The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1896-02-18
AWFUL TRAGEDY At BlACKSBURG.
A Shanger Assassinatedi in the Heattof Town..
= A Woman in the Case.

: A AStranger Assassinetedin in the Heart Of Town.
= A Woman in tho Case.
The murder of Chas. L. Williams, {
stranger In the town, has created in
tense excitement in aud around Blacks
burg. Tue foul deed was committed
in one of the principal streets, and for
q time the affair was wrapped iu
mystery, but the coroner's jury render.
ed a verdict which cleared up the
mystery, as follows: That Chas. II,
Williams came to his death by pistol
ball shot from u pistol In the hands OF
M. Il. Reese, and that one Dan Luckie
is accessory"
On Thui sday night two citizens re-
turning to their boarding house stumbl-
ed over the dead body OF d man. In
vestigation showed 1t to be Chas. II.
Williams, Cf Tunnel Hill, Ga. An
alarm was raised and on searching his
body three notes were found from Mrs.
Anderson, a milliner. Mrs. Anderson
has been twice married to her present
husband, having been divorced, and
then remarked about eight months
| ago. From these notes 1t was found
that Williams had been sent here by Mr.
Anderson in the capacity OF a peace
maker, and while acting in this ca
pacity was murdered.
There Is no direct proof as to who
| committed the murder, but Marion r.
Reese and Daniel J4uckie are morn
than suspected. Reese Is one of the
richest men in town and has wife in
Greenvilie County. with whom he has
never lived. Luckie is brother of
| Mrs. Anderson. Both have left for
parts unknown.
The evidence against Reese is this !:
Reese is known To havO been insanely
ipa lr1s nf a n1 a III l,y in f,,t tnl
| with Mrs. Anderson. On the night of
the murder thero was party at the
house of Marion Moore aud Oh q piazza
overlooking the residence Of Reese
was Miss Harrington, who testified
that she saw two people at the time
of the shots run from where the dead
man was found. One of these parties
she positively identified as Reese and
the other went into the house of Mrs.
Anderson and is supposed to have been
Lucl1ie. he being the brother Of Mrs.
Anderson. Reese was reported TO have
been unduly intimate with Mrs. An
derson, and, it is said, furnished
house ana supported her, only few
doors from his own residence. Will
hams, in spite OF the warning Of Mrs.
Anderson, called at her house about
0:30 on the evening of the killing, and
was shot short while after.
The most, intense excitement prevails
in Blacksburg. Miss Harrington has
left for Charlottc, saying that she was
afraid violence would be done her i
she remained here. The friends OF
the murdered man and the town coun-
Gil have employed counsel TO prosecute
Reese. Detectives have been employ
ed, and are now actively searching for
Reese, who is supposed to be with
friends near here. 1t is the universal
opinion that he committed the murder.
FULLER ACCOUNT OF THE STORY.
4aThe Galfney Ledger gives much
led to the awful tragedy, in the follow
ing version of its correspondent at
Blacks burg
The woman whose perfidity inspired |
this tragic deed is Mrs. NJ. e. Ander-
son, who is renowned in this commun-
ity for her beauty. She is blonde,
not large, but stately, with charming |
features, and generally wore smile |
that would he calculated to drive some |
men crazy. She came here about two |
years ago from Georgia. She, with |
other parties, a man and q woman,
opened a millinery store in the Iron
months the man drew out and the two |
women continued the business short |
while. Then Mrs. Anderson run the |
business alone until January '95. In |
the meantime she boarded with Mrs. |
Dompsy, prcprietress of the Iron City |
Hotel, and for awhile had the entire |
to the best homes of Blacksburg. Mrs. |
Anderson was q grass-wldOw She |
finally left the hotel and rented a suite |
OF rooms ia the rear and above her mil |
linary store. Then it was that her
intimacy with Reese became so pro-
nounced as to cause comment. Gossip
became so rife she quit keeping house
and went to board with DR.. Ramsour,
vorced husband came to the city about
July year ago. He sought recon
ciliation and the pair were remarked
by the Rev. MIR. Johnson. The next
day after the re-marriage the husband
left, and no has not been heard of
since. 1t is thought the woman desir-
ed to appear to have a source of liveli-
hood and that she induced her hus-
band to return and remarry her for the
purpose OF having that appearance,
for Reese was wealthy and if he CAV
her too freely people would be NOR
liable to suspect, but IL she was mar
ried she could claim her husband was
providing her with funds. While Mrs.
Anderson was boarding at the Iron
City Hotel and before hor re-marriagc
this man Williams called on her one
day. After he left Reese quarrellcd
with the woman. Mrs Anderson after
wards returned to Georgia. Soon after
her departure Reese left and went to
Atlanta and then out west. In few
months Reese returned and few weeks
after Mrs. Anderson returned. She
then purchased u piece Of property.
| Her home was elegantly furnished
| and she seemed to have an abundance
| of wealth, carrying an account with Il
Charlotte bank. On her former stay
here she was financially embarrassed
and was generally regarded as being
! without means. Shortly after she re-
turned her brother, Dan Luckie, came
! here. He secured a position with
Reese and lived with his sister. There
after Reese visits to the Anderson do
main were quite frequent, in fact she
was generally regarded as Reeses mis-
tress. Ana so matters went until the
night Of tho tragedy.
M. Il. Reese is u large, fine-looking
man about forty-three. He has made
considerable money in real estate and
trading. He was generally regarded
as good citizen except in this affair.
When a Ledger representative saw
him Saturday he was faultlessly attir-
| ed in u becoming suit of black OF the