The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1900-02-01
CUT 70 DEATH.

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i Fatally Stabbs David Adams, al
Inoffensive and Much Respected
Mulatto Shoemaker.
Elliott Grayson, an ill-favored blacl
man, with reputation for meanness ant
general deyilment that eliminated Satur
dav night in the commission OF the gray
est of crimes known to our laws cut DAVE
Adams, an inoffenSive, hardwo worklng mu
latto shoemaker to death, in the latter:
little shop, next to Vernon's market, anc
is now in Jail awaiting trial.
! 1t was about half-past seven o'clock anG
the street was crowded with Saturday pc
destrians, white and black. There was
more or less dispensary in the pockets OF
many of these loungers and buyers, and
not few were feeling the effects OF the
alcoholic stimulant to the extent that they
wanted to run things their way" The
murderer was one of the most "biggity
of the latter class. Frank Pues restau-
rant was crowded with negroes Of all
shades and color, and among the number
was Simon Brown, who had his arms full
of purchases. The crowd was merry
one and laughter and jest were jostling
each other in gleeful mood. Suddenly the
lowering face of Elliott Grayson appear
ed, and, addressing Simon Brown, ne de-
manded, with sundry blood-curdling
oathS:
Amt we Grayson's de people, Simon
Brown"
Simon declined to commit himself on so
delicate question, and gathered up his
bundles. Grayson advanced on him men
acingly, and he wisely retreated by rear
door,, Crossing the street he entered
Adams's shoe shop. The latter was in
the rear room, where there was a fire,
talking on a matter of business with
William Kendall Grayson, finding that
Brown had escaped, hurried after him
and started into Vernon's market. MIR.
Vernon stopped him at the door and he
went around and entered the shoemaker's s
shop by the front door, to have it out with
Simon Brown. In his usual bullying
way Grayson began to curse, and Adams
requested him to leave; that was his place
of business he said, and he didn't want
such language and such behavior there.
At the same time he took hold of Gray
sons arm and pushed him towards the
door. William Kendall assisted him, and
no violence was used by either man.
When they got to the door, Kendall step
ped back, for he knew Grayson's desper-
ate character, and heard him exclaim:
IF YOU come out here I'll kill you"
Adams replied to this threat that he
wanted no trouble and Joined Kendall
inside the shop. Instantly cry went up:
"Look out, he's got knife!" and Adams
turned to face the door. Grayson, so
Kendall says, advanced threateningly, and
Adams put out his left hand open, to push
the trespasser away. Like fash Gray
sons arm rose and fell and the blade of
the knife that he held firmly grasped in
the sinewey fingers of his right hand, cut
a glancing cash across the back of the
shoemaker's hand. He pushed toward
his assailant with his right hand, and this
time with demon-like fury Grayson slash
ed out with his knife. 1t cut through the
right sleeve of Adsms's coat just below
the shoulder, and penetrating the flesh
raked to the bone, zig-zag cash four
inches in length that severed the axilary
artery and slit up the brachial artery a
length of two inches. At least an inch or
an inch and half of the median nerve
was cut away, and all the nerves, veins
and arteries in the brachial region were
severed. His arm fell, he reeled, stream
of blood gushed from the wound, and he
would have fallen to the floor had not
Mr.. ]. A. Vernon ran to his assistance.
With rare presence of mind Mr.. Vernon
grasped the arm from which spouted a
geyser of blood and called for cord to
bind it up. He made rude torniquet and
checked the flow of blood. Then the
wounded man was taken to DR.. B. D.
Brunson's Office, and that surgeon called
in DR.. ]. B. Black to his assistance. Ad-
ans was anasthesized, and for seven
hours the two surgeons, with corps of
assistants, labored heroically to save the
wounded mans life. Finally the arteries
were ligatured and the horrible cash sewn
up. Adams was very weak from loss OF
blood, and there was very little hope of
his survival so great had been the shock,
and so dangerous was the wound. He
was removed to Nimmons's barber shop,
but Sunday morning they took him to
George Kearse's house, where he has been
boarding.
As the doctors feared secondary hemor-
rhage set in Sunday night, there was a
profuse suffusion of blood, and at 1.3O
O'Clock Monday morning he died. He
was conscious as the end approached, and
his aged father, who had been summoned
by wire, was present with him. 81 never
knew him to use an oath or disrespect-
full word" said Mr.. J. A. Vernon, and he
died with prayer to heaven on his lips.
Monday afternoon DR.. Bronson made a
post -mortem examination of the body
and found that death resulted as above.
MAGISTRATE II. A. Ray, acting as coroner,