The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-02-19
"Tbe State offered $500 and the insurance


ssWere the stores insured p
.sThe store occupied by J. S. Booth 4 Co.
was insured for $500, and the Vinson store
for like amount
"What was the value of the stores p
.sThe Booth store was valued at ST., 750 and
the Vinsou store at $3.50"
son the night of the Ere, and while the
store occupied by Spaon Vnson was bura-
ing, did you or did you not say to negro
man in the presence of Rev J. W. Doweli,
Go up and ask mother if she wants the o;o
racket store 10 burn. u
81 did. Explained said that at present
there were no indications, as the sparks mad
not ,urned that way intended to get on
the top and save it if the sparks turned that
way"
Sat the time you approached Rev. j. +"
Dowe:l aud asked him TO testify as witness
in the case against Spann Viusou, did you or
did YOU not say to him that if he would come
down ard testify against Spapn Vlnson you
would divide The reward with him "a
ssI don't remember anytniog about 1t.
am not willing 10 answer either yes or no.
CAP tell what he said 10 me am wiling
for Mr.. Doweil 10 go on the stand and testify
to what occurred"
"Did not notice any odor of oil, ss il had
burned 10 too great an extent. Knew it was
oil by the splashes on the floor and walls,
where II had not burned The oil covered
about foot or foot and half in diameter !"
care you ac;uated ny any hope of obtain
ing the reward p ~ am actuated by de-
sire of seeing justice done, and if can get
the reward, will take it," ''If he, Vinsop,
saved any goods !: was before went TO the
store"
Rev. J. ". Dowe,l-Sometime before day
light my wife aud 1 were up with sick
child. We heard some noise, but while the
light was burning 10 the room could see
nothing on the outside When the light was
extinguished we saw the Booth store two
thirds enveioped in flames. I went to the
store as $50 as | dressed. When | got
there the jackson store was buring. We re-
moved articles from Dr.. McLauchlin's Office,
which soon caghs from Jacksons store.
Some minutes afterwards saw some one in
the Viason store, and thought be called for
help. went there and found Mr.. Vinson
moviog some goods out We brought out a
barrel Of sugar and one or two other articles.
Mr. Vinson then closed the store aud said
that the goods might as we'll be burned in the
store, if it caught, as 10 have them stolen if
they were put out in the cotton patch. |
then went over to the depot to warm and get
out of the wind. After about half or three
quarters Of an honr, | went back 10 the Vim
son store, aud heard that it was on 6re.
Several parties asked Mr.. Vinson to open the
door, but be refused When Mr. Marius
Saunders asked him to open the store, saying
that he had box Of shells or some other
articles in in there, Mr.. Vinson opened the
door at once Mr. Saunders went in and
followed him. We went up stairs to the
back room, where saw Ere Burning in the
corner on the floor and up to the ceiling on
an exposed stud, where the partition was
Joined. did not see whether the 6re was
burning between the outside wall and
plastefiDg Did not detect any odor of kero-
sene and saw no indication of any oil
There was some smoke in the
room, but it seemed TO be going
up into the loft through the ceiling
Mr Vinson was about half way
up stairs at the time He called
to me to come down as the FIRE wa:
up in the loft and it was dangerous. wen
down, as did not care to run into danger
Smoke was coming out of the roof at the
time and before went into the store. After
we went out Of the store, Mr.. Vinson locked
The door and refused to open it, giving as hi:
reason that if the goods were taken out and
stolen he would be unable to collect an nsu
rance"
When asked whether he heard Mr. Mariu:
Saunders send message to his mother ask
! inp IS she wanted the racket fVinson) etor.