The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1903-07-14
Blakely got. Ramage had gone
around the right side of the house
and on the rear.
A COLD BLOODED MURDER.


and looked through the hall which
runs through the house and that he
could hear Mrs. Wham aud Ramage
talking, bnt could not distinguish
what they said. He saw Wham up
stairs pick up something and then
saw him come down stairs with q gun
in his right hand As he left the
staircase he passed out Of Blakely's
sight and the shot was fired almost
instantly. Ramage called to BlalSely,
heard him fall, and says he know his
friend WAS dead but did not 90 TO
him With the shot gun in his hand
he went to the corner Of the fence
whore he could SEQ Ramage lying
back Of the house.
SPLENDID ACTING.
When Mrs Wham ran out to the
front piazza screaming Blellely asked
if il were safe for him to 90 to Ram
ages body and she replied il was not
safe. Here was enacted M wonder
ful bit of acting AZ ever woman
did on or off the stage. The wife to
whom Wham had been untrue, either
in intent or act, for nearly three
hours played an artistic role in order
to give him time to escape She
knew that if Wham WAS taken by the
friends Of the other woman his life
would be the forfeit, and 30 not only
to Blakely, but to the dozens of 9TH
ers who gathered there this nervy
woman pretended that her husband
waa upstairs and that it would mean
more boodshed and instant death to
any man or any set OF men who might
attempt to enter that yard or that
house. With prayers and plcadings
of this sort she kept the crowd at
bay while the dead man lay right at
her back door and her husband WAS
making his way to safety. For it
must have been IA soon es 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. He has not since
been seen in these parts and at this
writing his whereabouts is unknown.
When it was found that Mrs. Wham
had been playing part and that hor
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 Laurons and Sheriff Duckett had
arrived with posse Even then
Mrs. WhRm begged the sheriff not
to turn over her husband to the mob,
and acting on her fears the sheriff
addressed the crowd, cautioned them
against violence, and by this time
Wham WAS putting miles between
himself and the cold body Of Ramage
there in the back yard. Whether he
| won't on foot or had horse is not
known, but since he had known for
two days that he must get away or
suffer it il probable he had prepared
means Of escape. 1t il said by con-
| servntive mon that if Wham had been
taken this morning either before or
after the shooting he would have
been lynched, AZ there were a mum
ber Of men congregated at the Simp-
SONS with all kinds Of guns and feel
ing WAS hot against Wham both on
account Of the girl and of the death
Of Ramage, but the testimony ut the
| inquest caused this feeling to par
italy subside.
SHOT iTls WAY TO SAFETY
It ia known from the guarded state
ments Of Mrs. Wham that Ramaye
asked Wham TO come out and 90 TO
the Simpsons and that Wham refused,
, telling Ramage that he could not
protect him from that crowd and
that it would mean death for him
, (Wham) } to go there. 1t is supposed
Ramage commanded Wham to come
ont and Whnm decided to shoot his
way to safety without more delay.
His Judgment seems to have been
good AZ was his ann, for under Rem.
ages body was found loaded Sm,tl