The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1892-12-22
A TRAGEDY AT AIKEN.
THE KILLING OF TOM LAMAR, THE
kAOllN KING.

Mayor Chaf.c and Chief Marshal CASTOR
Fatally Wounded The Fearful Work of
Whiskey-A Deep Gloom Cast Over the
City by tho a. fair.
AIKEN, S. g., Dec. l2.-Special: A
terrible tragedy was enacted IN Aiken
tins evening Just at dusk, and the result
IS one man lies IN the cold embrace of
death with bullet wound through his
heart and two otLers are lying in pre-
'rlous condition, one shot in the um-
bilious and the other in the lett breast.
About S O'Clock this afternoon Mayor
Robert A. Chafee received the following
telegram:
"LANGLEY, S. c., Dec. 12.-5.34 p.
M.-Mr. Robert A. Chatve, Aiken:
Tom Lamar has pistol. He is very
mad with you. He has gone TO Aiken.
9. b. Lamar"
To-day Mr.. Tom Lamar took the
train at Hamburg aud got Off at Lang sley,
where he got in buggy and drove to
Aiken. His threats at Langley made
his brother send the above telegram to
Mayor Chatee to warn him. When he
arrived Mr.. Chafee was on the lookout
Tor thin TO arrest hi n and put him in the
lookup. Accompanied by Chief Mar
shal Robert CASTOR they found him in
BlaJ locks bar taking drink. The
mayor walked up to him and told him
that he had TO arrest HIM, and catching
him by the left arm and the marshal by
| the right they started OUT the door with
him, and as soon as they reached the
sidewalk Lamar, who had his pistol in
his overcoat pocket. Quickly drew it and
shot Mr.. Chatee in the, stomach. He
wheeled and fired at Castor; missed the
first shot, fired again, the ball entering
his left bresL about the nipple. While
he was shooting the marshal used his
club over his head aud knocked him to
his knees and then Mr.. Chatee fired one
shot a. Lamar, the ball passing through
his heart, producing instant death.
II was all done 80 quicaly that every
body was taken by surprise. Mr.. Chafee
was taken to Hall's drug store and thence
home, where his wound was examined.
The ball entered about the navel, and it
is feared that his wound will prove fatal.
Mr.. Castor is shot through the left
lung, near the heart. He, too, is daa-
gerously wounded. DR.. Wymann at
tended hi and Drs. Croft and McGahn
are attending Mr.. Chafee.
Mr.. LamAr's body was taken In
charged by the Knights OF Pythias and
carried over across the street to their
hall. lie had been on an extended
drunk, and when under the influence of
whiskey was dangerous. Mr.. Lamar
was about As years of age, and we'll
known and well connected in this coun-
ty. He was born and reared in Beech
Island, and tor several years past has
been living in Aiken. Five or six years
ago he engaged IN mining kaolin clay,
ana has d )ne as much as any other man
to develop this industry. He was fine
business man and was full of energy,
but unfortunately was a slave to the
drink habit. About two months ago he
had shooting scrape with Mr.. II. H.
Jordan, since dead, in which he fired tour
shots and was knocked down. He has
since been drinking heavily, and only
last week had TO be placed in the guard
house at Aiken for safe-keeping, Since
then he went to Columbia and entered
the Kelley Institute for treatment.
Alter remaining there a day or 80 he
got on another spree and left, returning
to Beech Island.
Mayor Chafee is q leading spirit in our
town, and no man has done more to for
ward its interests than he. A little over
Two years ago he was elected mayor,
and in September last was reelected by
a very tlattering vote. He Is about IS
years of age, has wife and two chill
dren, and s very popular man. At
this writing az Z. M he is sleeping
under opiaLes. The affair has cast q
deep gloom over our city.-News and
Courier.