The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1904-05-04
A Shocking Tragedy.

Shortly alter court had recONVeneO
last Monday afternoon, after the county
convention had finished its work, and
while large number of people were
lettering about on the square, and many
standing on the balcony of the court
house, FIVE pistol shots rang out upon
the air, the first three very rapid. an
intermission of second or Two, tnen
another shot, a slight intermlsslon; ana
shot. and on the ground lay deae was vas
the body of John +. keels siam oE
MAGISTRATE S. NJ. Ioumans: AL thls
took place under the court house pal
cony at the front door to the entrance
to the Offices. and in the presence OF a
number of people who were so close
that one Tsreal James. colored, was hit
hv a bali that had passed through the
hosv nj the dead man: Notwithstanding
the fact there were several eyeWlt-
neseeS the stories told Of the killing
vary considerably. AL five shots took
etfact and the man was killed Instantly.
Sheriff Davis reached the scene OF the
tragedy in a very short time: and as
Mr.. Youmans was emptying the shells
from his pistol, the sheriff arrested,
and dlsarmed him, and then taken to
the county jail where he will stay until
the court grants him bail.
Magistrate A. J. Richbourg OF Sum-
merton empanneled a jury and an IN
quest was held in the lobby of the court
house: several witnesses were examined
and a verdict rendered as follows:
SYNOPSIS OF TESTIMONY AT INQUEST.
DR.. W. NJ. Brockinton testified as to
the examination of the body and the
location Of the balls, all of which ne
said, would have caused instant death.
W. TIP. Sprott says he was standing
some 10 yards in front OF the court
house, heard shot, saw some one that
he did not recognize at first, but after
wards recognized him as John Il. heels,
he was backing off and Mr.. Youmans
stepped aside shooJing. Saw Mr.. heels
as he backed behind the column, ne
seemed to be trying to get around the ne
column. If Toumans had stood stlll
the column would have been between
the parties when the last shot was hred.
r. NJ. johnson says, was over at Jen-
kinson's store when first shot was -hreo.
Mr.. Keels was in front OF column then;
Mr.. Youmans was upon the steps, and
at the first shot Keels stepped back and
threw up his hands and staggered back
bv that time four balls had been tired
and Keels was nearly on the ground
when the fifth shot was fired. Ioumans
was the only man that had a gun, IN ms
hand. Keels was going backwards.
When the first shot was fired he was on
Jenkinson's pavement, and had reacheo
hallway to the court house Wnen the
last shot was fired.
J. S. Evans says: He was standing at
the court house steps, Mr.. kee!s rusheo
bv. going in the direction Of Mr.. You
mans and said God damn you, his right
hand.was back, saw Mr.. Youmans hre
lust as Keels passed. After the trst
Shot Keels staggered the least bit
which threw Keels directly between
witness and Youmans. Witness MADE
an efortto get. in court house door
when he looked again Keels was BE-
hind the pillar and Youmans tired one
or two shots more. From the tone OF
Keels' voice he was mad. Mr. Aeels
was standing about ten steps IRON the
court house before the shooting. Wit
ness did not see -Keels strike at YOU
mans. Keels was very near when trst
shot was fred about two or three feet.
Youmans did not make any attempt to
strike Keels only to shoot him.
J. q. Timmons says: He walked
down the steps and started across the
path to go to the street. Some one
Stopped him to talk, and Mr.. keels
walked by very rapidly. Mr.: Youmans
was leaning against the pillar, keels
rapid walking attracted his attention,
and as Keels got in front OF Youmans
he attempted to strike at Youmans,,
face. don't think he hit him, 1t seemed
to be glancing lick. Youmans threw
I'd his LEFT hand and Keels threw up
his hands. Youmans pulled his pistol
and fred in rapid succession. Witness
could not with salty get between them.
Keels had has hands in tgntlng posi-,
tion; then he dropped his head ana
caught at column post and teu. YOU,
mans fred as Keels was falling. DIG
not hear anything that either party
said. Saw no weapon on Keels. keels
was rather thrown back by Youmans
hands or else he stepped back. They
were four or FIVE feet apart wnen nrS0
shot was fired.
S. w. Mcintosh says: Was standing
in the court house door. heard a voice
which he took to be Keels. He SAID
"God Damn you," saw. heels staggeT
back as if he had been pushed. DE mao
his hand in his hip pocket, when second
shot was fred saw blood, do not know
whether the blood came from keels.
mouth or not, Heard FIVE shots. Did
not see Keels have any stick or any
weapon. Heard no words between
them.
The iury rendered verdict that the
deceased came to his death from gun
shot wounds in the hands OF S. NJ.
Youmans.
brother of the deceased, arrived IN
Manning Monday night, and took the
body yesterday morning to Lynchourg
for burial.
It has been currently for sometime
that their existed i'll feeling between
the parties on account of a business
transaction, Youmans having sold
mule to a negro, and bv some means
Keels became connected with the trans
action, but as the parties were seen
almost daily passing and repasslng each
other often speaking, it was thought
the unpleasantness between them was
at an end, and that no violence would
resorted to. Many think outsiders pre-
ticipated the demonstration of violence
on Keels' part last Monday.
The deceased moved to Manning
from Sumter county few months ago,
was the son OF the late Capt. D. E. Keels
of Lynchburg, and lawyer by protes-
sion, leaves wife and no children.
Magistrate Youmans was born and
reared in Clarendon, and for the past
two years held the Office of Magistrate
at the court house, married and mas one
child. He is man Of temperate habits,
and quiet demeanor, polite and in nc
way disposed to be quarrelsome, but
rather reserved and reticent. Hon. w
C. Davis will defend him.
D