The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-12-05
THE KILLING OF a WOMAN.
Lenmie Rapley IL Shot to Death by
Sloan Hearst-The killing Seems
TO Have Been CnprOvOke

The slght OF pOllcemen moving nurrledly
across the Public Square last Monday excited
curiosity, and an immense IN ultitude follow
ell. When the policemen arrived at the house
of Georg lana Chiles, in Needmore, Lemmie
lying on the bed In the throes of death. Wit
nesses TO the deed reported to the police that
Sloan Hearst had done the shooting.
While the curious crowd fingered around
the scene of the homicide. the policemen I'M
medstely set 10 arrest the perpetrator OF the
crime, who ran as soon as he fired the fatal
shots.
STATEMENT doA WITNESS.
Mamie Riley says that she, with Morlah
Miller and Bette Young, were present when
The shooting occurred. They were In the
house Of Georgiana Cbiles at the time. Sloan
Hearst came In the front door and asked Lem
back door with him. He said he wanted to
see her, and walked out into the back yard,
expecting her to follow. Lemmie said: "I'll
come out as soon as ] get through talking to
my sister," Sloan Hearst waited a few min
utes In the back yard. and returned, saying :
"Lemmie didn't l tell you to come out here ?"
Az he said that he walked up TO where she
and fired. Lemmie rose to her feet, threw up
her hands and hollered. AS soon as she was
on her feet he cursed her and said: "I'll kill
you," firing as he said so. He fired again, but
dresses on fire. Lemmie never spoke again.
She didn't live more than fifteen minutes az
ter being shot. The ball that was short into
her breast passed through Lemmie's body
and fell on the floor. where IL was found
this (Tuesday) morning. Sloan Hearst and
Lemmie Rapley have been tangled up for
some time. He lives on Mr.. Dave Dowtin's g
man. Lemmle lived here. and he came TO see
her. He hasn't been here since the circus
day-about month ago. He whipped her
then, and said he intended to kill her.
THE PRISONERS STATEMENT.
When called on yesterday at the jail Sloan
Hearst at first pretended 10 know nothing
about the shooting, but later admitted that
he might have shot the woman. whi G in
woman ran between him and the strange
man, (who was either white man or mulat-
to). and the shooting may have happened in
drunk that he didn't know a thing that he he
was doing. When asked If he had drank dis
pensary liquor. he said, he had bought some
TWO Xxx. he thought. The idea was Suggested
that he would plead drunkenness or insanity
as a defense. He denied at first having any
pistol at all, but afterward made the admis.
sions as above.
THE ARREST.
the arrest:
He heard the shooting about half past one
o'clock while he was at home at dinner. He
ran out In the piazza, and saw the excitement.
L1C woo SdllCu VII w sup tuO iIldu WuO WhS
running, as he had killed woman. He went
out and demanded Gf the negro to stop. He
stopped, turned and drew his pistol. bnt in Il
second began running again, and before
reaching Edmund Aliens house in Pin Hook,
he fired his pistol at some negro women moi
far of, without doing any damage. Mr.. Mil
ford followed Sloan to Johnson s house, and
stood guard at the back door. through which
Hearst had just passed, and waited un.
Til Policeman Mcmillan arrived. Waiting q
minute or SO, Policemen Fisher and GoiDgs
came.up. Goings, Fisher and Mcmillan went
In the house. They found Sloan lying on the
bed snoring, as If sleep. He didn't wake up
until he was raised and put on his feet. when
he was brought out and carried to the Jail.
Before entering Edmund Johnson's house
he opened his pistol and dropped out the car
tridges. He hid the pistol between the cell
ing and weatherboarding, where it was found
Monday night.