The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1903-02-13
! ] ]: LIFE !. u rs {, CHEAP;
Father and Son Shot Down III Flor.
ence County in II.
PRESENCE OF WIFE AND MOTHER

, = >5A'.A1rS.1s S13As .e' o1 sV V4 WAcG AND MUIHER
The Murderer Then Snapped the
Pistol in tho Face OF u Defence
less Woman; and Makes
His Escape.
William King shot and killed sam.
uel Rogers and mortally wounded
James Rogers, father of Samuel Rog-
ers, about seven miles from Florence
on the plantation Of Alonzo Hewitt
late Saturday evening. From the
evidence at the coroner's inquest as
published in The State the following
story Of the killing is obtained: Mrs.
Hewitt, who was an eve witness and
In whose yard the shooting occurred,
said:
l was at home when Mr.. Rogers
came up in front Of the house in the
road. Mrs. Rogers was with him.
Samuel Rogers his son, had just come
from Florence and was about to turn
his mule loose in the lot About this
time Mr.. King came up and spoke to
MIR. Rogers. Mr.. King asked Mr..
Rogers about dog. Mr.. Rogers told
him that the dog was down at the
house and that he could get him If lie
would go with him. Mr.. Rogers told
Mr.. King that as he was a poor man
he would appreciate it If he would
give him n little something for the
care Of the dog, as lie had kept him
for some time, not knowing whose
dog it was.
Mr.. King replied: Yes, will pay
you for kceping-HIy dog and will pay
In lead ar. / will give it to you now
:Elfc then drew pistol and fired at Mr..
| Rogers. Just as he fired young Rogers
said to King: If you shoot papa you
will have to shoot me- King quickly
turned and pointing his pistol at
young Rogers, fired. Young Rogers
fell on his knees and then to the
ground, King then turned towards
old man Rogers and opened fire again
on him, shooting him three more
times. saw Mr. Rogers fall TO the
ground. Mrs. Rogers then ran up and
said to Mr.. King: You have killed
my baby Mrs Hewitt then said to
her: Yes, and he has killed your old
man. King then turned with his
pistol still smoking, and said to Mrs.
Rogers: Yes, and by God, 1 will kill
the whole id family AS he said
SO he showed the pistol in Mrs. Rog-
ers' face, and, pointing it at her head,
snapped it once or twice. Had there
been more cartridges in the gun he
would have wiped out the entire fami-
ly, as he had stated, for there were
only three--father, wife and son.
The Rogers family lived several
hundred yards from Alonzo Hewitt in
a log cabip with one room. They were
poor people but hard working and hon
est. The story as told by Mrs. Rog-
ers is practically the same as told by
f Mrs. Hewitt. Mr.. Rogers also made
q statement which corroboratcs that
Of Mrs. Hewitt and Mrs. Rogers in
I every particular except that Mr.. Rog-
crs stated that the dog in question
: had taken up 1T his (Rogcrs) house.
} He did not know whose dog it was un.
+ til in Florence Saturday when man
n asked him If he had setter bitch at
! his house. TIe told him that he llaC
: one there that took up there but die
not know whose dog it was The man
G VINO, as he afterwards found out, was
g William King, who shot him and hi.
5 son.
Mr.. Rogers said further: king
c told me i'll Florence he would give Inc
Il little something for caring for tho
z dog. That was all that was said
Have never had any trouble or words
9 with King, and never knew him until
Saturday. Never had any words will
King before or during the shooting.
There was no one present but my son,
Mrs. Hewitt and my wife, but be-
licye that Mr.. Thomas Hewitt came
up with the man King and after the
first shot he begged King not tc
Shoot" Young Rogers was shot only
one time and died within ten minutes
after he was shot. The bullet took
effect in the stomach and ranged
downward. Old man Rogers was shot
four times, the first two shots disabl-
cd both arms and the last two entered
the body, and his life blood is slowly
ebbing away. lie was reported to he
dying late this afternoon.
1t seems, too, that there is another
part of the story OF the shooting. King
did leave a message for the sheriff
with his wife saying that lie did not
mean to be taken and did not want to
lie In Jail, SO that he had left the
State. He said further that II he was
sure that the witnesses would tell the
truth that he would not mind coming
to Florence and giving himself up,
but he would not risk 1t. 1t is also
said that all parties had been drink
ing and that when King and Tom
; Hewitt drove up the Rogers were
raising a row and it is said that King
claims that they both came on him
with knives and that he shot in self
defense. There is also pitchfork
spoken Of, and there are witnesses fol
the defense us well as for the prosecll-
ton. Both sides, as nearly rs can be
gathered, arc presented to The reader.
IL Is Enforced.
Il a well known lawyer Of Spartan
burg has furnished to the newspapers
Of that town the following statement;
In 1894 an act was passed by the
legislature OF South Carolina to pro.
vide for the teaching Of physiology
and hygiene in the public schools OF
South Carolina, with particular refer
cncc to the effect Of alcoholic drinks