The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-03-31
A SHOCKING TRAGEDY.
SOLICITOR THURMoND SHOOTS MR..
w. G. HARRIS.

Ore Deadly BulIet-The Well. Known Sales
man Of the Murray Drug Company-But
One Eye Witness.
EDGEFIELD, March PA sad and
unfortunate homicide occurred here
at 6 o'clock this afternoon. Solicitor
Thurmond shot and killed w. G.. Har.
ris, drummer for The Murray Drug
company of Columbia, 8. O. Mr..
! Harris is nephew of Collector of In
ternal Revenue Townes and son of w.
6. Harris, prominent citizen Of
Edeefeld county.
The trouble, it seems, arose out of
the fact that while Mr.. Thurmond
was a member of the State legislature
he recommended that Governor Evans
appoint gentleman named Glover as
magistrate instead of Harris, the old
incumbent and father of the deceased.
Since Mr.. Thurmond has been solici-
tor he has had nothing whatever to
do with recommending applicants for
positions Of magistrates, but under
Governor Ellerbe's administration
Mr.. Harris, senior, was again an sp-
plicant, but Glover, who was appoint.
ed by Governor Evans, was reappoint-
ed by Ellerbe. Mr.. W. G.. Harris
deceased, seemed to think that Solici-
tor Thurmond was instrumental in
having IL done and about it he accost.
ed Solicitor Thurmond this afternoon
at about o'clock in the drug store Of
W. E. Lynch.
Mr.. Harris, it is said, had been
drinking and used very hot language.
Thurmond, to avoid difficulty, left
the Lynch store and went to his Of
fee. He was there engaged at work
when Mr.. Harris passed by on the
way to his hotel, in company With
Capt. DuBose, the proprietor. On
reaching the doorway to Thurmond's
cfice Harris stopped. Capt. DuBose
walked ona few steps. The subject
of former discussion wasagain brought
up by Harris, the latter finally saying
to Thurmond that he (Thurmond)
has acted like "G-d id dog and
scoundrel," and threw his hand to bis
pocket as if to draw. his pistol and
placed his foot on Thurmond's door
step. Thereupon Thurmond fired
from where he was sitting. Harris
staggered backwards and fell upon
the sidewalk. He got up and walked
few psces, when he fell dead. The
ball entered from the front just below
the shirt stud and passed into the cav
ity of the heart. 4zas.l S
A jury of inquest has been summon
ed, and, after viewing the body adj
journed until tomorrow. Great re-
gret is felt here over the occurrence.
Solicitor Thurmond was never known
to have had any trouble before and is
regarded by everybody as q peaceful
and law. abiding citizen. He surren-
dered himself and is now in Jail. He
is completely overcome by his miaor-
tune. He has retained Messrs. Croft
& Tillman and N. Ct. Evans to defend
him.-State.
VERDICT OF THE JURY,
EDaEF1ELD, March 25.-At the coso.
ner's inquest today, Capt. D. s. Da.4
Bose, the only eye witness to the Kill
ing, testified that when Will Harris.
who was on the street denounced
Thurmond as dirty scoundrel, Thur
mond, from his Office door. shot Har-
ris, VINO never spoke, but died in i've
minutes. -.... :. ,..;,
The jury of inquest found that VIII
Harris came to his death by q gunshot
wound at the hands of j. William
Thurmond. Capt. DuBose, who was
only a few feet from harris, testified
that Harris was not armed.