The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1900-05-10
ADEPLORABLE TRAGEDY.
Vim. T. Bellinger Shot and Killed
By Rev. w. E. johnson.

Bamberg Baptist church, on Friday morn
ing last, about ten o'clock, shot and kill
ed Court Stenographer W. T. Bellinger,
in front of the Carlisle Fitting School
Mr.. Johnson is in Jail, and the remains of
Mr.. Bellinger were laid away last Satur-
day afternoon in the Bamberg cemetery
Altogether the tragedy was most de-
plorable and regrettable one.
There has been bad feeling existing be-
tween the family of John r. Bellinger,
ESQ.,, father of the deceased, and Mr.
johnson for nearly year, growing out
of the fact that he had married a daugh-
ter of Mr. Bellinger to a young man
when the young lady's parents and fam
lily seriously objected. Rev. johnson
rendered his resignation as pastor early
last fall, on this account it is said, as the
Baptist parsonage and Mr.. Bellingers
residence are situated next to each other.
The trouble which resulted in the kill
ing began Thursday over the painting of
a line fence between the premises of the
parties, at which time, it is said, hot
words were passed and pistol drawn by
Mr.. VIM. T. Bellinger
Friday morning as young Bellinger
was returning from down town to his
fathers residence he and Mr.. Johnson
encountered each other in front of the
Carlisle Fitting School, both residences
being just across the street.
The shooting commenced, and when
it was over Bellinger lay dying on the
ground and Johnson was unhurt. After
the affair was over Mr.. johnson walked
back to his home, where he remained
until about one o'clock, when he went
down and surrendered to Sheriff Hunter
1t is supposed that Johnson shot once
using shotgun. Bellinger's weapon
was 3S-calibre pistol, which had four
empty chambers, therefore it is presumed
that he fired four times.
Bellinger was struck in the right side
by twelve buck shot and eight smaller
shot. The testimony of DR.. Bronson
given below, will explain the exact ma
ture and location of the wounds. The
young man never spoke after he was hit
and died in few minutes.
Of course there is great deal of talk
as to who fired first; as to the causes
which led up to the unfortunate Difficult
ty; the circumstances of the shooting
ETC., but all these things will be testified
to at the trial, therefore we shall say
nothing about them.
Immediately upon being apprised OF
the tragedy Magistrate Hugh A. Ray
summoned the following jury of inquest
which viewed the body: c. R. Brabham
foreman; W. W. Lightsey, ]. A. Muir,
daugh, Joe Mccormack, W. B. Weeks
Clarence Moye, E. c. Hays, H. Eaves
John Thomas, George Quattlebaum, R. l.
Risher, ]. D. Fielder,
After viewing the body the taking OF
testimony was postponed until $50
o'clock Friday afternoon to allow attor'
neys to be present. At that hour the
hearing was had in the court house, the
State being represented by Solicitor W
II. Townsend and j.. o. Patterson, ESQ.
while Col. Robert Aldrich and Inglis s
Miiey represented the defendant.
Mr.. Joe Brown, who was the first wit
ness, is the young man to whom Mr.
johnson married daughter of Mr.. John
R. Bellinger Following is the testi
mony taken:
Joe Brown: Started out of town tc
Otis Simmons's. Saw Willie Bellingel
come across the Fitting School campus
Saw Mr.. johnson come out of his house
They met or come together in about thirty
feet of and in front of me. Mr.. Bellin'
ger drew pistol and commenced firing
on Mr.. johnson. I think he fired several
shots before Mr.. johnson shot. When
Mr.. johnson fired Mr.. Bellinger fell, and
I think fired once after he fell. That was
all saw. Mr.. johnson returned to his
house. Mr.. johnson had shot gun. Mr.
Bellinger had a pistol. Did not see any
eve witnesses. No words passed before
the shooting. Was near enough to hear
I was about twenty-five or thirty feet
from there. Was in my buggy. Got a
pistol out of drawer in the postotfice.
Don't know whose pistol it was. Got the
pistol because / was expecting trouble at
home. Heard that Mr.. johnson had had
some trouble about a fence with the Bel
fingers. Invent to see Mr.. johnson be-
cause had heard of the trouble. My
reason was sympathy; did not advise
with him; did not ask him what he pro-
posed doing; did not advise him to do
anything; offered to help build fence be-
tween Johnson's and Bellinger's. Was
expecting difficulty with hand on my
place. Don't know who left the post
office first, Mr.. johnson or myself. Did
not know if johnson had any weapon.
Did not say anything to Mr.. johnson
about getting the pistol. 1t was about
one-half or three-quarters of an hour
after left the postoffice before the shoot
ing. Went to Mr.. Jones's stable, and was
on my way to Mr.. Otis Simmonss when
the shooting took place. Mr.. johnson
did not say anything about expecting a
difficulty. Did not say anything about
the Bellinger's to me, only how they had
treated him. No one was in the buggy
with me.
DR.. B. D. Bronson: Was called by Mr.
C.J. S. Brooker to Mr.. Bellinger, said he
was shot; got to the campus, found him
dying; lived about thirty seconds or a
minute after 1 reached him. l saw as
soon as / got to him that he was mortally
wounded and could only live few sec