The age-herald., 1900-01-11
NO TRACE OF THE MURDERER R
Has Shot in the Back While Riding
 Home.
ELEVEN BUCKSH0T TOOK EFFECT
pite Heavy Rain Followed the Track for Some Distance,
 But Then Lost It

Florence, January 0.SpeciaD-Probate Judge " B. Mcclure was assassinated just before 12 o'clock last night.
 He was riding horseback along Market street, and was shot through the back, the weapon being shotgun. Eleven buckshot took effect, several passing through the body.
 The body lay in the middle of the street just in front of the residence of A. E. Wal ker, and remained there until daylight this morning, when it was discovered by a negro woman named Nancy Simpson. Scores of people had probably passed the It was 6:3O o'clock before the body was dis covered.
 The woman did not stop, thinking it was probably a man who was intoxicated or asleep, but little further up market street met Leon Jolly and Joseph Beckman, who were going to work. She told them what she had seen, and they went to the spot.
 When they reached the corpse they were mortified to find it was the body of Judge w. B. Mcclure, and that he had been dead for several hours.
 They called residents of the neighbor- hood, and news of the foul murder spread like wild fire all over the city.
 Many persons in the neighlborhood heard the shot fired, and many went to their u,indouo and naare3 ont into tho do rLneas The only sound heard, however, was the Goof beats of the horse upon which the murdered man had been riding.
 No groans were heard, and those who were aroused sufficiently ito investigate con cluded that some one had fired a pistol.
 The terrible nature of the wound and the fact that no sound was heard after the firing of the shot gives ground for the be- lief that it proved instantly fatal.
 The assassin evidently fired as Judge Me Cure reached the intersection of Market street and Military avenue, for here was found an open umbrella which he was car- rying. A few yards further up the street was found his hat, lying just at his head.
 The assassination has been the sole topic of conversation upon the streets of the city all during the day, and many theories of the affair have been advanced. None of them, however, have been based upon any sort of knowledge
 Judge Mcclure left the business part of the town at Il 80 o'clock, and it was just ten minutes later that residents of the neighborhood heard the shot fired.
 The murdered man had been probate judge for eight years, and had four more years of the present term to serve. His tragic death is a shock to the entire coun- ty, in every portion of which he had many warm personal friends.
 The deceased leaves wife and ten chill dren together with a number of other rela- tives.
 As soon as the news of the murder was heard Justice H. D. Smith summoned a jury of inquest, and visited the scene of the murder, the body being removed to the family home in the eastern portion of the city. The inquest was held at the court house at 10 o'clock, the sitting being se- cret
 It is rumored the jury ordered the arrest of two men who under suspicion. No names have been given, and the rumor cannot be verified. Solicitor Sa wtelle is di- recting the inves legations of the jury.
 Bloodhounds arrived from Tuscumabia about Il o'clock, and despite the rain which had fallen, started trail from the tree in front of the residence of J. W. Nichols be- hind which the assassin stood. The dogs followed this trail out Military road 10 the railroad tracks. but there it was lost.
 Funeral services will be held some time tomorrow, but the hour has not been set.