The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1903-07-17
ANOTHER HOMICIDE.
Mr. John Wham Kills Mr.. Fate
Ramage Near Laurens.
BOTH PROMINENT FARMERS.
Great Excitement Over the Affair
Among the Friends OF Both
Parties. wham Is Still
at L,nrgc.

Parties. wham Is Still
at large
a special to the State from La,lrens
says: A homicide which has startled
LaurcnS county rs no other homicide
has done since Joe Crews was killed
probably saved from lynchiDg the man
who shot tile other Thursday. In the
yard Of the slayer, l.. w. lsamagc was
killed hy John G.. Wham. Both men
were prominent and for a time most
serious trouble was feared, but it is
not likely now.
The case is a most interesting one
and there is the usual woman IN It,
The scene Of the affair is Simpsons
Cross Road, six miles from LaurcnS
and three from Clinton, on the Co
lumbia, Ncwberry and Laurens rail
road. John Wham's home is on the
right Of tho road coming up. Across
the road lives Thomas Simpson, IL Con
fedarate veteran, who has a large fam
ily 1t seems that ON Tuesday Miss
Mattlc Simpson, about lG years old,
received note purporting tn be from
Miss Coleman, Il SiStcrinllw Of
Wham, asking Miss Simpson tn come
over to Wham'S where Miss Cnlcman
was visiting and stating that all the
Others had gone away. Mrs. Simpson
got hold OF the note and her suspicious
were aroused. She went with her
daughter to Wllam'S house, where
Wham was found alone. Asking the
meaning Of the note Wham replied
that he found it addressed to Miss
Simpson after his wife and Miss
Coleman had gone to Clinton and had
simply sent il over This did not
satisfy the Simpsons and they finally
ELECTED from Wham the information
that he had sent the note with inn
proper purposes in view. However,
he declared this WIS nothing new and
asserted that he had on four occasions
within the last year made attempts tc
have relations with Miss Simpson
with her consent. This statement,
it is said, was made To Mr.. Simpson,
the iris father, when he went tc
Wfam house to demand satisfaction
Wham, it Is said, refused to come out
and meet old man Simpson, who de-
| clarcd that nothing but Wham'S blood
would satisfy him.
VICTIM a l:EACEafAKER.
News OF this reached Clinton Thurs
day ami there Was much Indignation
there against Wham Thursday night,
it is now reported, Il crowd surround
ell Wham'S house and il was known
that some SeriOnS results must come.
Either Thursday afternoon or early
Friday morning Mrs. Wham got in
her buggy and drove TO the home OF
MIR. l.. w. Ramagc, several miles from
her home. Her object was To get
Ramagc to act as pcaccmakcr. but
she says she did not ask him to come
to sec Wham. Thursday morning
about s o'clock damage got in Ills
buggy and started for Simpsons cross
ing. On the way lie picked up liicd
Blakcly, friend. The two drove On
to Wham'S house and Yham came
out to meet them. There was a shot
gun in the buggy and Wham had Il
pistol in each coat pocket, but Wham
and the two visitors shook hands in a
friendly manner.
According to tho testimony OF
Rlakcly at the inquest, Ramagc open
ed the conversation by saying. John,
this is Il bad affair you arc in Wham
replied, Yes, and / am willing to
make any acknowledgements that are
proper" Ramagc then suggested that
they all go over TO Simpsons but
Wham said he wanted to wait until
his preacher came, that he had sent
for him. Wham then started to the
house, The other two following.
l'lakcly suggested to l.amagc that
if Wham got into the house he might
get away and they better make him
give up his weapons. Ramagc called
ON Wham to stop, but Wham went on
in the house and up stairs From the
front window lie called TO Rlakcly to
Get out Of my yard and Nlakciy
got. Ramagc ha gone around the
right side of the house and on to The
rear
y COLD nLOODED MURDER.
l'lakcly says he stood at the gate
and look through the hall which runs
nearly through The house and that he
could ear Mrs. Wllam and Ramagc
talking, but could not distinguish
what they said. lie saw Wllam up-