The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1895-05-01
THE EDGEFIELD TRAGEDY.
THE EVIDENCE GIVEN BEFORE TIE
CORONER'S JURY.

CORONER'S JURY.
Wounds Given in the Dead Mans Body In
dicate a Third, Unknown. Participant
Cause of the Feud Jones Visited in Jail
and Talked With.
EDGEuaD C. H, April 25.-The
tragedy which occurred in Edgeheld
Yesterday morning, causing the death
of Mr.. John G.. Swearingen, "a brother
in-law Of Senator Tillman, at the
hands5of his brother-in-law, Mr.. Ben
L. Jones. which was the outcome Of
bitter family fued of years standing,
was a, most lamentable affair. This
cannot be fully realized until one
visits the picturesque section of hlu1y
Edgefeld, wherein the residences OF
the deceased and the slayer command
a magnificent view of the surround
ing country for many miles; two
homes within sight of one another,
yet with a gulf made by human blood
and world Of suffering yawnlng be-
tween them. At one home today lay
the dead body of the slain man, rid
died with bullet holes. Around it
were gathered a sobbing widow, a
blind son and two young daughters,
who idolized their parent. Outside,
preparations for funeral were IN pro-
gress. Many friends of the deceased
with orrow- marked faces were about.
At the other home, so near, was the
lone sister of the slain man; she who
is theswife of the slayer. Who shall
say that the agony here is not equal
if not greater than in the other home?
We. are talking of the sad tragedy
on every side and all express regret,
The feud which eliminated in the
killing is of long standing. 1t dates
back tothe opposition of the deceased
to Jones marrying his sister. The I'M
mediate cause of the killing was GER.
tain action on the part of Swearingen
on Monday last in Augusta. Some
time ago Swearingen was arrested at
the instance of Luther Jones, and 1t
was shown, it is said, that Swearlngen
cut fence rails and put them IN road
used BY the jones so as to ruin one OF
Luthers horses. Swearingen was
found guilty and sentenced to pay a
fine of $50 or serve six months on the
county gang. He, however, vigor-
ously protested that he had placed the
rails on bis land in a safe and proper
manner. Monday Swearingen came
to Augusta in search of negro, Jim
Davis, who had worked for the Jones
family, but had moved to Augusta dl-
rectly after the occurrence. DAVIS
when found swore before magistrate
that Swearingen was not to blame,
that the rails had been scattered by
Luther Jones and Walter and Robert
Samuels aud that afterwards these
parties collected the rails, poured kero-
sene on them and burned them.
Swearingen took the negro back to
Edgefeld- with him, as he said to vim:
dicate himself. The rest IS explained
in what was saiq at the fatal meeting.
Mr.. Jones, it is said, came originally
from Texas. BE some years ago killed
negro ins sEdgefeld county, was tried
and acquitted :,
Mr.. Swearingen's funeral was held
this afternoon and the remains were
inferred in the churchyard near the
old home of Senator Tillman, five
miles from his late home. As to the
positions Of the men when the shoot,
ing occsfned lit might be said that
SwearingenMas standing N the store
door, little to the right. Jones, the
Younger, twas inside near the counter
on the lsfSs,and side, considerably be
hind Swsaringen. Mr.. Ben Jones wa:
on the spagement in front facing
Swearing gen. Swearingen after being
hit stepped behind the right hanc
counter, walked some nine feet, turn
ed, came back and fell dead on hi:
face in the-corner near the show WIN
dow. The positions indicate that th'
shot referred to below in the window
sill came from young Jones and aist
that the bullet I'M the brain came from
his pistol. This is merely supposihon
however5:based on the relative posi-
tons Of the men and the consequen
directions Whether the lad did an.
shooting OF not and where the blam'
rests for the:starting of the affair ar
unsettled questions which a jury o
Mr.. Jones "coUntrymen will have Il
decide.
Immediately after Trial Justice L
G., Bell, who was acting as coroner
had the dead body placed on stretch
er and removed to the court house, n
summoned a jury and the inquest be
gan, DR.. Devore hastily making tn
medical .examination-too hastily,
will beseen below The evidence &C
duced at the inquest thus held was
follows:
DR.. c. P. Devore said: ! am
practicing physician Of Edgefeld cour
tv. 7 have examined the dead body G
John C. Swearingen death was cause
by a ganshot wound entering at tn
upper margin of the right ear an
penetrating the posterior portion, c
- the brain. ! find a small glancin
shot on: the breast, not sufficient
produce any injury. In my opinion
the eunsfot wound in the head woul
have produced death l found fes
wound oyer the eye not caused by
gunshot. =,
W. 5. Sheppard, who was in tn
store said: / was in the store, but ha
gone down into the cellar before th
shooting took place and was in the ce
lar when the shooting took place
Jim Carter, Hugh Anderson and IL
ther Jones We're in the store.l though
there might be a difficulty IN the stol
and went down into the cellar. Sa'
Mr.. Ben Jones come up; did not hes
him say anything. Luther Jones an
Mr.. Swearingen were having SON
pretty hot words Mr.. Swearlnge
was standing in the front door.
James Carter, clerk IN the stol
and an eyewitness, said: | saw NJ
Swearingen in the front door. l sa
A. ponIoras rral,. IN Mr. SWea