The Batesburg advocate. [volume] (Batesburg, S.C.) 1901-1911, 1903-07-15
ANOTHER HOMICIDE.
Mr.. John Wham Kills Mr.. Fate
Ramage Near Laurens.
BOTH PROMINENT FARMERS.
Great Excitement Over the Affair
Among the Friends OF Both
Parties. wham Is still
at Large.

Parties. wham Is Still
Mt Large.
A special to the State from LaurenS
says: A homicide which has startled
LaurenS county as no other homicide
has done since Joe Crews was killed
probably saved from lynching the man
who shot the other Thursday. In the
yard OF the slayer, l.. W. Ramage was
killed by John G. Wham. Both men
were prominent and for time most
serious trouble was feared, but it is
not likely now.
The case is a most interesting one
and there is the usual woman i'm it.
The scene OF the affair Is Simpsons
Cross Road, six miles from Laurens
and three from Clinton, on the Co :
lumbia, Newbcrry and LaurenS rail-
road. John Wham'S home Is on the
right of the road coming up. Across
the road lives Thomas Simpson, Il Con-
fedtrate veteran, who has IA large fam
lily. 1t seems that on Tuesday Miss
Matte Simpson, about l6 years old,
received note purporting to be from
Miss Coleman, SiSter-in-law OF
Wham, asking Miss Simpson to come
over to Wham'S where Miss Coleman
was visiting and stating that all the
others had gone away. Mrs. Simpson
got hold OF the note and her suspicious
were aroused. She went with her
daughter to Wham's house, where
Wham was found alone. Asking the
meaning of the note Wham replied
that he found it addressed to Miss
Simpson after his wife and Miss
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 i'm
proper purposes in view. However,
he declared this was nothing new and
asserted that he had on four occasions
within the last year made attempts t.
have relations with Miss Simpson
with her consent. This statement,
it is said, was made to Mr.. Simpson,
the iTl 8 father, when he went u
! Wham house Tn demand satisfaction
Wham, it is said, refused tc' come out
and meet old man Simpson, who de.
clared that nothing but Wham's blood
would satisfy him.
VICTIM A PEACEMAKER.
News of this reached Clinton Thurs
| day and there was much Indignation
there against Wham. Thursday night,
it is now reported, crowd surround
ed Wham'S house and it was known
that some serious results must come
Either Thursday afternoon or early
Friday morning Mrs. Wham got in
her buggy and drove to the home OF
Mr.. l.. w. Hamage, several miles from
her home. Her object was TO get
Ramage to act as peacemaker. but
she says she did not ask him TO come
to see Wham. Thursday morning
about s o'clock Ramage got i'm hi,
buggy and started for simpsons cross
ing. On the WHY he picked up Ricd
Blakely, friend. The two drove or
to Wham'S house and Wham came
out to meet them. There was shot
gun in the buggy and Wham had a
pistol in each coat pocket, but Whan
and the two visitors shook hands in {
friendly manner.
ASCOIulUS W JIlc UcSUllNOny VI
Blakely at the inquest, Ramage open
ed the conversation by saying. John
this is a bad affair you are in" Wham
replied, Yes, and l am willing tC
make any acknowledgements that are
proper" Ramage then suggested thai
they all go over to Simpsons bu1
Wham said he wanted to wait unit
his preacher came, that he had SEN
for him. Wham then started to tn,
house, the other two following.
Blakely suggested TO Ramage tina
if Whan got into the house he might
get away and they better make hin
give up his weapons. Ramage called
on Wham TO stop, but Wham went OF
in the house and up stairs. From th
front window he called to Blakely Il
Get out OF my yard" and Blakei,
got. Ramage ha gone around tn
right side of the house and on TO tn
rear.
\ COLD BLOODED MURDER
Rl1kplv cavS bn stood NJ tho unt ,