The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1894-11-29
Further Particulars of Mi. L. 3.
Lawrence's Death.

That paper says
"The facts and statements warrant the
assertion that the double tragedy Is re-
GREETED by both the people Of Lula ana
the surrounding country All OF the
parties enjoyed more OF less popularity,
and have large circle Of trends.
Harmon and Lawrence were walking
north on the main street u the little
village about noon, presumably on Their
way TO dinner, as they were accustomed
to going each day. They were APP
preaching \. r. SDedge d Co.'S store,
which stands on corner almost direct
Iy east of the freight depot. The Boyd
brothers. John and Bob, on that day
had "beef wagon" in town, and were
selling beef to the citizens. Their
wagon stood on a back street, northwest
and directly across from Sledge's store.
Their wagon being situated In this
position from it, the view south on the
street was INSTRUCTED by the storehouse
Consequently from the wagon, John
BOYD, the man who did the shooting,
could not see the mayor and his friend
as they approached from the south.
But Bob Boyd, tie l7-year-old brother
of the slayer, was sta nding on or near
the corner where Sledge's store is lOca
ted. At the coroner's inquest it was
stated that when Harmon and Lawrence
we're seen coming up the street, Bob
was seen to run to the wagon, where
his brother John was stationed, selling
the meat He communicated something
to him, presumably, for John imme-
diately reached into the wagon and got
his Winchester rifle. He advanced
with quick step toward Sledge's cor
ner. In front and to the side OF
Sledge's store there is low porch,
about three feet high, this being brac-
ed by posts. Boyd advanced to this
porch and stopped. On the other side
Harmon and Lawrence were approach
ing together and evidently conversing.
AS soon as Boyd saw the men he raised
his rifle and fired, first at Harmon.
The bullet struck the mayor in the
right leg, going completely through
that member This wound was about
half way between the knee and thigh.
The force of the bullet caused Harmon
to reel and almost fall. He caught to
a corner of the post OF }. w. Fulton 8
store, and half way reclined on the
porch. Harmon recovered slightly
from the shock, pulled his pistol and
fired instantly at Boyd. The latter,
however, knowing that Harmon was a
quick "a we'll as sure shot, darted
| behind the corner of Sledge's store just
| in time to evade the bullet from Har-
mons pistol. IT struck the corner of
| the store, just on a level with Boyd's
breast, and those who know the mayors
| record with the revolver as a target
shooter, say that Boyd saved his own
life by taking refuge around the corner
OF the house. Hardly had the report
Of the mayors pistol died away, how
ever, when Boyd, with his rifle to his
shoulder. stepped out in full view and
fired a seconu snot. This was the fataI
one for Harmon. He was standing at
full Height, supporting himself by
holding to the post and watching with
mia smoking revolver in his hand for
hi. adversary to show around the cor
ner When Boyd stepped out and fired
tho last and fatal shot for Harmon, that
man raised his arm as if to shoot also.
Boyd was quicker on the trigger than
Harmon, and his rifle spoke with dead
" effect Just a second or two before
Harmon's pistol sounded. The rifle
bail struck Harmon in the left corner
Of the mouth, passed through bis head
and stuck in the post of tulton's store,
by which he had supported himself.
Harmon threw up both hands and sank
down upon the porch As he did 50
the bullet he had intended for Boyd
sped through the top OF the awning of
Fulton's store. He expired almost
instantly and never spoke to any one
"All this happened in nearly the
twinkling Of an eye. Boyd, seeing
Harmon fall, Immediately showed
another cartridge into his rifle Law
renee, possibly fearing that Boyd would
next turn his attention to him, was in
the interim moving away westward
toward the depot. He was watching
Boyd, however, all the time Lawrence
had only proceeded about twenty-five
feet when Harmon sank down in his
tracks, a corpse. Boyd, as stated, re-
loaded his winchester. Without NOV
ing out of his tracks he raised his gun
and fired at Lawrence, who was still
going toward the depot. At the crack
Of the rifle Lawrence fell dead in the
street with his brains oozlng out Of a
frightful hole in his head Boyd's aim
had been very accurate The rifle ball
entered Lawrence's right eye and passed
out at the back of the head Death
was instantaneous.
"Then Boyd whirIed and ran to the
back street, where he mounted horse
and fled, with his rifle swinging to his
side. Bob, his young brother, fled also,
but on foot. He carried shotgun.
The young boy took no part IN the
shooting except it is believed that he
notified his brother when Harmon and
Lawrence were approaching. John did
all the shooting
Boyd stood at distance of seventy
five or hundred feet from his victims
when he pumped the lead into their
bodies. Lawrence was not armed, and
the only reason assigned for Boyd kill
ing him is that he was a very intimate
friend of Harmon and would probably
have fought for him if the circumstan-
ces necessitated it and he was prepared
Harmon and Lawrence were very warm
personal friends, boarded at the same
house and had their offices in the same
building. The statement that Harmon
was married man is erroneous. Both