The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1903-03-03
PUPILS WOUND FATAL.
Edward Poster, Shot by His Teacher, Pitts,
at Inman Died on Friday
The Inquest.
(The State.)

school in Spartanburg county, whe
was shot by his teacher, Reuben A
Pitts, on Tuesday last, died at th'
home of Mrs. Brown at Iuman thi,
morning at II O'Clock.
The inquest over the body was helc
at the school house, the scene of the
tragedy, this afternoon. Fifty citi
zens Of the community we're present
at the proceedings which were con.
Quoted by Coroner Foster.
There appears to be silent un-
dercurrent of feeling against Teach el
Pitts, quietly expressed, but no vic.
lent expressions are being INDUCED
in. Pitts has friends at Inman also.
The dead pupil is related to many
residents of that place and belongs
to a leading family. There is ex
treme reticience as to friction at
school between teacher and pupil.
Many persons were questioned, but
very little satisfactory information
was obtained.
THE FACTS OF THE SHOOTING
Mr.. Pitts had been in charge of
the Inman school since last Septem-
ber. Or late he had some trouble
with older male students. The after
noon before the tragedy he ordered
Ed Foster to stay in because of dis
obedience. Tuesday afternoon Eos
ter and four other male pupils were
kept in. Pitts and Foster went to
an adjoining room from where the
three others sat, Pitts telling the
pupils he would have to whip Foster.
Pitts stepped back some distance,
secured switch and ordered Foster
to stand up; struck two blows which
Foster caught, and according to Pitts
statement, the three boys in the
other room pushed in the door and
came crowding in. Pitts then drew
q pistol from his pocket and pre-
sented it, for T purpose of over
awlng t. Foster WAS close,
and. = up the pistol
Foster nanu ok it, causing his
arm and weapC to fall abruptly and
the pistol to be discharged in Pitts
hand. The bullet, 80 calibre, en-
tered Fosters abdominal cavity,
about six inches below the navel, to
right Of median line, ranging inward
and downward, and cut through a
portion of the bla der before lodg-
ing.
After the shooting Pitts and the
copsi able came to this city by private
convey ance.
Reuben B. Pitts is graduate of
FurIuan university, Il native of
Laurens and eon of Rev. John D.
Pitta, pastor of the First Baptist
church of that city. He ia a young
man Of slight build and delicate con-
stitution.
Ed Foster ia Il son Of Gabe Fostor
of Inman.
THE CoRoNER's INQUEST.
The story of the sad tragedy is
best told by the complete inquest
proceedings, embracing the t' sti,nony
Of the three lads who were kept in
with Foster on Tuesday.
There we're present at the inquest
G. G. Foster, father of the deceased,
G. G. Featherstone, of Lsurens, G
w. Nichols and Stanyarn Wilson Of
this city, of counsel for defense.
Tom Ballenger being duly sworn
testified: "Mr. Pitts kept ft of us
in Tuesday afternoon and ! .,Ged mo
and Rome Wolfe and Jesse Ballen-
ger to 60 into the other room and we
had not been in there but just few
minutes until | saw Ny. Pitts step to
the corner and get two hickories. He
camo back and said be guessed he
would have to whip Ed. Foster.
Foster said he didn't care about tax.
ing whipping, but instead of that
Pitts commenced whipping him and
gave him two licks; then all four
hands were on the hickory. We boys
we're looking through the crack of
the door. Both were bent over and
the next thing knew | heard pis-
tol fire; don't know who fired the
pistol. Pitts had pistol when first
seen it. didn't sec pistol until he
went to put it in his pocket Ed Fos.
tor vyaa bntwaop pno opl y>iotnl oDI