The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1903-02-11
LIFE IS CHEAP.
Fsther and Son Shot Down in Flor.
ence County in
PRESENCE OF WIFE AND MOTHER
The Murderer Then Snapped the
Pistol in the Face Ola Defence
less Woman, and Makes

H1SIOl IN the race Oh u DttCuCS"
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 tie
! evidence at the coroner's inquest as
published in The State the following
story of the killing is obtained: Mrs.
Hewitt, who was an eye witness and
in whose yard the shooting occurred.
said:
Il 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
Mr.. Rogers. Mr.. King asked Mr..
Rogers about a dog. Mr.. Rogers told
him that the dog was down at the
house and that he could get him if he
would go with him. Mr.. Rogers told
Mr.. King that as he was poor man
he would appreciate it if he woald
give him little something for che
care Of the dog, as he had kept him
for some time, not knowing whose
dog it was.
Mr.. King replied: Yes, will pay
you for keeping my dog and will pay
| in lead and l wifi give it to you now.
He then drew pistol and fired at Mr..
Rogers. Just as be 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
nv baby Mrs. Hewitt then said to
her: Yes, and be has killed your old
man. King then turned with bis
pistol still smoking, and said to Mrs:
Rogers: Yes, and by God, | will kill
the whole id family AS he said
so be 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 faml-
| 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 cabin with one room. They were
DOOR people but hard working and hon
est. The story as told by Mrs. Rog-
ers is practically the same as told by
Mrs. Hewitt. Mr.. Rogers also made
a statement Which corroborateS that
Of Mrs. Hewitt and Mrs. Rogers ir
every particular except that Mr.. Rog,
erS stated that the dog in question
had taken up at his (Rogers) house.
He did not know whose dog it was I'm.
til in Florence Saturday when man
asked him if he had setter bitch al
his house. He told him that he hac
one there that took up there but die
not know whose dog it was. The man
VINO, as be afterwards found out, wa:
William King, who shot him and hi:
son.
Mr.. Rogers said further: king
told me in Florence he would give me
a little something for caring for thG
cog. That was all that was said
Have never had any trouble or word:
with King, and never knew him unit
Saturday. Never had any words witt.
King before or during the shooting.
There was no one present but my sor,
Mrs. Hewitt and my wife, but De-
lieve that Mr.. Thomas Hewitt came
up with the man King and after the
first shot be 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 disa5i-
ed both arms and the last two entered
the body, and his life blood is slowly
ebbing away. He was reported to be
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 he 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 if he was
sure that the witnesses would tell the
truth that he would not mind coming
to Florence and giving himself up,
but be would not risk it. 1t is also
said that all parties had been drink
ing and that when King and Tom
Hewitt drove up the Rogers were
raising row and it is said that King
claims that they both came on him
with knives AMI that be shot in self
defense. There IS also pitchfork
spoken Of, and there are witnesses for
the defense as well as for the prosecu-
ton. Both sides, as nearly as can be
gathered, are presented to the reader.
1t Is Enforced.
A well known lawyer Of Spartan
burg has furnished to the newspapers
of that town the following statement:
in 1884 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
ence to the effect of alcoholic drinks
and narcotics upon the human sys-
TEN. 1t is made the duty Of the pro-
per officers in control of any school