The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1901-02-21
4 SAD TRAGEDY.
Mr.. Elijah Norman Shot and Killed
by Mr.. J. Il, Jones.

record of this county This time hOtl
parties were white, and the news OF the
killing came rs 4 terrible shock to all, a:
no one expected any trouble. The kill
ing occurred in the slasher room OF the
Bamberg Cotton Mills, where the deceased
was at work. The slayer has also been
employed at the mills at intervals tol
several years past, although he was moi
at work on Monday.
| The best information we can get i
that J. B. Jones and his brother, {. K
Jones, were both drinking Monday and
walking around the streets. They were
seen together several times that day by
different persons About 4.30 o'clock in
the afternoon J. B. Jones went to Mr.. ID
W. Phillips and asked for the loan of his
pistol, saving he wanted to shoot ut 4
mark; that he had dollar bet up on
which was the best weapon, MIR. Phillips
or one belonging to Mr.. ]. \. Vernon,
Jones having Mr. Nernon,s pistol at the
time. Mr. Phillips was at the cotton mill
then, having gone there on business, and
it appears that the Jones boys had been
to the mill during the day prior to the
killing, although not on duty there that
day. Mr. Phillips demurred to lending
the weapon. but finally agreed for Jones
to go to his house and get 1t. Mrs.
Phillips declined to give it without an
order. and also sent back the message
that she did not know where the pistol
was. Both the Jonc>'S then came back
to Mr.. Phillips. who told them that the
pistol was in bureau drawer at his
house. and Charlie Jones went back to
the mouse and got it. This is the weapon
with which the killing was done. 1t Is 4
blue steel, double action 5. 4 W. revolver,
3S-calibrc.
About five o'clock J B. and c. r. Jones
went into the cotton mill together, going g
bv the employees entrance through the
tower. They went Immediately to the
slasher room, where Norman was at work
alone, and there, without any prellmlna-
ries, J. B. Jones fired four or five times at
Norman, three shots taking effect, one
through the head, one in the right arm,
and one in the left breast, near the heart.
Norman died almost instantly, and never
spoke after he was reached. The shooting
took place so quickly that even those ut
work in the next room did not ut first re-
aliZe what had happened. There was no
one in the room except Norman and the
two Jones's when the shooting occurred,
consequently there arc no eyewitness
to the killing. ItappearS, however, from
the testimony of Willie Hutto, a little boy
who works in the next room, through
which Jones went to get to the room IN
which Norman was at work, and who fol-
lowed Jones and his brother to the door,
that no words passed and that Jones fired
rs soon as he entered the room. The boy
testified that he followed them and got IN
the door, but when he saw Jones draw his
pistol he turned and ran back.
The real cause of the shooting is sup
posed to he about NOrman'S wife, and we
understand Jones claims that Norman, on
Il previous occasion, had threatened to kill
him.
Immediately after the shooting Jones
and his brother walked out. and, going
through the tower, found Mr.. Sol. Good
win, whom he requested to go with him.
The three then went to the court house,
where Jones surrendered to Sheriff Hun
ter and was locked up in Jail.
As soon as possible after the shooting
the body of Norman was removed to his
home. Magistrate H. A. Ray, acting as
Coroner, Immediately empannelled jury
of inquest, but it was then too late to do
anything Monday afternoon, so the IN
quest was held in the court house Tues
dav morning. The jury was as follows: !:
Edgar Dickinson, foreman; Arthur Strad-
lev. H. B. Hogg, W. c. Dickinson, G: Otis
Simmons. J. F. Brickle, d. /. Cain, Jesse
Mccormack, d. W. Phillips, /. ID. Fielder,
H.D Free, and E. L. Smoak.
After viewing the body and hearing the
testimony, the jury rendered a verdict
that Elijah Norman came to his death by
pistol shot wounds at the hands OF j. Is.
Jones or c. r. Jones. Following is some
of the important testimony taken at the
inquest:
DR. NJ. K. LEWIS
testified that he examined the body and
found three wounds One bullet entered
at the back of the head and came out on the
right forehead; it stopped right under the
skin and took it out; one shot went IN
the right arm breaking the arm;
one ball entered just to the left OF the
left nipple, about two inches below; l
probed for it about six inches but did not
lind it; think it went through the heart;
I thin k either of the two wounds, the one
in the head or the one in the breast,
would have caused death.
MIR. HIMBREE,
a bricklayer and stranger in town, testl-
fed to seeing some men who had been
drinking on Monday, and one said no
id s. of a b. could do him that way;
he would use his 3S; did not know the
accused or deceased: heard man with
specks on cursing, but didn't pay any
attention to it, as it was nothing unusual
for a drunk man to curse.
WILLIE HUTTo,
4 little boy who works in the mill, teSti-
fed that he saw J. B. and G. K. Jones
come through the room he was working
in and 90 to the Slasher room; he followed
and cot to the door, and then he saw j..
B. Jones draw his pistol, and he turned
and ran back; Jones was III the room
about two seconds before the shooting;
there was no one else in the room but
Norman and the two Jones's; couldn't
say how many times he fired, but there
was more than one shot; didn't hear them
SPEAK, SOl Ill lliS uoOl oliN "hSA Ss"
that Bragg was going to shoot, turned
back.
MR.. d. j. DELk
testified that he was on the steps Ot his
shop and heard several shots; went over
to the cotton mill office, and from there
up stairs and found Norman dead; he
did not see Jones then, but had seen him
walking around during the day.
MIR. SOL. GOODWIN
testified that he was in the tower with
Mr.. Swift when Bragg and Charlie Jones
came in; in few minutes they came out
and Bragg told me to come and go with
him; that he was going to the sheriff to
give up; | went with him, and saw him
give the pistol to Mr.. Matheny.
OSCAR DIXON
testified that he saw Jones coming out
of the mill, and saw him unload and
reload his pistol; picked up two of the
empty shells.
MIR. W. j. SWIFT
testified that he was in the tower at work
and saw Jones come in and go out; they