The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-11-18
Snecial tn Tna State.

2
sosvency Of the bank was not cause
of grave speculation. for all hearts
were filed with the gloom which would
be expected to fellow the taking of
4 of Two of the FIRST citizens OF the place.
The news OF the death OF Mr.. Temp
shocked the entire community this
morning, many getting their first ln-
telligence Of that scrrcwful TACT
through the columns OF The State; for
will be remembered that although
he had been dead since 5 O'Clock, his
body was NOT discovered until it had
become rigid.
This is the most startling tragedy
That has shocked South Carolina in a
long time. Camden does not fully ap-
preciate the full significance Of the
loss Of MI. z. Miller Boykin anG Mr.
Eugene G. Zemp. two men SO active
Sn her interests-bec the senses Of
those closest to the dead are
s5enumbed.
All Of the circumstances leading up
TO Che dual tragedy have not been made
public but certain 1t is that there
Was no agreement or understanding
between the two close friends and busl-
ness associates who have conhded their
lives to the Great Receiver. Bat there
are some narrowing circumstances
which have been misunderstood.
Was talked freely ON the streets
of Camden that in Mondays midday
mail Mr.. Boykin received letter
which gave him much concern, for
he dropIed his face upon his hands and
mn 4tsred. SssI am ruined He was
fanforted by Mr. Zemp and the two
conferred at length in a private Office
When shortly afterward, about has
accustomed hour, Mr.. Boykin went to
dime. he appeared to be in mis- nor
nal spirits. From all that could be
learned the news of his death came as
Great shock to Mr. Zemp who, upon
receiying the sad intelligence, after
o,ceck, shut up the bank and hurried
home. 1t is declared that ne carrled
with him the pistol which Subsequent,
was the instrument Of death. AL
the facts indicate that he had worked
3 himsef into state of depleted vitality,
and the shock of the news Of the death
of bis friend flowing the recent
;annoyances in financial masters-quite
unbalanced Mr.. Zemp's mind. 1t vas
40 craven spirit, for his friends and
accuaintances all declare that he had
nothing to fear, but it was the act OF
an intellect shocked into insensib bility
hy great sorrow. The news which
Vas given him was, tMiIler Boykin
has shot himself and with this
: thought surging through his mind he
went hcnaeWard. It was quite while
afterwards that the jury OF inquest
4 renbrtad that the cause of Mr.. Boykin's g
daath was accidental, and Mr. Zemp
had died before receiving the lnte!h-
gence. A neighbor heard the mufiied
report and saw the pigeons on the barn
auster into it excitedly-this was be-
fore 5 O'Clock
The story of Mr.. Boykin's death mas
already been told. He had gone out
to- kin the hawk which was annoying
the domestic fowls. Between his
home and the DeKalb mill of which be
was president is a bit Of woods s}oplne
Z into q bog at the point remote form
Che house. A part of the bog is fenced
off separately. It was " here this fence
Joined the pasture fence on the hillside
that the body was found. From
evidences, Mr. Boykin stood beside
the fence whiting the top plank
While he was waiting, perhaps, for the
hawk to come back into sight. As
there was stain Of blood on the side
of the fence opposite TO that on which
the body was found. the deceased must
have been in the act of crossing.
An old friend yesterday expressed
surprise that Mr.. Boykin, hunter
since his childhood and so expert shot,
should cross fence SO careiessly witt
treacherous gun, and other friend:
called attention to the act that al
though it was his invariable custom
to wear his coat butSoned cross ths
breast, his coat was not touched by the
fatal discharge. The deceased va:
found with his feet to the fence ane
the gun on the opposite side. Tht
range of the fatal discharge was moi
determined. =.
The possibility of anything Other
than accidental homicide never occur
red to the jury, perhaps. and the IN
ouest was not made a searching examl
ntaion, nor would there have been any
suspicion OF motive but for othel
circumstances.
Capt. Burwel 81. Boykin. once promi
neut as director Of the State dispen