The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-11-09
A SAD HOMICIDE
IN C0LU MBlA.
Mr.. r. ]. McCarley, Cotton
Merchant, Killed a Negro
WHILE PROTECTING ANCTH-
ER WHITE MAN.

GIt w Ill = "a I'll AIN.
Yesterday at noon the people of
Columbia were startled to hear that
negro had been killed on Gervias
street, near the union depot, and that
young + J McCariey, Jr., was un.
der arrest upon suspicion Of having
killed him in "free for ail'' fight.
The news was shock to Mr. Nc
Carley's friends, for he is not of
quarreIsome nature, and they could
hardly believe it was true Subse-
quent events proved that young
McCaeley was indeed guiltless, and
his father, Mr. R j. McCarley, the
we'll known and popular cotton mer-
chant, was accused of the homicide
This rews was as startling as the
other, but Mr.. McCarley was artest-
ed, and is even now in the custody Of
Sheriff Cathcart
Ii has been difficult, indeed well.
nigh impossible. to ascertain the
truth of the deplorable affair, bat
from ali that can be gathered it is
said that Mr. McCarley is responsible
for the death of the negro, but he
seems to have acted from a motive of
protection. if he struck the fatal
blow, interfering in fight iu which
it appeared to him that white man
was being worsted by one or more
negroes.
Almost Immediately after the affair
occurred the important eye witnesses
either disappeared or declined to
have anything to say. There was SO
much confusion that even the core
ner's inquest could elicit no facts,
and was suspended after the hearing
of one witness
The homicide occurred at pump
near the intersection of Gates and
Gadsden streets, at the corner of Mr..
Jno A Willis iron works and al
most in front of Mr.. McCarley's cot.
ton Office.
1t appears that number of negro
teamsters employed by Mr. Gregg
Strickland were gathered around the
pump. In some way an alteration
arose between Mr. Latbrobe,
brother-in.law of Mr.. Strickland. and
one of the wagoners named William
Lytes
In the evidence of the only witness
examined, it is stated that Mr.. Lath.
robe struck Lytes with pair Of
knucks, and started to walk away
after being pulled off by the other
negroes Lytes picked up brick
in threatening manner and the diff
6culty was renewed Mr.. Latbrobe
was knocked down Just at this time.
or Immediately afterwards. accord.
ing to the statement of Pete B-acey,
an eye witness, Mr.. McCarley ran
out of his Office and cried, "Who is
that fighting white man Z" He
then struck the negro four blows
with stick. Lytes fell in a dying
state, and Mr. McCarley walked back
to his office The police were sum.
moned Immediately, and they began
to make Investigations When in
the confusion attendant upon the 10,
cidept they heard that Jack McCarley
was the one who struck Lytes, OH
GERS Kramer aud Henry Duming
walked 70 Mr.. hicCarley's Office to
arrest him He himself was away,
and one of the officers waited while
the other went 70. information. He
returned saying that Mr. McCarley's
son was the one wanted
Young McCarley, who is an oper.
ator in his fathers cfice, was permit
ted to finish a Telegram, and was
then arrested by Policeman Kramer.
He submitted very gracefully, never
entering protest, although, as de-
velopments proved, entirely innocent
When the police were able to get
more light on the matter, they arrest
ed Mr.. McCarley and released his
son Mr. McCarley was placed in the
keeping of Sheriff Ca,hca:s He has
employed Messrs. 81. Nelson
and Andrew Crawford for his atto:.
neys, and neither ne nor others IN
terested in or consected with the
case will make any statement
Lathrobe was arrested as an acces'
sorry, out has since been released on
bond The State, Nov. 8