The Batesburg advocate. [volume] (Batesburg, S.C.) 1901-1911, 1903-07-15

that her husband was upstairs and
that it, would mean more bloodshed
and instant death to any man or any
set OF men who might attempt to en-
ter that yard or that house. With
prayers and pleadings of this sort she
kept the crowd at bay while the dead
man lay right at her back door and
her husband was making his way to
safety. For it must have been rs
soon as the shot was fired that John
Wham rushed past his victim across
the cotton field and into the woods
200 yards in the rear OF his house.
lie has not since been seen in these
parts and at this writing his where
abouts are unknown. When it was
found that Mrs. Wham had been play
ing part and that her husband was
gone the crowd made bold TO approach
the man who had been lying there
dead these two hours and more. But
this was not until word had been sent
to Clinton and Laurens and Sheriff
Duckett had arrived with posse.
Even then Mrs. Wham begged the
sheriff not TO turn over her husband
to the mob, and acting on her fears
the sheriff addressed the crowd, eau
tiOned them against violence, and by
this time Wham was putting miles
between himself and the cold body of
llamage there i'm the, back yard.
| Whether he went on foot or had a
horse is not known, but since he had
known for two days that he must get
away or suffer 1t is probable he had
prepared means Of escape. 1t Is said
by conservative men that If Wham
had been taken Thursday morning
either before or after The shooting he
would have been lynched, as there
were number of men cOngregated at
the Simpsons with all kinds OF guns
and feeling was hot against Wham
both on account OF the girl and of the
death Of Ramage, but the testimony
at the inquest caused this feeling to
partially SubSide.
SHOT HIS WAY TO SAFETY.
Ii is. known from the guarded state
mentS of Mrs. Wham thab Ramage
asked Wham to come out and go to
the Simpsons and that Wham re-
fused, telling Ramagc that he could
not protect him from that crowd aud
that it would mean death for him
(Wham) TO go there. 1t is supposed
Ramage commanded Wham to come
out and Wham decided to shoot his
way TO safety without more delay.
His Judgment seems to have been good
as was his aim, for under Ramage S
body was found Il loaded Smith X
Wesson selfacting revolver while the
wound under the dead hams arm in
| a ha iS 10 Mos DO. Il
the fingers were twi,-If az il i'm the
act OF grasping the ti.SseI. Wham
shot with Remington {32-calibre rim
fire target rifle and the ball entered
just above Ramage's left nipple
passed through the large artery above
the heart, penetrated the body, en-
tered the right arm and lodged in the
muscle. Death was doubtless almost
instantaneous. Ramagc was left,
handed and was standing with his
left side next the house hardly ter
feet from the back door from which
Wham shot as he ran down the Stairs
from the second story. Ramage
was magnificent man physically, SIX
feet high, stout and handsome. He
was bachelor and half brother ol
Miss Simpsons mother, who was the
nephew and heir Of the late Capt. j
A. BELL, and was himself proSpcrou.
farmer and dairyman, standing wei
in the community.
Wham moved here several years age
from near the Greenville line wher,
the family of that name is numerou:
and prominent. He brought the ole
Simpson homestead, the Simpsons
moving into smaller house across
the road. The old place is typica
Carolina country home with big oak,
in the yard and general appearance,
OF hOmelineSS, most placid scene 70
a man TO work the wreck OF wo
mans life and to slay her kinSman
Nearer Clinton Wham had bough
other property and there has in process
of erection an unusually stylish hous
almost completed into which he in
tended soon to move. He is a prosper
Gus fellow about 30 years old and ha
four children. Last year he was
candidate for county treasurer ant
was the second highest out of fuu
aSpirantS.
His reputation has always beer
good.
Miss Matte Simpson, the woman il
the case, is a well developed, gOO
looking girl of about l6 summers, an,
if any one knew aught against he
character it was not common knowl
edge until these sad developments q
the last three days. Now as usual
there is all sorts of gossip. 1t is IT
ported to Sheriff Duckett that Whar
was seen Thursday going towards TIN
. Grcenville line. The sheriff thinks n
, will surrender probably to Sheriff Gil
, reath of Greenville or Sheriff Nerno
Of Spartanburg, as Wham'S fathe
lives at Woodruff. There is no nee
, for Wham to run. At the inquest n
, interests were looked after by LawyC
; &. &. FeatherStone who was summon
ed from LaurenS.
' Deputy Sheriff Cathcart came Il
, from Columbia with the bloodhound
arriving at | O'clock at Simpson
, crossing, where the train was StOppC
, directly in front OF the house. II
, dogs we're at once put on the trail al
were worked for several hours, but
was impossible to catch the scent ar
the attempt was abandoned. No OF
e is after the fugitive now.
I