The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1903-07-17

soon as the shot was fired that John
Wham rushed past his victim across
the cotton field and into the woods
200, yards in the rear of his house.
lie has not since been seen in these
parts and at this writing his where
abontS are unknown. When it was
found that Mrs. Wham had been play
ing part and that her husband was
gone the crowd made bold to approach
the man who had been lying there
dead these two hours and more. But
this was not until word had been sent
to Clinton and Laurcns and Sheriff
Duckett had arrived with a posse.
Even then Mrs. Wham begged the
sheriff not to turn over her husband
to the mob, and acting on her fears
the sheriff add lesscd the crowd, eau
toned them against violence, and by
this time Wham was putting miles
between himself and the cold body OF
Isamage there in the back yard.
Whether lie went on foot or had Il
horse Is not known, but since he had
known for two days that he must yet
away or suffer it Is probable he had
prepared means Of escape. 1t is said
by conservative men that if Wham
had been taken Thursday morning
either before or after the shooting lie
would have been lynchcd. us there
were Il number Of men c0ngrcgatcd ut
the Simpsons with all kinds or guns
and feeling was hot against Wham
both OH account OF the girl and Of the
death Of l,amagc, but the testimony
at the inquest caused this feeling To
partially sulside.
SHOT Ills WAY TO SAFETY.
1t is known from the guarded state
mcnts OF Mrs. Wlam that Ramagc
asked Wham to c,mc out and 20 to
the Simpsons and that lYnam re-
fused. telling R;imagc that he could
not protect him from that crowd aud
that twould mean death FOR him
(Wham to go there. 1t is supposed
Ramagc commanded Wham to come
outand Wham decided To shoot Ills
way to safety without more delay.
lis Judgment seems to have hccn good
as was his aim, for under IsamagcS
body was found Il loaded Smith Il
WcSSOn Sclfacting revolver while the
wound under tho dead mans arm in
diets that his left arm was raised and
the fingers were twisted as ii in the
act OF EraSping the trigger. Wham
Slot with il Remington 32-calibrc rim
fire target rifle and the ball entered
Just above Ramagc'S left nipple,
passed through the large artery above
the heart, penetrated the body, en-
tered The right arm and lodged in the
muscle. Death was doubtless almost
instantaneous. ls;lnagc was left
handed and was standing with his
left side next tho house hardly ten
feet from the back door from which
Wliam shot as lie ran down the stairs
from the second story. Ramagc
was magnificent man physically, six
feet high, stout and handsome. lie
was Eiolclor and Il half brother OF
Miss Simpsons mother, who was the
nephew and heir Of The late Capt. J.
a. Bell, and was himself Il prosperous
larmerand dairyman, standing welt
In the community
Wham moved here several years ago
from near the Greenvillc line where
the family Of that name is numerous
and prominent. He brought the old
Simpson homestead, the Simpsons
moving into smaller house across
the road. The old place is q typical
Carolina country home with big oaks
in the yard and general appearance
of LONELINESS, most placid scene for
Il man to work the wreck OF a wo-
mans life and to slay her kinsman.
Nearer Clinton Wham had bought
other property and there has in process
Of erection an unusually Stylish house
almost completed into which he in
tended soon to move. lie is Il prosper
Gus fellow about 35 years old and has
four children. Last year he was a
candidate for county treasurer and
was the second highest ont OF four
aSpirantS.
Ills reputation has always been
good.
Miss Mattio Simpson, tho woman i'm
the case, is Il we'll developed, good
looking girl of about is summers, and
If any one knew aught against her
character it was not common llnowl-
edge until these sad developments Of
the last three days. Now as usual,
there is all sorts of gossip. 1t is re.
ported to Sheriff Duckett that Wham
Was Seen Thursday going towards the
Grecnvillc line. The sheriff thinks he
will surrender probably to Sheriff Gil
reatE or Grccnvillc or Sheriff Vernon
OF Spartanhurg, as Whams father
lives at Woodruff There Is no need
FOR Wham to run. At tho inquest his
interests were looked after by Lawyer
&. Z. FcathcrStonc who was summon
ed from LaurcnS.
Deputy Sheriff Cathcart came up
from Columbia with the hloodhounds,
arriving at | O'clock at SIMPSONS
crossing, where the train was stopped
directly in front Of the house. The
dogs were at once put on the trail and
were worked for several hours, but it
was impossible to catch the scent and
the attempt was abandoned. No one
is after the fugitive now.
Another Lynching.
Cato Garrett the negro who stabbed
Harry Stouts TO death last Sunday
morning, Vicksburk, Miss, was hung
by mob near the scene OF his crime
this afternoon. Garrett was taken to
Natchcz Saturday evening, Sheriff
brennan fearing an assault on the jail
here. This morning special grand
Jury found a true bill against Garrett
ami Sheriff brennan notified the
Adams country sheriff to bring the
negro to the CITY Dpnllt,v ShnriN p,u)