The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1903-07-15
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 Large.

at Large.
A special tC the State from LanrcnS
says: A homicide which has startled
Laurens county as no other homicide
has done since Joe Crews was killec
probably saved from lynching the mar
who shot the other Thursday. In the
yard Of the slayer, L. w. Ramage was
killed by John G. Wham. Both men
were prominent and for 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 iii It..
The scene of the affair is Simpsons
Cross Road, six miles from Laurens
and three from Clinton, on the Co.
lumbia, Newberry and Laurens rail-
road. John Wham's home is on the
right OF the road coming up. Across
the road lives Thomas Simpson, a Con-
federate veteran, who has a large fam
lily. 1t seems that on Tuesday Miss
Matte Simpson, about lc years old,
received a note purporting TO be from
Miss Coleman, sister-in-law OF
Wham. asking Miss Simpson to come
ever to Wham'S where Miss Coleman
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 Whan's house, where
Wham was found a,one. 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 it 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 was nothing new and
asserted that he had on four occasions
within the last year made attempts TO
have relations with Miss Simpson
with her consent. This statement,
it is said, was made to Mr.. Simpson,
the ir.s father, when he went to
Wham house to demand satisfaction.
Wham, it is said, refused to come out
and meet old man Simpson, who de-
clared that nothing but Whan's blood
would satisfy him.
VICTIM \ PEAcENAKER.
News of this reached Clinton Thurs
day and there was much indignation
there against Wham. Thursday night,
it is now reported, crowd surround
ed Nham'S house and it was known
that some serious results must corne.
Either Thursday afternoon or early
Friday morning Mrs. Wham got in
her buggy and drove to the home OF
Mr.. L. w. Ramage, several miles from
her home. Her object was to get
Ramage to act as peacemaker, but
she says she did not ask him to come
to see Wham. Thursday morning
about S o'clock Ramage got in his
buggy and started for Simpsons cross
ing. On the way he picked up RIed
Blakely, a friend The two drove on
to Wham's house and Wham came
out to meet them. There was shot
gun in the buggy and Wham had a
pistol in each coat pocket, but Wham
and the two visitors shook hands IN a
friendly manner.
According to the testimony Of
Blakely at the inquest, Ramage open
ed the conversation by saying. John,
this is a bad affair you are in" Wham
replied, Eyes, and I am willing TO
make any Acknowledgements that are
proper" Ramage then suggested that
they all 60 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.
Blakely suggested to Ramage that
if Wham got into the house he might
get away and they better make him
give up his weapons. Ranage called
on Wham to stop, but Wham went on
in the house and up stairs. From the
front window he called to Blakely to
Get out of my yard" and Blakeiy
got. Ramage ha gone around the
right side Of the house and on to the
rear.