The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1903-09-11
SHARIrF CHARGED WITH MURDER.
Negro Killed III Saluda, CorOner'S Jury
Says, by the Sheriff and Another
White. Man.
News and Courier.

Saluda Sept. g.. About dark Satur-
day night Bob Crouch, colored, was
shot while on the street and died soon
afterward. The affair was com.
plete surprise and soon large crowd
had gathered around the dying man.
During the afternoon and even after
sundown there were a number of ne
groes on the streets, but there was
no disturbance of any kind.
y Immediately after the negro died
Coroner Gipson summoned jury of
inquest and proceeded to take the
testimony Of several negroes who
had been arrested and lodged in jail
as probable witnesses. At o'clock
the inquest WAS adjourned until Sun,
day morning. The eye witnesses
Saturday night placed the Crouch
negro almost in the middle of Main
street, where it ia intersected by
Church street, when the shot was
fired, and standing alone. Pope
Coleman had just left him and was
walking away looking back over his
right shoulder, still talking with Bob,
when shot, coming, as he stated,
from the side Of the brick building,
WAS fired and tho negro fell He
saw two men at the place where the
pistol shot came from, but did not
state who they we're until recalled
Sunday morning. In his testimony
he says he WAS afraid to tell Satnr-
day night what he knew; was afraid
he'd be killed, and then goes on to
say that tho two men he saw we're
Sheriff Rhoden and Mr.. Matt Berry.
He states that he is positive, having
passed them near this place just be-
fore the shooting and having also
recognized them when his attention
WAS attracted by the pistol shot.
Another negro practically corrob-
crates Pope Coleman's testimony,
after stating this morning that he,
too, was afraid to tell what he knew
about the affair.
Jimmie Gillion, q clerk, testified
that he jumped out Of the side door
Of the drug store when the shot was
fired and, looking across the street
to the opposite 81 lie, saw smoke from
n pistol and man running up
Church street. He continued to run
until he got to the Prosperity Stock
Company's stables and then walked
few steps and again commenced tc
run. Gillion started off up street
after the party he saw running, but
soon turned back When he went
back in the store Matt Berry WAS in
there and others.
According to pope Coleman's story
Mr.. Rhoden ran off up Church street
and Mr.. Berry ran across the street
and went in the drug store at side
door
Every witness, except q little negro
practically agreed as to the place
where the shot came trom.> Thi
little fellow claimed he saw q mar
nearly across the street from wher'
it was testified Sheriff Rhoden ant
Berry were standing, raise his arm
like he was "sighting," and thel
fired. He did not know whether i
was a white man or negro.
just about noon the jury Of in
quost, all white, rendered the follow
ing verdict: "That Bob Crouc]
came to his death from a gunshot a
the hands of w. l.. Rhoden and Mat
Berry"
Soon after the verdict was an
nounced, Coroner Gipson took Sherit
Rhoden into custody. Berry, VIII
was in town, left for nis home, seve
or eight miles in the country, ahou
IL o'clock. After the verdict wa
m ade known, Berry was informe
of the nature, and Sunday afternoo
returned here for the purpose, it
presumed, of surrendering.
Berry, who was placed on tn
stand as witness, stated that h
was nearing The drug store when tn
shot was fired behind him. That b
looked around, but saw no one whel
& the shot came from, and then tnrne