The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1892-01-20
THE FATE OF AN INCEND1ARY.
The I.aurens Firebug Detected and Killed
in the Act by J. Oswell Richardson-
The Killed Justified.
Especial to the State.

Especial to the State
LAURENs, Jan. 1.-THE ince ndiary
met bis end at l1:30 o'clock last night.
Lawrence Thompson, twenty year
old negro was caught almost in the very
act of firing Mrs. Richardson's house
and was shot to death by herson Oswell
Richardson.
Last Thursday night Mrs. S.P. Rich
ardson's boarding house on Harper
street was set on fire, and the evil
dences of incendiary origin were un-
mistakable. Since then, Mrs. Richard
sons son, J. Oswell Richardson, a
young man twenty-five years old, has
been keeping guard, staying up pretty
much all night. He had placed a
breech-loading shotgun loaded with
buckshot under the back steps, where
he could get it conveniently if it was
needed. AS it was raining last night,
Richardson concluded not to stay up,
and few minutes before II o'clock
went out to get his gun. When he
reached the rear of the house he saw a
negro go around the side Of the house
and enter the cellar. Richardson went
to the step and got out the gun, but in
doing so made some noise. He went
back and without being himself seen,
saw the neglo peering from the cellar
door. The negro went in again, was
gone several minutes, came back and
stood for a minute or two looking back.
Richardson fired too shots with his
shotgun, and then thinking that he
heard some one running behind, went
back little to look for them, knowing
that the negro whom be had seen could
not escape on account of the high
fences. Coming back in moment, he
advanced thinking the negro had gone
again into the cellar, but came on him
standing behind the cellar door. Rich
ardson then opened fire on him with
his pistol, five times, reloaded and fired
three times again. 1t was only at the
last that he recognized the negro as
Thompson. Policeman Winters arrived
before the firing ceased. Thompson
died immediately.
Winters found just within the cellar
a quart bottle containing about a tum-
bier full of kerosene oil. Some of the
plank enclosing the cellar were wet
With oil. Matches were found on
Thompson.
An inquest and autopsy were held
this morning. The verdict was that
the killing was justifiable. Richardson
Immediately.
Thompson has always been a vaga-
bond worthless boy, and has often fig
ured in the mayors court, but was not
dangerous.
Richardson in charge of the sheriff
and accompanied by his counsel, B. W.
Ball went to Columbia tonight, and a
motion for bail will be made before
Judge McIver tomorrow.
The unanimous sentiment Of the
community justifies Richardson and
the verdict of the coroner's jury.
RICHARDSON GETS BOND.
Last nis tt. O. Richardson arrived
in the city in the custody of Sheriff B.
W. Ballew, and accompanied by his at
torney, Col. B. w. Ball.
Mr.. Richardson told the story of the
occurrence to the States representative.
He said the house had been fired last
Thursday night, week ago, and since
that time he had been on the watch,
determined to capture the firebug.
night Thompson had sat-
urated portion of the house with kerr
osene and was about to light it when be
was discovered. Mr.. Richardson then
shot him with his double-barrel gun,
and the negro leaned against the door.
He rushed to him, and the rascal, al
though wounded, grappled with him,
him by the arm. In tie strug-
gle Richardson shot the negro five
times with his pistol, killing him. He
was forty feet away when he fired the
first shot and it was within II minutes
of midnight.
Richardson said he whipped the
negro on Monday night last. His
mother had raised the rascal, he being
a son of an old slave of the family and
it was as if they had warmed the adder
which was to sting them.
Last night Col. Ball took the young
man before Associate Justice Pope, the
attorney general appearing for the
State, and it appearing that the killing
vas iustiiable the young man was
granted bond in the sum of $1,000
which will be given il Laurens to-
lay.
Mr.. Richardson is quiet, peaceable
ooking young man of good address.