The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1901-02-27
JAMES w. TOLBERT
SHOT AT MCCORMICK,
Returned to Town From Which He
Had Been Expelled-Masked
Men Called at Noon.

Men Called at Noon.
The Greenwood correspondent of The
STATE writes as follows under date of
Feb 81
James w. Tolbcrt has met the fate he
courtcd. He was shot today on the
streets Of Mccormick, where he had
been told that he must not 90 or else he
would have to die. Before he was shot
down he fired two shots at a young v ST.
tor to the town Of Mccormick "a man
who had nothing to do wi h the row
going on between Tolbcrt and the citi-
zcns Of Mccormick, Both shots took
effect, one in the body and one in the
hip This young man, a Mr.. Martin,
was visiting his brother in law, NJ. l. b.
Sturkey, and was simply walking by
when Tolbert, according to the state.
ments OF those present, pulled out q pis
tol n fired at him. Immediately n
fusilade began, with Tolbcrt 40 the tar.
get for all the available shooting irons in
and around that vicinity.
Tolbcrt owns quite a lot OF land
around Mccormick and some real estate
in the town He has never attended To
the renting OF this property in person
until this year he will likely never do
so again. About a week ago he went
down to Mccormick determined to stay.
In a few days he received an anonymous
letter advising hiG TO leave He refused
to attach any Importance to the letter
and went on about his business of look
ing after his farm lands.
Today he was approached by a GRO d
OF men and told to leave. According to
the statement Of the best men present
he attempted to argue the matter and to
let it be known that he intended to stay
| Jnat a hnpt that lima n,, kf,r,, -.
scd by the crowd IN the other side of
the street, and seeing him, Tolbcrt pulled
out his pistol and fired twice at Martin
AS stated above, the shooting at Tolbcrt
then commenced, only two shots taking
effect both in the body. Martin was
hit in the hip and in the body. There
were no moro shots fired at Tolbert
after NO fell. He was carried to the
home Of Mr.. Pick Hollingsworth, and
it was stated tonight that q heavy guard
had been placed around the house.
Young Martin was carried into the
store OF his brothcr-in law, NJ l.. b..
Sturkey, and his wounds Immediately
attended to by DR. Mcldau
Even il Tolbcrt's wounds do not
prove fatal, his life is sti in danger.
The general opinion Is that II Martin
should die there would be no chance for
Tolbert. Late this afternoon a phone
message from Mccormick stated that a
good many people from the couA.ry
were coming liz to wn, and the universal
opinion was that Tolbcrt had better be
moved. His physician said that he
could be moved, and his brother, Il. II.
Toloert, expcuts to go tonight to have
him moved to Augusta or some place Of
safety
Jim Tolbcrt. as no is known, has been
to the people OF Mccormick
ever since tho Phoeuix riot in the fall OF
1893 He rendered himself doubly go
by the celebrated conspiracy case"
against some OF the very best citizens Of
OF the place in the spring OF 1899. He
has made severa attempts to 70 back
there but every time he was told quiet
ly but none tne less firm y that he could
not stay in h town Of Mccormick.
Despite these warnings he has persisted,
and 1t seems now that he will give up
his life for his rashness. The people OF
Mccormick are very cool and very de-.
termined. He has beer told to STAY
away, and all would be well, but to try
to come back there would mean trouble
The trouble has come.
THE STORY FROM MCCORMICK
A special to The State from McCor.
mick gives the following account:
A party Of masked men rode into
town today about noon with tho intcn.
ton of making James w. Tolbert leave
He had been here for a week and the
citizons had about decided to not modest
him further, which fact made him feel
safe. Tho masked party cncounterei
him at work repairing one OF his bui d.
ings and, according to an eye witness,
one OF the party OF masked men askei
him to surrender, instoai OF which he
drew his pistol and presenting it fired.
The masked party was saved by a memo.
randum book wrapped around with a
silk handkerchief; it catching tho bullet.
They Immediately began backing from
each other after exchanging shots.
Tolbert emptied his pistol, then turned
and ran and succeeded In evading the
which soon dispersed 1t developed
that one OF tho party was
wounded slightly Tolbert was seriously
wounded, once In the right side Of back,
the bullet LODGING In lnnn nnd nnna &.