Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1895-05-01
Killing Of John C. SVeariDgel.
EVIDENCE GIVEN BEFORE
THE CORONER'S JURY.
Wounds in the Dead Mans Body
Indicate q Third; Unknown,
Participant.--CauSe of the
Fcud.
From The State April 26.l

Edgefeld yesterday morning, caus-
ing the death of Mr.. John c..
Swearingen, a brother-in-law of
Senator Tillman, at the hands OF
his brother-in-law, Mr.. Ben L..
Jones, which was the outcome Of
a bitter family feud of years
standing, was a most lamentable
affair. This cannot be fully real
lied until one visits the pictures
que section of hiily Edgefeld,
wherein the residences of the de-
ceased and the slayer command a
magnificent view of the surround
ing country for many miles; two
homes within sight of one anoth-
er, vet with gulf made by human
blood and a world of suffering
yawning between them. At one
home to-day lay the dead body of
the slain man, riddled with bull
let holes. Around 1t were gather
ed a sobbing widow, blind son
and two young daughters, who
idolized their parent. Out
side, preparations for a funer-
al were in progress. Many friends
of the deceased with sorrow-mark-
ed faces were about. At the other
home, so near, was the lone sister
of the slain man; she who is the
wife of the slayer. Who shall say
that the agony here is not equal
if not greater than in the other
home?
We hear talking of the sad trag-
edy on every side and all express
regret. The feud which culmlna-
ted in the killing is of long stand
ing. II dates back to the opposi-
ton of the deceased to Jones mar
rving his sister. The immediate
cause of the killing was certain
action on the part of Swearingen
on Monday last in Augusta. Some
time ago Swearingen was arrested
at the instance of Luther Jones
and it was shown, it is said, that
Swearingen cut fence rails and
put them in a road used by the
Jones' so as to ruin one of Lu-
theirs horses. Swearingen was
found guilty and sentenced to pay
a fine of $50 or serve six months
on the county gang. He, however
vigorously protested that he hao
placed the rails on bis land in a
safe and proper manner. Monday
Swearingen came to Augusta II
search of a negro, Jim Davis, whe
had worked for the Jones family
but had moved to Augusta directly
after the occurrence. Davis whe1
found swore before a magistrate
that Swearingen was not 10 blame
that the rails had been scattered
by Luther Jones and Walter an(
Robert Samuels and that after
wards these parties collected th'
rails, poured kerosene on then
and burned them. Swearingel
took the negro back to Edgefele
with him, as he SAID, to vindicat
himself. The rest is explained il
what was said at the fatal meet
ing. Mr.. Jones, it is said, cam
! years ago k1IIed a negro in beasgRg
field county, was tried and ac
quilted.
Mr.. Swearingen's funeral wa
held this afternoon and the re
mains were inferred in the church
yard near the old home of Sena
tor Tillman, five miles from hi
late home.
AS to the positions of the mel
when the shooting occurred
might be said that Swearinger
was standing in the store door, ;
little to the right. Jones, tht
younger, was inside near the coun
ter, on the left hand side, consid
erably behind Swearingen. Mr.
Ben Jones was on the pavement il
front facing swearingen. Swear.
ingen after being hit stepped be-
hind the right hand counter
walked some nine feet, turned
came back and fell dead on his
face in the corner near the show
window. The positions indicate
that the shot referred to below in
the window sill came from young
Jones and also that the bullet in
the brain came from his pistol.
This is merely supposition,' how
ever, based on the relative posi-
tions of the men and the conse-
quent directions. Whether the lad
did any shooting or not and where
the blame rests for the starting of
the affair are unsettled questions
Wnlch jury OF Mr. Jones cOun-
trymen will have to decide.
Immediately after Trial Justice
L. G. Bell, who was acting as cor
oner, had the dead body placed on
a stretcher and removed to the
court house, he summoned a jury
and the inquest began. DR.. Devore
hastily making the medical exam
ination--too hassily, as will be
seen below. The evidence adduced
in the inquest thus held was as
follows:
DR.. G. P. Devore said: I am a
practicing physician of Edgefield
county. have examined the dead
body Of John c. Swearingen death
was caused by a gunshot wound
entering at the upper margin of
the RIGHT ear and Denetratinp the