The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1901-02-28
J,W. TOLBERT SHOT.
Returned to Mccormick From Which
He Had Been Expelled.
MASKED MEN CALLED AT NOON
Both Parties Used Pistols-lnnocent
Visitor Said to Have Been Wounded
-rIore Trouble Feared.S

Greenwood, Specisl.-James ". Tol-
bert has met the fate he courted. he
was shot Thursday on the streets Of
Mccormick, whore he had been told
chit he must not go or else he would
have to die. Before he was shot down
ne fired two shots at a young visitor
to THE town Of McCormick--a man who
had nothing to do with the row going
on between Tolbert and the citizens
OF Mccormick. Both shots took effect,
ONE in the body and one in the hio.
This young man, Mr.. Marun, was
visiting his brother-in-law, NJ. l.. B.
Sturkey, and was simply walking by
when Tolbert, according to the state
nants OF those present, pulled out a
pstol and fred at HIM Immediately
@ fusflade began, with Tolbert as the
target for all the available shooting
Srons in and around that vicinity.
Tolbert owns quite lot OF Land
around Mccormick and some in the
town. He has never attended to the
renting of this property in person un-
til this year; he will likely never do
50 again. About a week ago he went
down to Mccormick determined to
stay. In few days he received an
anonyncus letter advising him to
leave. He refused to attach any i'm
portance to the letter and went on
about his business Of looking after his
farm lands. Thursday he was ap-
pnoached by crowd OF men and told
10 leave. According to the statement
of the best men present he attempted
to argue the matter and to let 1t be
known that he intended to stay. Just
about this time young Martin passed
BY the crowd on the other side OF the
street. and seeing him, Tolbert pulled
out his pistol and fired twice at Mar
tin. AS stated above, the shooting at
Tolbert then commenced, only two
shots taking effect, both in the pody.
Martin was hit in the hip and in the
body. There were no more shots fired
at ToFbett after he fell. He was car
ried to the home of Mr.. Pick Hollings-
worth, and it was stated at night that
q heavy guard had been placed around
the house. Young Martin was carried
unto the house of his brother-in-law,
M. l.. B.. Sturkey, and his wounds i'm
nediately attended to by DR.. Melidau.
Even if To;bert's wounds do not
prove fatal, his life is still in danger.
The general opinion is that II Martin
should die there would be no chancs
for TolbeHt. Late in the afternoon a
'phons-> message from Mccormick
stated thSS good many people from
the country we're coming in town, and
the universal ofSqion was that Toloert
had better be moved His physician
said that he could Ge moved, and MS
brother, R. r. Tolbert, expticas to go
to have him moved 20 Augusta or
some place OF safety.
Jim Tolbert, as he is known, has
bean obnoxious to the people OF NC
CornJick ever since the Phoenix not
in the fall OF 1898. He rendered him.
self doubly so by the celebrated con
suiracy case against some OF the very
best citiZens of the place in the spring
of 1899. He has made several attempts
to go back there, but every time he
was told qmetly but none the less hr'n-
ly that he could not stay in the town
OF Mccormick. Despite these warn
ings he has persisted, and it seems
now that he will give UP his hfe for
his rashness. The people OF McCor-
rdck are very cool and very deter
mined He has been told to stay
away, and all would be weal, but TO
try to come back there would mean
trouble. The trouble has come.