The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1901-02-27
James W. ToIbert Shot at Mccormick

GREENWOOD, Feb. 21.-James w.
Tolbert bRs met the fate he courted.
He was shot to-day on tho streete of
Mccormick, whero he had been told
that he must not go or else he would
have to die. Before he was shot down
he fired two shots at young visitor to
the town of McCormlck-a man who
had nothing To Dc with tho row going
on between Tolbert and tho citizens of
Mccormick. Both shots took effect,
one in the body and one in the hip.
This young man; Mr.. Martin. was
visiting his brotner-in-l Nj. y. B.
Sturkey. and was simply walking by
when Tolbert, according to the state
ments of those present, pulled out n
pistol and fired ut him. Immediately
fusilade began, with Tolbert as the
target for all the available shooting
irons in and around that vicinity.
Tolbert owns quite n 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 week ago he went
| down to Mccormick determined to
stay In few days he received an
anonymous letter advising him to
leave. He refused to attach any i'm
! portance to tho letter and went OH
about his business of looking after his
farm lands To-day he was approach
ed by crowd 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 he known
that he intended to stay. just about
| this time young Martin passed by the
crowd on tho other side Of the street,
and seeing him, Tolbert pulled out his
pistol and fired twice at Martin. AS
stated above, the shooting at Tolbcrt
then commenced, only two shots talk
ing effect, both in the body Martin
was hit in the hip and in the body.
There were no moro shots fired ut Toll
bert after he fell. He was carried to
the home of Mr.. Pick Hollingsworth,
! and it was stated to night that heavy
| guard had been placed around the
house. Young Martin was carried into
the store of his brother-in-la law, nj. L.
B. Sturkcy. and his wounds immedi-
! ately attended to by DIR. Melldau.
Even if Tolbert's wounds do not
! prove fatal, his life is still in danger.
The general opinion is that if Martin
should die there would be no chance
for TOlbert. Late this afternoon q
phone message from McC Cormick stated
that good many people from the
country were coming in town, and the
universal opinion was that Tolbert had
better be moved. His physician said
! that he could be moved, and his broth
er, R. r. Tolbert, expects to go to-
night to have him moved to Augusta
or some place of safety.
Jim Tolbert, as he is known, has been
obnoxious to the people of Mccormick
ever since the Phoenix riot in the fall
of 1893. He rendered himself doubly
so by the celebrated conspiracy case''
against some Of the very best citizens
OF the place in the spring of 1890. lie
has made several attempts to go back
| there, but every time he was told
quietly but mono the less firmly that
he ccald not stay in the town of Nc
Cormick. Despite these warnings he
has persisted; and it seems now that he
will give up his life for his rushness.
The people Of Mccormick are very
| cool and very determined. He has
been told to stay away, and all would
be we'll, but to try to come back there
would mean trouble. The trouble has
come.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
MCCORMICK, Feb. 2l.-A party of
masked men rode into town to-day
about noon with the intention of max
ing James w. Tolbert leave. He had
been here for week and The citizens
had about decided to not molest him
further. which fact made him feel safe.
The masked party encountered him at
work repairing one of his buildings
and, according to an eye witness, one
of the party of masked men asked him
to surrender, instead of which he drew
his pistol and presenting it fired. Tho
masked party was saved by a memo
randum book wrapped around with n
silk handkerchief; it catching the bull
let. They immediately began backing
from each other after exchanging
shots. Tolbert emptied his pistol. then
turned and ran and succeeded in cyad-
ing the mob which soon dispersed. 1t
developed afterwards that one of the
party was wounded slightly. Tolbert
was seriously wounded, once in the
right side of back, the bullet lodging
in lung, and once in arm, which ia a
flesh wOund.-IHe State.
Second Fall in Fifty Years.