The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1903-11-19
McFAIL BADLY WOUNDED.
MAN WITH CHECGERED CAREER
MEETS HIS WATERLOO.
W. L. McFail SeriOuly Stabbed by
John Carter-B0th White Men
and Near Neighb0rs.

Thursday afternoon of last week ". L.
McFail was stabbed by John Carter and
seriously wounded. The difficulty occurr.
ed in the Edisto section, a few miles below
town, in which community both men live,
they being near enough to be called neigh
bors. The wounded man is getting along
very nicely, and while the wound is con-
sidered serious one, it is not thought it
will prove fatal. In fact, the latest re-
ports from McFail are that he is improv-
ing right along and will be up shortly.
He was stabbed in the abdomen, and as
to the extent of his injuries we have re-
ceived several different reports. One is
that the opening was large enough to put
three fingers of the hand in, and that the
lining of the stomach was cut and possibly
the liver and kidneys were reached by
the knife The other is that the wound
is not large one and that the lining of
the stomach is not severed. If the latter
be correct, he is not likely in any danger.
We have interviewed several who have
received direct information from the
wounded man, and his report of the diff
Guilty is that there was an old debt between
he and Carter; that Carter owed him a
balance on a horse and had been owing it
for several years. AS to whether McFail
held mortgage or not, we are not inform
ed. Anyway, the two men and son Of
Carter's had been to the Edisto River
that day fishing, and going home in their
buggies that afternoon McFail commenc-
ed talking to Carter about this amount
due on the horse which Carter was driv-
ing. McFail told Carter that be must pay
him or he was going to take the horse
away from him, and at the point where
their roads separated he got out Of his
buggy and went to take the horse out of
Carter's buggy. Carter attempted to pre-
vent, and the two men got into scufle.
McFail grabbed Carter by the throat to
choke him and just as he did some one
cut him. As to whether it was Carter or
his son, he is not certain. We understand,
however, that Carter admits that he him
self did the cutting. Of course this i'm
mediately stopped the contention over
the possession of the animal, and McFail
got home as quickly as possible and
physician was summoned. The trouble
happened in this county, but no warrant
has as yet been issued for Carter and be
has not been arrested.
McFail has had checkeEed career and
of all the numerous difficulties he has gone
through in his life this is the first time he
has ever been hurt or got the worst end
of it. BE killed negro in Branchville
about fifteen or more years ago, and in
1891 he shot and killed white man nam
ed Burpee, who was town marshal of
Midway. In those days he was consider
ed bad man, and one ready with gun,
but the community generally was some
what surprised to hear of this recent
trouble, as he is aow a quiet, peaceable
citizen, so far as " know. Several years
ago he professed conversion under the
preaching Of the Adventists and is a
member of that church, and takes much
interest in it. On one or two occasions
at least, in the past four years, we have
seen him in stores or other places of busi-
ness with his Bible talking religion to his
former boon companions.
Carter's contention is that he does not
owe McFail anything. That while he
did purchase the animal from McFail,
that there is settlement to be made be-
tween them, and if that were had McFail
would owe him money. he contends also
that McFail had no legal right to take the
horse, and he was only resisting an illegal
seizure of his property and acted in self
defense. As to whether the case will get
into the courts, We are not prepared to
say at present.
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