The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1903-02-06
HUMAN LIFE IS CHEAP
IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
FATHER AND SON SHOT TO DEATH IN
FLORENCE.
In Presence Of Wife and Mother. Then
William King Snaps Pistol at
WOman'S Head. And 1t
Was All About
Dog.
Especial to the State. I

Florence, Feb. William King
shot and killed Samuel Rogers and
mortally wounded James Rogers,
father of Samuel Rogers, about
seven miles from here on the planta-
tion of Alonzo Hewitt late Saturday
evening.
From the evidence at the coroner's
inquest 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, bad Just
come from Florence and 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 hin. if he would 60 with him.
M. Rogers told Mr.. King that as
he was poor man he would ap-
preciate it if he would give him a
little something for the care of the
dog, as he had kept him for some
time, not knowing whose dog it was.
Mr.. King replied: yes, l will pay
you for keeping my dog and Will pay
in lead and will give it to you now.
He then drew a pistol and fred at
MIR. 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, fred. Young
Rogers fell on his knees and then to
the ground. King then turned to-
wards old man Rogers and opened
fire again on him, shooting him three
moro 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, I will kill the whole ID
family" AS he said so he showed
the pistol in Mrs. Rogers face, and,
pointingit at her head, snapped it
once or twice. Had there been more
cartridges in the gun he would have
wiped out the entire family, as he
had stated, for there were only three
father, wife and son."
The Rogers family lived several
hundred yards from Alonzo Hewitt
in log cabin with one room. They
were poor people but hard working
and honest. The story as told by
Mrs. Rogers is practically the same
as told by Mrs. Hewitt.
Mr.. Rogers also made statement
which corroborates that of Mrs. Hew.
lit and Mrs. Rogers in every psrtiou::
lar except that Mr.. Rogers stated
that the dog in question had taken
up at his (Rogers) house He did
¬ know whose dog it was until in
Florence yesterday when man
asked him if he had setter bitch at
his house He told him that he had
Zone there that took up there but he
did not know whose dog it was. The
iSman, who, rs he afterwards found
out, was William King, who shot
him and his son.
Mr.. Rogers said further: King
told mo in Florence he would give
mo little something for caring for
the dog. That was all that was said.
Have never had any trouble or words
y with King, and never know him until
B yesterday. Never mad any words
& with King before or during the
shooting. There was no one preaeut
but my son, Mrs. Hewitt and nv
wife, but | believe that Mr.. Thomas
Hewitt came up with the man King
and after the first shot he begged
King not to shoot"
Young Rogers was shot only one
&tlme and died within ten minutes
after he was shot. The bullet took
Seffect in the stomach and ranged
downward. Old man Rogers was