The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1903-07-14
TERRIBLE TRAGEDY
NEAR CLINTON.
THE KILLING OF J. l.. RAMAGE BY JOHN
q. WIIAM.
Life Of Young Woman Wrecked and Her
KinSman Slain to Save the Pcrprc-
traitor from LynchcrS.
Columbia State.

Laurens, July GA homicide
| which has startled Laurens county
III no other homicide has done since
Joe Crews was killed probably saved
from lynching the man who shot the
other today. In tho yard of the
slayer, l.. ". Ramage was killed by
Johu q. Wham. Both mon we're
prominent and for Il time most serious
trouble WAS feared, but it is not like.
ly now.
The case IL a most interesting ono
and there il the usual woman in it.
The scene Of the affair IL Simpsons
Cross Road, six miles from Laurens
and three from Clinton, on the Go
lumbia, Newberry and Laurens rail.
road. John Wham's homo il on the
road coming up. Across tho road
lives Thomas Simpson, Il Confed-
crate veteran, who has " large fam
lily. 1t seems that on Tuesday Miss
Matte Simpson, about is years old,
received note purportng to be
from Miss Coleman, q sister in law
of Whem, asking Miss Simpson to
come over to Wham's where Miss
Coleman was visiting and stating
I ; all the others had gone away.
| Mrs. Simpson got hold Of tho note
and her suspicious wero aroused.
She went with her daughter to
| Wham's house, where Wham WAS
found alone Asking the moaning
of the note Whum replied that he
| found it addressed to Miss Simpson
after his wife and NJ iss Coleman had
gone to Clinton and had simply sent
| it over This did not satisfy the
Simpsons and they finally elected
from Wham the Information that he
had sent the note with improper pur-
poses in view. However, he declared
this was nothing new and assorted
that he had OH four occasions within
the last year mad" attempts to have
relations with Miss Simpson with
her consent. This statement, it ls
said, WAS made to Mr.. Simpson, the
girls father, when he went to
Wham's house to demand satisfac.
tion. Wham, it is said, refused to
come out and meet old man Simp-
son, who declared that nothing but
Wham's blood would satisfy him.
VICTIM a rEACEMAKER.
| News Of this reached Clinton yes
terday and there was much indigna-
ton there against Whnm. Last
night, 1t is now reported, Il crowd
surrounded Wham's house and it
WAS known that some serious results
must come. Either yesterday after,
noon or early this morning Mrs.
Wham got in her buggy and drove
to the home Of Mr.. l.. W. Ramage,
several miles from her home. Her
object was to get Rnm"go to act N
peacemaker, but she says sh" did not
ask him to come TO SEQ Wham. This
morning about $ o'clock Ramagt
got in his buggy and started fol
Simpsons crossing. On the way he
picked up Ried BI"kely, friend
The two drove on to Wham's hous
and Wham came ont to meet them
There WAS shotgun in the bugg.
and Wham had pistol in each Goa
pocket, but Wham and the two visi
tors shook hands in Il friondl
manner.
According to the testimony G
, Blakely at the inquest, Ramag
!. opened the conversation by saying
"John, this is bad affair you N
in" Wham replied, eyes, and | Al
willing to make any acknowlede
ments that are proper.' Ramag
then suggested that they all 90 owe
+ to Simpsons but Wham said b
Q wanted to wait until his preache
came, that he had sent for hin
Wham then started to the honse, tn
other two following.
r Blakely suggested to Rnmugo thI
if Wh"m got into the house he mlgl
i get away and they better make bit
give up his weapons. Ramage calle
on Wham to stop, but Wham wei
on in the house and up stairs. Fro
| 4 I 4 l.