The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-05-22
A Morning Murder.
Albert DeBlain Kills Peter
Blair.
Daily Item, Nav l6.

4 murder wAs committed in Sumter I'll,
morning few minntes teeoce seven O'Clock
that at present hns the appearance Of being :"
a ,nost coi-n,ouded AND deliberate ra!nre
Albert peB!ain, L uiat'o pntrtsr, Who &
we'll known 70 many teoule il the con1nu"!
tv. killed Peter Bla!:, negro maa who l.
vel! spoken of py all who know him, his ow:
race in particular
The story Of the tragedy is b7ie6T told
DeBlaio and Blair, who live in adjoining
houses on the extension of Sur,ter Street be-
vond the Atlantic Coast Line track, had n
difficulty on Friday afternoon and threats
were made by both Of them. The row wa;
started by the wives of the men, and II bds
been going on for some time.
This morning the two men met IN front Of
their lou ses and Blair was let, deah on thr
ground, with two bullet holes in his hody
aod one in his bead The testimony of an
eve witness Of the killing was that Blair was
coming towards his house from the direction
of town. DeBlain came out of his house in
his shir, sleeves ard walked towards Blair
When they met, Blair raised his band and
touched his bat, saving at the same time,
''Well Albert" DeBlaiu caught hold Of
Bairs collar and shot once; Blair Jerked
loose aud attempted TO seize the hand hold
ing the psiol DeBsin avoided this and t1red
TWO more Shots before Blair fell Deblain
then went iuto his yard, gave his pistol to
his wife, came back 10 the body and lookeo
at lbe man b. had killed.
Mr.. " Fl Commander, wEo lives near by,
was called and arriving within few Tnln'
utes TOOK charg. y : DeBlain and brought him
up 10 the guard hnu;e.
Blsir's wife stated tbet she met Albert
DeBlaio few dnys ago-siuce tbs row-and
that ne told her be had bought u pistol to Xii
somebody. as sire made light OF bis ta'K'
ne then took pistol from bis pocket and ex'
h:hited i, to her
AInert DeBlain himself shtei soon after
he was placed in tie guard house TINS morn
ing that be had fuss with Blair last Friday
about Bairs wife abusing his wife, and thrl
Blaii wanted to Sight him then, but be would
no, 90 iuto The street. AT tne time ne WAS
in his ward and Blai. in his. This morning
sh-n he cA,ne out of his house hs met Balr
who attacked him with stick. 10 the night
he sho, his assai!aht.
The .vidroce before the jury ofinquest was,
il the main, yer, damaging TO DeBiain and
he will haze great difficulty in proving him
self ini:octnI OF n.utal and premeditated
murder
The verd;c of the jury Of inquest was that
Peter Blair came 10 his death from a gun
snot wound uaicted by Albert DeBlaio.
DR.. J. a. Mood msde an autopsy and found
three wounds One was on the right SIDE Of
the head The ball penetrated the scalp and
was aatieped against the scull- The Uranium
was not penetrated The second ball entered
The cavity of the body about two icches
from the left shoulder and ranged downward
and back ward, cutting the aorta two inches
above tie beart. X was found lodged IN the
muscles around the aorts aud WAS removed
The third ball sfru@ the dead man on the
right side near the point Of the ribs, but Old
not enter the abdominal cavity. The ball
could not he found, as it had been DETECTED By
the ribs and Was probably buried in some ol
the large muscles. The ball cutting The
aorta caused death within minute or two
by internal hemorrbagp.
TIE negroes are outspokcn in their con-
demna,ou of the murderer, and every one
With whom the writer Las talked, spoke Of
him as a bad negro, apd one who might have
been expected to commit such crime.