The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-02-26
KILLED HIS PLAYMATE.
A TWELVE YEAR OLD LAD TAKE AN
OTHERS LIFE WITH A BLOW.

Jim Miller and George Demates Havo y
Difficulty with a Sad Ending--Demates
Struck With samll Piece Of Iron and
His Heart Paralyzed.
COLUMBIA, s, G., Feb. 1S.-A very
sad killing occurred near the Con-
garee Mills yesterday at noon, when
James Miller, twelve year old white
boy, struck another lad named George
Donates on the heart with small
piece of lorn, in6icting instant death.
The boys were old playmates, which
makes the death all the more unfortun-
ate. Miller and Demates both work
in the Congaree Mill. They live
across the street from each other,
about one hundred yards from the
mill. Miller has been in the city one
week, having moved here with his
parents from Charleston. Demates
has been working here for some
months. He is, perhaps, fourteen
years of age. and like most mill em-
ployees of that age, is rather thin
caused from the close work which he
is required to perform. Miller is short
and well built.
OF course there are two sides to the
killing, both differing widely apart
and as no coroners inquest was held
yesterday it was impossible to obtain
the true particulars. 80 -
The boys had some difficulty during
the early part of the day. They en-
countered each other at the dinner
hour, at which time the fight took
place. ..... .
When a Register reporter called at
the station house shortly after Jim
Miller had been locked up, he was
found lying down in his cell on his
back and seemed worried: He was
called to the cell door and asked to tell
how the killing happened.
Jim says the difficulty first arose
from his slapping the face of small
boy who had been troubling him.
Demates came along and wanted to
continue the fuss. Demates asked
him what BUSINESS did he have quar-
relling with the child. Jim said that
Demates cursed him and threatened to
whip him at IL o'clock, which he, con-
sented to take if Demates was man
enough to put it on. He says that
Demates and his brother came at him
as soon as the mill stopped work and
that both of them had something to
fight with. Jim says they started at
him, knife in hand, he picked up g.
roller and threw it at Demates, strik-
ing him in the breast, but not until
Demates had thrown a brickbat at
him. The roller, which is a small
iron four inches long, will weigh half
pound. This struck Demates on
the heart, and he died few minutes
later.
Mrs. Lizzie Abbot, sister of the
dead boy, tells an entirely different
tale from that of Jim. She says her
brother had nothing in his hand when
he was following Jim, but only want
ed to see what he was going tocd0.
She says that Jim had two rollers and
threw one at Demates at the corner Of
the mill. George Demates was fol-
towing when Jim threw the roller
with deadly effect.
The two boys were about thirty-two
feet apart when the roller was thrown.
Mrs. Demates. the dead boys moth
er, says she saw them quarrelling and
went out to stop it. Just as she got In
few steps of her boy he was struck
on the heart and died before he could
be carried in the house.
DR.. Robert D. Earle, who was Yiait.
ing patient in the reighborhood,
was Immediately called in, but he
could not do anything as life was them
extinct. DR.. Earle says that the roll
er struck the boys heart paralyzing il,
and causing instant death.
Sheriff Cathcart and Coroner Roach!
were summoned but no inquest was
held owing to the difficulty Of securing
a jury. The inquest will be held at
u o'clock today in the Court House.
The killing caused something Of q
sensation among the mill employees,
though no trouble was feared. Jim
Miller did not seem to comprehend
what he had done. He said, however,
that he was sorry it occurred. He was
carried back to Jail until the inquest
to-day. Mrs. Demates wept bitterly
as she lay on her bed and told the re-
porter how she saw her boy fall dead
at her feet.
Two of Jim Miller's brothers Wit
messed the killing, besides several
members of the Demates family. It
will be difficult matter for the Cor
oner's jury to render verdict from
the conflicting testimony, which will
be brought out on the stand today.