The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1901-02-28
J A MES w. TOLBERT
SHOT AT MCCORMICK
Returned to Town From Which He
Had Been d-Masked
Men Called at Noon

Men Called at Noon.
The Greenwood correspondent of The
State writes as follows under date of
Feb 21:
James w. Tolbert has met the fate he
courtcd. lie was shot today on the
streets of Mccormick, where he had
been told that he must not go or else ht
would have to die. Before he was she
down he fired two shots at a young v 81
tor to the town Of Mccormick a mar
VINO had nothing to do with the row
going on between Tolbcrt and the citi
zons Of Mccormick Both shots took
effect, one in the body. and one in tho
hip This young man, a Mr.. Martin
was visiting his brother in law, Nj. l. b
Sturkey, and was simply walking b,
Whcn robert, according to the state.
mcnts or those present, pulled out a pis
tol and fired at him. Immediately 8
fusiladc began, with Tolbcrt as the tar
gel, for all the available shooting irons in
and around that vicinity. =. ..'
Tolbert owns quite lot OF lane
around Mccormick and come real estate
IN the town He has never. attended tc
The renting Of this property in person
until this year he will likely never dc
so again. About q week ago he wen
down to Mccormick determined to stav
IN a few days he received an anonvmou.
letter advising him TO leave He refuse,
TO attach any Importance to the letter
ana went on about his business of look
ing after his farm lands.
loday he was approached by Gro {
or men and told to leave. According &c
the statement Of the best men present
ne attempted to argue the matter and tC
ict 1t be known that he intended to stay
just about that time young Martin pas
scd by the crowd on 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
eilect, both in the body. Martin was
hit Ill the hip and in the body. There
were no more shots fired at Tolbcrt
alter nc fell. He was carried to the
home of MIR. Pick Hollingsworth, and
II was stated tonight that heavy guard
had been placed around the house.
Young Martin was carried into the
STORE or his brothcrin law, Nj l.. b.
Sturkcy, and his wounds immediately
attended to by DR.. Meldau
Even if Tolberts wounds do not
prove fatal, his life is still in danger,
Inc general opinion is that if Martin
-, D.''N WV lhol y ~Oulu ~ no CnauCG for
Tolbcrt. Late this afternoon phone
message from Mccormick stated that n
good many people from the couasrv
were coming III town, l., and the universal
opinion was that Tolbert had bctter be
moved: His physician said that he
could be moved, and his brother, II. r,
robert, expects to go tonight to have
nm moved to Augusta or some place of
safety. -
Jim Tolbcrt, as he is known, has been
obnoxious to the people of Mccormick
ever since the Phocuix riot in the fail of
1898, He rendered himself doublv 20
by tho celebrated "consipracy case"
against some of the very best citizens of
or the place in the spring of l8O0, He
mas made scvcral attempts to 20 back
here, but every time he was told quiet.
y but none tho less firmly that he could
not stay in the town OF Mccormick
Despite these warnings he has persisted.
ana 1t sccms now that he will give mn
ms nc for his rashness. The pcople OF
hcCormick arc very cool and yerv do.
IIo has been told to stay
away, and all would be well, but 70 t%y try
% come back there would mean tronhlS
The trouble has come.
THE STORY FROM M'coRM1cK
A special to The State from McCor.