The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1903-11-05
A DIAB0LICAL MURDER.
WHITE MAN WHILE DRUNK BRU.
TALLY KILLS HIS WIFE.

Bad Whiskey and Jealousy Respon'
sible-The Man Claims it
was Accidental.
Tuesday morning of last week in Ben
nettsyille, S. c., Marlboro county, white
man named Henry Patrick committed
one of the bloodiest and most diabolical
murders that was ever perpetrated in
that section of the State. Patrick is a
North Carolinian, but had lived in Marl-
boro county for several years, and mar
ried his wife in Bennettsville. The kill
ing occurred about one o'clock in the
morning at their home in factory town.
Patrick returned early in the night from
whiskey distillery on the North Caro-
lima line, under the influence of liquor.
After the crime was committed and the
alarm, those who arrived on the scene
saw horrible sight. On the floor, face
downward in a pool Of her own blood,
Law the dead body of Mrs. Mary Ellen
Patrick with gun shot wound just under
her left ear and six gashes, made with a
knife or razor, across her throat. Powder
burns were on the flesh near the wound.
In another room was part of a bed soaked
in blood and two little children, boy OF
Q and a girl of 6, seeming not to realize
that their mother had been murdered by
their father.
The woman was sitting on the bed
when shot, after which her husband
carried her into an adjoining room, where
he left her on her face on the floor, IN a
pool Of blood.
There was but one known eye witness
to the tragedy, that is the girl, little Annie
May. Her story told at the coroner's in
quest was as follows:
was in bed with mamma asleep and l
was walked up by the fuss. Papa was
cursing mamma about note she wroteto
Raleigh Stewart. Kit Cox told him about
the note; he cursed Kit and told her if
she didn't get out he would cut her brains
out and Kit went out. Mamma was sit
ting up in bed. She told papa to take
that gun away and he shot her. She fell
down on the bed and got blood on my
arm. He told her, damn you and Raleigh
and Stewart too. He was cursing every
kind of way and was standing by the bed.
After he shot her he pulled her out Of the
bed and dragged her in another room.
Papa and I went to a negro house on Mr..
Capers place after he shot mamma. PAPA
told him to get up and make fire for hs
little girl to warm or he would shoot hi
house down. The negro brought paps
home and put him in the porch and he
went to sleep. I tried to go to sleep and
couldn't. Mr.. Carpenter came and carried
me to the house.
Raleigh was here when he came home
last night. Mamma was writing letter
to Raleigh and gave it to him herself. Pa
told him if he didn't get away from here
he would shoot his CUTS out.
Carpenter sent for the sheriff and he
found Patrick lying at his steps in a
drunken stupor. He had to be carried to
Jail in a buggy, and was carried up the
steps. he said nothing about the killing.
Stewart denied knowing anything about
any note. II did not receive any note. "
Stewart is brother of J. T. Stewart, con.
tractor for the work on A. J. Matheson's
new residence, and is himself at work on
the building.
Patrick is a well known character here.
He has been living until about two months
ago on Matheson street, near the depot.
He has for long time been employed by
the Marlboro wholesale grocery. He is a
strong, robust man, weighing about tYo
hundred. His wife weighed little more
than half of that. Mrs. Patrick was a
daughter of John o. Sanders, an old and
well known citizen of Bennettsville.
Patrick said he was very sorry the acci-
dent occurred, but that is was purely an
accident. II was loading my gun," he
said, sand it went off. Mrs. Cox was
there when it occurred, and I think
Raleigh Stewart was there too. Sheriff
Green has my knife and therei is no blood
on it."
IL