Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1899-11-23
A KILLING IN PICKENS COUNTY.
One Man Shot to Death and Another Badly
Wounded-The Slayer Surronders.

DR.. Thos. T. James, of this city, was
killed in the Six Milo section of Pioken s
county on Wednesday night. His son,
IIamp James, was desperately wounded
at tho same time. There is an olomont of
mystery about the laifair, and tho reports
reaching this city have beon very meagre,
tho Six Milo section being somewhat
remote from railroad stations and tclo-
phone.
Tho killing was done by Sam Lanior,
4 young white man, who has surrendered
to tho shorin of Pickens county. La
nicr's wife seems to have been primarily
the cause of tho trouble. Tho piesenco
of tho young man with DR.. James is
against tho theory that thcre was undue
intimacy between Mrs. Lanier and tho
senior James. The probable explanation
is that whislley was tho first element IF
tho trouble, that section being reported
to be infested by blockade liquor, and
DR.. James sccms to have rested under
tho imputation in that section of being
an informcr, as he was formerly con-
nccted with the revenue service.
DR.. James, as ho was commonly called
was we'll known in this city, having
resided here at two or three different
pcroids and coming here frequently
whom living in Anderson county. Ho
was about fifty-fivo years of age and was
q native of Anderson county. Ho began
life in very humble circumstances, but
acquired considerable property. Many
years ago ho commenced operations as
an "Indian doctor' and became quito
notorious on this line. lie was mover
regarded f4s regular practitioner, and
so far as is known he acquired his mcdi-
cal education during an enforced sojourn
in tho West. He practicod extensively
i'll Anderson aud Pickens counties.
Lately he moved his family to this city,
but spont most of his time in Pickens,
on farm near Six Mile mountain. Seves
raj years ago DR.. James was deputy
marshal in tho revenue service and was
known as daring raider and q keen
seeker. llo leaves a wife and oight
children. Tho burial was at Sloan
church yesterday afternoon.
Bob James, son of tho deceased, ro-
turned yesterday from tho scene of tho
tragedy, having como tho larger part of
tho thirty miles in tho night. He heard
part of the testimony at tho inquest and
talked with his wounded brother. His
story removes sOmo of tho worst features
of the case as regards DR.. James. The
story he got is that DR.. James and Hamp
went to tho homo of Sam Lanicr, who is
a tenant on their place, to spend tho
night. Lanicr and his wife, who is a
mere girl, had quarrel, and Hamp in
attempting to stop it, got into difficulty
times, once in the left arm and twice in
tho side. The physicians think tho
knife penetrated tho lungs. The woman
insisted that she was going to loavo tho
place and 90 to her fathers, and dicc-.o-
gardcd all romonstrancos. Sho went
out and hitchod up T.. James horse.
lamp was gotting weak and DR. James
took him to tho buggy, and tho two mon,
with tho woman, went to tho homo of
7 70
mile distant. Arriving at the house tho
woman got out first and started to tho
house. AS shc got clear of tho horse
and buggy two shots were fired from
behind pile of laths, fow feet away.
lIamp was hit in tho head and face by
several shot and could not toll accu-
ratcly about tho shooting. uo did not
hear his father groan or mako any noisc
whatever.
Whom Tyler Fades reached tho buggy
he found DR.. James dead on tho scat,
having simply fallen back, his hoad hang
ing over tho rear of tho buggy. Two
loads Of No. 3 shot struck him in tho
breast and in tho face. The breast was
horribly torn up and tho eyes were shot
entirely out. Lanior told Fades what he
had dono. Ilamp says tho gun was not
at Ilanicr's house when tho fuss COM
monccd and it is said to be Eados' gun.
Tho shooting occurred about ono O'Clock
at night.
1Iamp James condition is desperate
and his brother thinks his chances for
lifo arc very slight. The stabs arc his
worst wounds. The woman testified
that DR.. James stabbed IIamp and that
shc was dragged by tho James into tho
buggy, but got out before reaching hor
fathers. Iittlo is known of Lanior, as
ho camo into that community only year
ago. IIo and his wife havo not lived
happily during their short married lifo
-Grconvillo Mountainoor, November 49,