The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-07-15
VHln HAD HAD 4 DIFFICULTY
With Tom Simpson, a Near
Neighbor, About a Member
of Simpsons Family,
Hrs. Wham Went For Ramage, Broth.
er-in-l.aw of Simpson, th Get Him to
Settle the Difficulty Between Her
Husband and Simpson.
snec.;;ai In News and Courier.

ing near Laurens, by John u. Hham,
farmer living two miles west Of
Clinton, at s O'Clock this morning, IN
Mr. Whana's back yard The trouble
arose regarding irregularities between
member Of Mr.. Tenn Simpsons fam
ily, nearby neighbor, and Mr..
Wham, on Monday afternoon. 1t is
understood that Mr.. Simpson threat
ened the life of Mr.. Wham and did 60
to Mr. Wham's house armed, but after
having talk returned without a diff
Guilty. After telling the circumstances
regarding his grievances, and with
many advisers and others to help STIR
the sensation, he became further IN
censed, but, Influenced by others more
conservative, delayed his action IN the
meantime, and this morning early
Mrs. Wham, anxious TO have the
affair stopped without further trou-
ole, went to the home Of Mr. Ramage
and asked him to- come down and en-
deavor to quiet and pacify Mr.. Slmp-
son and many Of his friends, who had
by this lime gathered at or near che
residence of Mr. Wham. Mr.. Ramage
came at the request OF Mrs. Wham,
but some time after she had returned
home, during which time Mr. Wham
had armed himself and barricaded his
house, feeling from the threats he had
heard that his life was in danger.
When Ramage arrived he stopped first
as OF near Simpsons house, which is
only few hunded yards distant from
Mr.. Wham's, and where crowd OF
SIMPSONS friends were gathered.
Ranage and Reed Blakely came down
so Wtanis house and asked to have a
talk with him. Wham came out to
the gate, spoke to and shook hands
with Ramage. Ramage asked Wham
TO go with him over to Simpsons
house, that they wanted to have q
talk, and if possible settlement of
their grievances, and that Ramage
would guarantee that Wham would not
be hurt. Ramage asked Wham if he
was armed. He said he was. Ramage
asked him to disarm himself and come
and 90. Wham said: Let me go in
the house first, and turned to go in,
when Mr.. Blakely, who was with Ram
age a5 the gate, said: You had bet
ter not let him go in the house. /"
Whersupon Ramage asked him to stop,
but Wham went on into the house and
Ramage walked around into the back
yard, and just at this iuncture Wham
saw several men coming towards his
house, and, not liking the movement
of the crowd, ordered Reed out Of his
yard. Then Reed called to Ramage
that he thought Wham was trying to
get out of the house. Ramage went
into the back yard, as if to cut him
of. Wham first went upstairs and re-
TUNED Immediately, and started
through his house towards the back.
Finding Ramage there, he shot and
killed him Instantly and escaped to
the woods. Mrs. Wham entreated
Ramage earnestly not to go back
there; she fearing the result. There
being no one else in the back yard, it
was not known for two hours but what
Wham was in the house still, and
Others feared to go to Mr.. Ramage for
all that while.
The house was finally searched and
it was found that Wham had gone,
which they presumed he did when he
FIRST shot Ramage. Wham used a 80
calibre Remington rifle, which was
afterwards found buried in the sand
not far from his house. Mr.. Ramage
fell face downward and had his pistol
In hand.
The sheriff was wired for and the
Goyerno, asked for bloodhounds,
which came to the scene at 2 O'Clock,
but could not follow the trail. There
was much talk about iynching Wham
at first, but after hotn sides had been
considered more conservative feelings
prevailed. Under the circumstances
many think Wham could not have
done otherwise and others condemn
him very severely.
-Four or FIVE hundred people went to
the scene durig the day. Wham came
to his present home about FIVE years
ago from near Fountain Inn, S. c.,
and many Of his friends from that
place and Laurens came down today.
He may be lynched if caught by Simp-
sons and Ramage's friends, but this
is not likely. It is thought he will go
to some place Of safety and give him
self up.
ORIGIN OF The TROUBLE.
The details of the unfortunate kill
ing are hard to obtain. 1t seems that
trouble had been brewing for two or
three days. Mr.. Tom Simpson lived
ACROSS the railroad from Mr.. Wham's,
and Mr.. Simpson is the brother-in-law
Of Mr.. Ramage. On Monday Mrs.
Wham and Miss Coleman, who was
visiting at Mr.. Wham's went to Gin
ton to spend tie day and night. While
they were gone Mr.. Wham wrote a
note over Miss Coleman's signature
TO Miss Simpson, a young lady OF
shout is, niece of Mr.. Ramage and
daughter of Mr.. Simpson. This note,
it is said, invited Miss Simpson over
to spend the night. The mother OF
Miss Simpson got hold of the note
and, knowing that Miss Coleman had
gone to Clinton, asked the negro who
brought the note who wrote it, and the
negro said Mr.. Wham had sent it. The
Simpsons suspected sinister motives IN
Mr. Wham's writing the note and, OF
course, Miss Simpson did not 60 te
the Wham's. Mr.. Ramage was SEM
for to come to the Simpsons as wei
- @,t