The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-02-19
Mr.. L. Spann Vlnson. Who
Was Charged With Setting
Fire to His Store is
Cleared. No Case
Made Out at the
Preliminary.
States Witnesses Testify on the Stand
They We're offered Money to Gao'
Evidence against Him.
iur. Mari;us 3. Saunders the Prosecr-
tina Witness arrested Immediate
ly after the Hearing on
another Charge.
From the Daily Item, February Is


greatly surprised 10 learn that warrant had
been Issued BY Trial Justice Wells, Oh the
affidavit Of Mr. Marius Sanders charging Mr
Spann Vinson with having on the
morning of January l4th, (Tuesds!) sci
FIRE to the store he occupied at
Hagood, The store was the property OF Mrs
Hsrriett R. Saunders. the mother OF the
Young man making the affidavit, and was
burned OF the same night that the stores OF
] s Booth l. Co, and Jackson were burn
ei, it being the last to catch aud burn. At
the time it was evident that the store OF
S Booth & Co, had been robbed ana then
fred, and from this store the o:ber caught.
The stores we're all near together, .he Vlnson
store being the most distant-the distance
being estimated at so to so yards.
The warrant was not executed and Mr.
Vinson was not arrested. He learned that the
warrant had been issued and that the pre-
,iminary would ce held this morning, so be
was on hand when the hour arrived.
As the Office of Trial Justice Wells coald
not begin 10 accommodate the crowd that as
sembled, the hearing was had ID the Court
House.
TIE State was represented by C. NJ. Hurst,
Jr., ESQ.,, and vinson by r. O. Purdy, Esq.
The charge entered Was that Of tenant
setticg FIRE to premises, and not arson, as at
6rss rumored The testimony was as fol-
lows:
NJ. B. Sauoders-''On the night of January
l4th two buildings owned by my mother,
Mrs. e. R. Saunders, and three owned by
DR.. B. MCLAUGHLIN were burned. The two
stores of my mother were occupied by J. S.
Booth Il Co., and L. S. Vinsou.
The first information bad of the burning
of the Vinson store was when / sent two
negroes around to see about some bedding
saved from Dr. McLanchlin's Office. They
said-[stopped by attorney. When | first
saw smoke rising from the store, asked Mr.
Vinson to open the store, which he refused to
do. In about fifteen minutes my mother and
sister came down to .oe store and ordered
Mr. Vinson to open the store. He then did
so. then entered the store in company with
Mr.. Dowell. We discovered FIRE 10 the
western side Of the rear room, on the second
floor On the inside Of this room there was
no indication of FIRE, except where the FIRE was
burning, in the corner and on the wall above
: there could be seen where oil or some other
ingredient had been poured up and down
the floor, aud on the walls in the corner
After seeing this and establishing begon
doubt that the store had been set on FIRE, |
vent down stairs and asked Mr. Vinson to
give me bucket aad assist in putting out
the fire. He refused to give the bucket or
assist. After I left the store, Mr.. Vinson
locked the store, in the absence of my mother,
and refused to open it, so that l, with assis-
tance had secured, could put it out. When
my mother returned ard ordered Mr. Viuson
to open the store, the FIRE had extended into
the roof
Interrogated by c. NJ. Hurst, Jr:-"Was
the store totally destroyed? ?' "It was"
sWhicn store was burned 6rst?' 'sThe one
occupied by Booth. The store occupied by
Mr.. R. F. Jackson vas the next to burn. 1,
was distant about SO yards''
s'There was no 6re to be seen from the out
side, except from the back. There was NO
way in which the FIRE could have been com.
municated to the building from the other
stores"
''Twenty or thirty minutes before the fire
was discovered in the store, Mr.. Vinson was
in his store, and was then asked if be wanted
any assistance. He said he needed none, a:
be could save ali he wanted He refused tc
allow any one permission for the removal o.
his goods, giving as his reason that if tbs
goods were removed and lost he would get nc
insurance Said so in presence Of wit
nesses"
DID you know of any reward offered fol
the conviction of the parties setting fire to
these stores? ~ do.''
',Did you go to Columbia to see the Gov.
ernor about the reward ?''