The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-04-18
The Solemn Truth of It.
Tillman's Court of Inquiry Tells
the Bloody Tale.

the Bloody Tale.
General Richbourg 10 his report to
Governor .Tillmap says:
In obedience to orders from you I
organized a court of inquiry. composed
of the following officers aud men
Capt. j. A. Mooney. Capt H. j.
Harvey, Corporal A. D. Mister and
Private F. a. Dantzler.
This court of inquiry was sitting at
the same time as the coroner's jury
and participated in the investigation
being conducted.
At the close Of the inauest the court
of inquiry made the following report to
me
DARLINGTON, S. c., April 5, 1894.
Brigadier General R. N. Richbourg,
Commanding troops, Darlington, S.
c.:
The undersigned having been ap.
pointed by you to constitute a military
court Of inquiry. under orders Of
Governor Tillman, commander-in-chief,
to sit with the jury of inquest in
session at the Atlantic Coast Line
Depot. said inquest being for the pur-
pose of inquiring into the death of
Frank E. Norment, R. n. Pepper and
Lewis Redmond:
We :.have the honor to report that
we attended the inquest, asking through
the coroner such questions as we
thought proper, and heard all the
testimony. We have reached the
following conclusions tberefrom I:
The sad tragedy which ended in
the death Of the three men above
named had its origin 10 a fight between
Two young men of Darlington-Rogers
and Floyd. They met at the depot
and after a few words engaged in a
6stcuf, in which Rogers was whipped.
At the fight one j. D. McLendon.
a State constable. was the friend and
hacker of Floyd, having a good deal
to say to encourage the fight. After
the fight Rogers went up town aud
returned with several friends. About
the same time the chief Of police Of
the cwn arrived at the depot. Rogers
began cursiog Floyd, and at the same
time pointing to McLendop, said that
he had aided Floyd, using very
opprobrious epitbets, to which McLen-
don replied in very forcible language.
The chief of police arrested Rogers aud
Floyd aud for the momen bad order
restored. Mr.. Norment and one or Two
other citizens pointed to McLendon aud
said be vas responsible for the whole
matter. Normen, called McLeodon a
id s. Of b.. McLendoo replied
hat he would not take that and
Immediately drew his pistol and fred
at Norment. Immediately some six
or eight citizens drew their pistols
and the constables drew their pistols
and began firing at each other, several
Of the coustables using Winchester
rifles. We ,irmly believe that had
MeLsndoD not iDterfered the chief of
police would have had no trouble in
preserving order and averting the
tragedy. We deem it unnecessary to
state all Of the testimony, as a copy
of the same will be transmitted to your
headquarters and to the commander
ip.chief.
We conclude from the evidence that
Frank E. Normens came to his death
in Darlington, S. c., CD the Both day
Of March, 1894. from the effects Of a
gupshot wound inflicted by one j D.
McLendou and that the said killing was
felonious murder. and that w P.
Gaillard, C. p. Mcdonald, J. G. Muir
phey, j. l.. Nunamaker, R. NJ.
Gardner, John Fielder, j. NJ. Scott,
L. H. McCauts. William Livingston,
o G. Cain, E.. G. Black. j. W. Hollo-
way. W. H. Bryson. Jack Holliug aud
Wash Owens are accessories.
We conclude that R H Pepper
came to his death at the same time
and place from a guushot wouod
inflicted by one Lewis Redmond and
that the said Lewis Redmond came to
his death a, the hands Of O. c. Cain
aud ths. said killing was felopious
murder. Redmond was running from
the constables and Cain shot him in
the back with a Winchester rifle. ALI
of which is respectfully submitted.
j. A. MOONEY,
Capt. and Chain Court Of Inquiry.
H. j. HARVEY. Captain.
J. c. COOPER. Sergeant.
A. D. mister, Corporal.