The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1891-06-24
A DOMESTIC TRAGEDY.
SHOT TO DEATH IN TIE POSTOFFlCE
AT WARRENTCN GA.

- ! SFttttfhC!N l OlS "a.
Charlestor, the Iictim--iIe Wrote Love
Letters to the VIE Of the Man Who Kil!-
ed Him.
AUGUSTA. Ga June ll.-Another
terrible tragedy has been added to War
renton's bloody record Capt. w. J.
Magrath, a prominent merchant there,
was shot and instantly killed by Mr. y.
V. Howell. who recently removed from
| WarrenLon to Atlanta.
Howell Tired five shots at Magrath,
four of which took effect il the latter S
head and body.
The Two men were standing in the
poStolice at Warrenton, and when
Howell fired the fatal shots were not
more than four feet apart. Magrath
fell TO the floor and died in a few min
utes in great pain. He spoke only a
few words after being shot. One of
these was an invocation to God to have
mercy on his soul, and to a friend who
cautioned him to keep still, he SAID: L
will be still in few moments"
There was only one witness to the
shooting. That was Judge II. Ii. FitZ-
patrick, the postmaster at Warrenton,
who was filling outa money order blank
for Magrath at the time.
1t is stated that Howell went into the
postoflice, and seeing Magrath. said d:
capt. Magrath, you have been writing
letters to my wife" With this, Howell
drew his pistol and began firing at Ma
grath, who offered no resistance.
There are sensational features con.
nected with the case, and place Magrath
in the attitude Of writing love letters
to IIowell's wife.
Magrath is married man, with a
family of four children, and came to
Warrenton from Charleston, S. c. four
years ago.
Howell's wife is the daughter of j. W.
! DeBeaugrine, an eX-CharleStonlan, who
has been residing in Warrenton several
years. She and Howell were married
about two months ago.
1t is reported that Magrath wrote
her several notes before ner marriage,
making improper advances, one of
which fell into her fathers hands. This
led to an alteration, in which Ma
gTath'S life was threatened.
The matter dropped, however, and
nothing more was heard untlllast Tues
day, when Mr.. Howell came to Warren
ton. Then it was learned that he had
taken a letter from the postotiice at At
lanta addressed to his wife and contain
ing eight pages. The letter had no
name signed to it, but was postmarked
from Warrenton, and mentioned an eX-
press package which the writer had for
Warded to Mrs. Howell. 1t was claim
ed to be Magrath's handwriting.
Howell demanded an explanation OF
his wife, but she protested her innocence
and gave her husband to understand
that she had long been the victim of
such prosecutions at the hands OF Ma
grath. This is what brought about the
shooting.
Howell was brought to Augusta to-
night and committed to Jail to await the
action of the Warren County grand
jury.
The coroner'S jury which sat in in
quest on Magraths body, refused to say
whether the killing wasjustliable hon.
icide or murder
Warrenton is greatly excited over the
affair, as Capt Magrath has many
strong friends among the citizens.
Howell is carriage builder by trade,
and his wife is nothing more than q
child.
Magratt's relatives at Charleston
have been telegraphed tor, and will
reach Warrenton tomorro ".-The
Stotp