The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-05-29
A TERRIBLE TRAGEDY.
James Mayrant Burned tc Death
in the Guard House.
From the Daily Item, Nav 81.


Mention was made on Saturday that James
Mayrant, colored train hand running on
the Atlantic Coast Line freight, had beee ar
rested at E4stover for breaking into box
car and stealing several bottles Of whiskev
aud that he had been brought TO this city and
imprisoned in the guard house
On Saturday night Attorney DeJogn arrived
il the city with warrants for Mayrant He
had 40 interview with the prisoner IN the
guard house aud told him that the railroad
company was fully aware that there WAS a
gang that had been Systematically robhing
freight trains for long time, aud that it
Mayraut would give the Information that
would secure the arrest CT the gang be would
be made States witness and let of lightly {,
otherwise be would be prosecuted TO the ex-
tent of the law. Mayrant cid not reply to
The proposition, but Mr. DeJogn told him
that be would return at o'clock to carry
him to Columbia.
At 80 o'clock Sunday morning the alarm
Of fire was given by Armstead Robinson,
who cps on The second floor of the old en-
gin. yuse adjoining tie guard house yard.
He wAs awakened By his room being filled
with smoke and faint cries. He ran out and
found the guard house on Ere. Running out
to Main Street he alarmed Policemen Hol-
man and Gallagher, who were on duty.
One ran to the guard house to rescue May
rant and the other TO ring the fire alarm.
When the guard honse door was opened the
entire interior was found 10 be ablaZe and
there was no signs that Mayrant was still
alive.
The reel squads turned out promptly
Monaghan No. 2, arriving 6rst-and ex-
tnguished the Ere.
Mayrant was found to be dead and his
body badly burned. The flesh WAS burned
from bis face, hands, feet and legs. Later,
a second alarm Was giveo, the FIRE having
broken out again, but this was also e1tin-
guished without spreading TO adjoining
buildings.
The suspicious circumstances connected
with the FIRE and the death Of Mayrant made
necessary an inquest by the Coroner. a jury
was accordingly summoned, and the case 10
vestignted yesterday.
Armstead Rebinson, Policemen Holman
and Gallagher and Chief Bradford were the
principal witnesses examined.
Robinson testified 10 the facts stated above.
He did rot bear ary outcfy from the guard
house after he left bis room, and those be
heard when be was first awakened were not
very loud.
Policeman Holman testified that be was
standing in front of tho Opera House when
the clock struck !. After staoding there a
few minutes be went bis regular round of in-
spection back of the Opera House, to the
guard house and back of Bultman Bros
aiore, returning the came way. At that time
there was 90 FIRE at the guard house. After
inspecting the rear Of the stores, be returned
10 the street, and from the Opera House went
to the corner of Liberty street. 1t was ooly q
few minutes subsequent to this that the alarm
of FIRE WAS given. Other witnesses testified
thatthe bell began to ring at /. .27 O'Clock.
Chief Bradford testified as to the interview
of Mr. Dejogn with Mayrant.
The jury rendered verdict that the de-
ceased, James Mayraut, came to his death oy
burning, the Gre having been started by a
party or parties unknown TO the jury.
The general opinion Of the members Of the
Jury and of the public 10 general is hat the
guerd house was set on FIRE with the delioer-
ate intention of causing the death of Mayraat.
ltis further believed that the guilty parties
are the coufedel es Of Mayrant in robbing
the freight trains, who, fearing that Mayrsnt
would inform on them, took that diabolical
means OF putting him out of the way, and
ridding themselves of this source of danger OF
detection. Every circumstance leads to
the conclusion that this belief is correct
Mayraat had nothing with which TO kindle
a FIRE, had he desired to do go, even though
provided with matches. The blankets were
not Burned, but were lying in the corner OF
The rell when the IRE was ex'ingulshed
The position of Migrants body confirmed,
the opinion that when awakened, be found
the cell ab.aze and rushed 10 the grated win
dow 10 which he cung, until overcome with
heat be fell back and expired. The aoor OF
the cell is burned 10 char from the window
to the door and out toto the entrance of the
guard house, just as if kerosene or some
iohemable substance had been poured in -
the window and then ignited, the burning
oil, naturally flowing across the cell as II
floor was inclined in that direction. Cnl'
the FIRE was started with oil it could not ha''
spread so rapidly within the few minutes
from the time Policeman Holman inspected
the guard house and found no FIRE and when
the alarm was given, for the character OF
the building is such that FIRE unassisted hy
an iuhamable substance would burn slows.
There are a few persons, however, wno
hold to the opinion that Mayrant started tie
FIRE himself, and that it was deli
nerate case of self destruction. The grounds
for this belief are but slight and do not
weigh heavily against the theory generally
accepted.
The case calls for some detective work OF
the shrewdest sort, and it is to be hoped that
there will be some means Of bringing the
guilty w!etches to justice.