The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1904-07-13
DEPENDENT YOUMANS.


DEPENDENT YoUMANs.
Magistrate S. NJ. Youmans, 1he de-
fendent. stated that he is 2S years Old
and has wife, mother and child to
support and now lives in Manning near
where Keels lived At the time OF. the
killing he lived at the other end OF the
town. He has lived here four years
and is magistrate here, has just finished
q home. About the 10th OF March
Keels paid Youmans an account due by
a negro for mule and sent to him for
the mule. He noticed no change in
Keels until the 23rd of March. keels
advanced to the negro the amount due
Youmans. Youmans received due
bill from John r. Keels, Due Joe
Evans $40 rebate on mule. He
wouldn't let the negro have credit un-
til Keels guaranteed payment. On the
23rd of March Youmans went to his OF
fee. Keels had been there very angry.
He was informed by the Judge of pro-
bate that Keels had put the mule back
into his (Youmans') yard and Keels had
said if Youmans fooled with him (Keelsl
he be id if he wouldn't kill him.
On the next day he found Keels IN
his Office. Keels said, ''I'll be id If
r" The Judge Of probate started to
leave. Keels said. "Suop, see it out:
What do you mean to do" You
mans said. He had no transaction. with
Keels but with the negro. keels an
erilv demanded the return of the mon
ey. Youmans refused. Keels made
a motion. The Judge OF probate or
dered him out. Youmans said, Il
would rather you would leave, Mr..
Keels, I do not care to have anything
to do with you.'' Keels as he left glar-
ed at Younans, and moving his coat
displayed pistol He was informed by
the Judge of probate that Keels wanted
him to step off ten feet and shoot 1t out.
Youmans then went home. He wrote
to Keels to get his mule as he had paid
for it. Keels told Windham that If
Youmans tried to put it back in his lot
it would not be good for him. e.
Youmans' note was offered IN evl-
dence. The solicitor objected. The
sheriff was put on the stand to identity
the letter was admitted. Youmans
took the stand again. Capt. Davis read
the the note to the jury. YoumanS re-
ceived no reply. He was informed by
many that Keels had written a reply
and was told by Windham that Keels
was looking for him and had written
very insulting pote. Youmans stayed
away from the court house until after
being informed that Keels had left. AS
Youmans approached the court house
be sew Rance Logan who asked.
"What's the matter with you boys:'
"Nothing." Youmans replied Logan
said ''By G. there must be something.
Further remarks were made by Logan.
He told Logan he wouldn't take any in
suit from Logan or his boys. He only
wanted Logan to leave him alone. He
turned and walked off. Logan followed.
declaring that he was Youmans' friend.
Several laughed and Logan, enraged,
his offer to fight fairly.
On the way from breakfast next
morning he met the sheriff, who re-
ported that Keels had gone to Salem.
Several days later he met Mr.. Davis
who told him that Keels and Logan
we're near. He passed Keels and
spoke. Keels replied, "Good morning"
Keels sued Youmans for m o ~
paid for a mule. When sober Keels
spoke politely and only threatened and
abused when drunk, He was warned
By J. W. Heriot that Keels had been IN
a store armed and making threats.
Youmans was not armed when he heard
the threats. He borrowed a pistol
from a deputy sheriff. The deputy
sheriff had told him on two occasions
that he had better look out for Keels.
Windham told him OF numerous threats.
Keels would say, There is bad blood
between Youmans and me-" He was
warned by W. Z. Hawkins to avoid
Keels. He knew of Keels having shot
Bowman, the trouble with Hanesworth
and others. Keels had told Youmans
that he had agreed to tight Bowman
and that Bowman had surrendered his
his pistol. The State here objected.l
He knew that Keels had whipped old
man Dave Welch and thereby inflicted
mortal wounds. Keels had told You
mans of the trouble he had been in in
the west. He met Auditor Z. G.. Dick
son who warned him that heels was
making threats. Coming to the court
house he saw Keels who glared at him.
Youmans stopped. Keels continued to
glare at him. Youmans started of to-
ward the bank and stayed OF some
time. On his return he stood In the
door looking for a lawyer. keels came
to the door and then made movement
toward him and motioo and said
he didn't hear. He asked a
a bvstander what Keels had said. The
bystander had said, ''Youmans is G.
ID thief. He walked out and spoke
to one or two and leaned against the
court house door looking for MIR. Vein
berg. an attorney. Something down
the path attracted his attention. He
then saw Keels coming rapidly down
the path and glaring at him. He paid
no attention to Keels. Keels rushed at
him, striking out and shouting, C
d. YOU - Keels struck twice and
called, Shoot me now if you can, | am
armed, - and threw his haud to his hip
pocket. Noumans then shot. When
he fired the last shot he said. Lord
help him. He expected up to the
fifth shot for Keels to draw u dirk and
stab him. He followed Keels around
the column to see what he was doing.
He did not shoot Keels on the ground
or while he was falling. He unbreach-
ed his pistol and gave it to the sheriff
who came up. Logan then came up
and stopped over Keels and as ne