The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1897-04-01
Another Shocking Tragedy in Edgetie|d.
"A SOLlCITOR,S DEADLY BULLET.
Ills Victim Died Almost Instantly
After Being Shot-A Single Wit
ness to the Dcplorable Affair.

After Being Shot-A Single Wit
ness to the Dcplorable Affair.
A sad and unfortunate homicide oc-
CURED in Edgeticld ut o'clock on
Wednesday afternoon. SolicitorJ. w.
Thurmond shot and killed w. G.. Har-
ris, drummer for The Murray Drug
Co., of Columbia, S. c.. Mr.. Harris is
a nephew of Collector of Internal
Revenue Townes, and son OF w. G..
Harris, a prominent citizen of Edge
fed County.
The trouble, it seems, arose olt of
the fact that while Mr.. Thurmond was
o. member of the State Legislature he
recommended that Governor Evans
appoint a gentleman named GLOW or as
magistrate instead Of Harris, the old
incumbent and father of the deceased.
Since MIR. Thurmond has been solic-
itor he has had nothing whatever to do
with recommending applicants for po-
sltlonS of magistrate, but under Gov
ernor Elierbe's administration Mr.,
Harris, senior, was again an applicant,
but Glover, who was nn~"i"'cd ~ q -"
evans, was aris'.l..-a by EliciDu.
MIR. w. G. Harris, deceased, seemed to
think that Solicitor Thurmond was in
strumental "a having it done and about
1T he accOstcd Solicitor Thurmond this
store of w. E. Lynch.
Mr.. Harris, it is said. had been drink
Ing and used very hot language. Thur
mond. to avoid difficulty, left the Lynch
store and went to his Office. He was
there engaged at work when MIR. Har-
ris passed by on the way to his hotel,
in company with Capt. DuBoso, tho
proprietor. On reaching /. doorway
to Thurmond's Office Harris stopped.
Captain DuBosc walked on Il few steps.
The subject of former discussion was
again brought up by Harris, the latter
finally saying to Thurmond that he
(Thurmond) had acted like cd id
dog and scoundrel, and threw his hand
and placed his foot on Thurmond's
doorstep. Thcreupon rhurmond fired
from where he was sitting. Harris stag
gcrcd backwards and fell upon the side
walk. He got up and walked few
PAGES, whom he fell dead. The ball
entered from tho front just below the
shirt stud and passed into the cavity
of the heart.
A jury of inquest was summoned, ,
and, after viewing the body, adjourned
until tomorrow. Great regret is felt
here over the occurrence. Solicitor
Thurmond was never known to have
by everybody as a peaceful and law
abiding citizen. He surrendered him
self and is now in jail. He is complete
ly overcome by his misfortune. He
has retained Messrs. Croft ana Tillman
and N. G. Evans to defend him.
The Columbia State says: The first
news OF the tragedy in Edgefield was
received here in dispatch to DR.. w
j. Murray, saying simply: "Your Mr..
Harris was shot and killed here this
afternoon" DR.. Murray was very
much shocked at the intelligence and
dozens Of MIR. Harris's friends expressed
sincere regret. Mr.. Harris had only
| left this city at s a. m. He had spent
the day preceding in Columbia and had
been up to the government building
to see his uncle: He was in fine spirits
and it was hard to imagine the cause
of the trouble which led up to his
death. He had given no one here any
reason to think that he was anticipat-
ing trouble of any kind.
| Mr.. Harris has been in the employ OF
the Murray Drug Company for several
years. He was we'll known in the city
both socially and otherwise.
He was on the road the most of the
time and bad friends all over the State
His homo was with his father, eight
miles from Augusta, on the South Car
ollna side. He was unmarried. vii
Harris was not Of a quarrelsome OF
combative disposition and his friends
here never heard Of his having quar-
rel wi tn any one neither have they
ever heard Of his carrying pistol
about his person.
Solicitor Thurmond was to have been
here week after next, at which time
| cOnrt n n q
| session. There are three murder cases
on the docket. What will be done
about II prosecuting officer at the com
ing term, remains to be seen.