, is of the
opinion that but for the blows with the
gun Prioleou might have survi, ed the
shot ABOUT a half hour.
After discharging his pistol, Means
repaired to the residence of Mr.. R. D.
Bolick, the constable of Trial Justice
Meares, surrendered himself and asked
for protectiou-saying that he had killed
Prioleau IN defense of his family'S
honor.
An inquest was promptly held by
Trial Justice Meares. The jury rendered
a verdict in the form prescribed by the
statute, of felonious homicide. Means
was at once taken to Winnsboro and
committed to jail.
The cause of the killing is stated to be
the criminal conduct OF Prioleau to-
wards a daughter of Means. No doubt
is entertained of Prioleau's guilt in this
direction.
Means is mulatto, about 40 years
old. He is among the most respectable
colored men in this County. He bears
high character for honesty, and has
long been deyout member of the Pres
byterian Church and teacher in the
Sunday school. He has been for years
consistent and outspoken Democrat.
In 1876 he was active in his efforts for
the Hampton ticket, and thus incurred
the hostility of the Radical negroes of
this section to such an extent that it was
made known to the Radical bullieS that
any assault upon Means would be
very promptly punished. In 1877 Means
received the Democratic nomination for
County Commissioner, and served his
two years term. He was then appointed
for the fractional term expiring at the
end of 1880. He made an excellent
| officer and did not offer for reelection.
The sympathy of this section is very
strongly with him, though the killing it
self is much regretted. The act was
general surprise, though it was OBJ
served for a day or two past that Means
was in great mental trouble.
Prioleau was a black man about 23
years old, active, wel-built and power
full. He was ''fussy' fellow, and had
been engaged in several quarrels. He
was frequently troublesome at negro
frolics. But he was -; g;
| parded as a danoero