The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1905-09-29
OF a Murderous Attack Made on
j. D. Hawkins by
OTHER WHITE MEN.
The Victim OF the Murderous Attack.
Who Was Left for Dead. Revlves
and Tells How tie Was Laid
OH the Rail Road Track
IN he Puu Over
to be Run Over.

to be Run Over.
The Columbia State Of last Wednes.
day says Sheriff Jennings of Pickeng
County arrived in Columbia on Tues-
day Of last week with a warrant for
John Henderson and Tom Vaughn,
who was In jail there charged with
the muId3rous assault upon j. D.,
Hawkins near Calhoun more than two
weeks ago. The Sheriff got the pris-
oners and returned to Pickens with
them on Wednesday.
The State says Henderson and
Vaughn are the two men who were
arrestt q In the weave room of the
Olympia cotton mill by Deputy Sher.
ifs Knox and Cathcart last Thursday
afternoon, September IA as the result
Of telephone communication from
Sheriff Gllreath OF Greenville.
It was not known at that time
whether the crime was committed in
| Greenville or Pickens county and the
delay In removing the mon from the
Ricnland jail has been due to the fact
that 1T was necessary to walt until
HawIins had sufficiently regained his
sense to tell coherent story OF the
effort to take his life.
| He has nov improved sufficiently
to do this and reiterates what he stat.
ed at a former interval OF conscious
ness, that Henderson and Vaughn are
| the men who attacked him anG placed
| his almost helpless az d senseless body
on the track OF the Southern railway
20 be crushed by an onc0ming train,
10 as to conceal the crime that had
been COmmi1ted.
SAcrff Jennings stated that from
the information now at hand 1T seems
that Hawkins, who resides at the
Brandon mill in Greenville, was on
Saturday afternoon, September 9,
about TO take q train for Easley, where
he intended to attend a meeting of
the Odd Follows lodge, and he had on
MS person 500 belonging to the order.
Ihis money he showed to several men
with whom he was associating that af-
ternoon and plot to rob him was..ev-
fdently determined upon by them. AZ
ter attempting several ruses to get
him to point where the robbery could
be committed Without fear Of discov-
cry, finally one Of them told Hawkins
scanda]ous story concerning his fam
lily and when Hawkins Indignantly re-
sented the falsehood he was told that
If he would 20 with them the men
could carry him to the man who had
| said it and would furnish proof of it's
truth.
It Is supposed that that night they
goa In an empty freight car Of a pass
Ing freight train and rode as far as
| Calhoun, where tt e. got off and start
ed on tuOt toward the Seneca river.
When about half way to the river and
near saw mill, Hawkins companions
| attacked him with heavy scantlings,
striking several terrific blows on the
head and one on his le 1T arm, which
broke 1T between the wrist and the
| elbow He was also given a jab in his
back with the splintered end of a
broken 3cantling, which made a
frlghtful wound. The blows on the
wounded mans head had rendered
him almost unconscious but not en-
tirely so, as the assailants supposed,
Hawkins, bleeding and unable TO raise
his hand to help himself, heard them
discuss the best way to dispose OF his
body. 1t was agreed by them to throw
his body In the Seneca river and gath
ering 1t up they started toward the
river bank, but when about half way
they saw the watchman of the bridge
approaching with his lighted lantern.
Although he soon disappeared this
caused them to change their plan and
IL was theh agreed to place the body
on the railroad track to be mangled
under the wheels OF the next train.
This was done and the would be mur.
derers quickly disappeared In the
darkness. Hawkins, dimly realizing
that certain d4a6h awaited him unless
he could crawl from the track, made
a supreme effort and managed to drag
his body TO the outside Of the track
and roll down the emb lnkment. 1t
will be remembered that his groans
were heard By Mr.. and Mrs. w. A.
Chapman, who we're passing on their
way to church the next morning, and
the half dead man was found and cared
for at their home.
Henderson and Vaughn were seen
at the jail Tuesday and asked for g
statement but they vigorously denied
any knowledge OF or connection with
the affair. They said that they were
In the company OF Hawkins in Green.
Vile during the day but that they did
not see him at night, as they were
both at the Magnolia cafe and later
At lawn party at the residence of
Mr.. Whitesides. They claim to be
able to produce proof OF this alibi.
Hawkins statement is conclusive proof
that the assault occurred IL pickens
county and the entitD matter is now
In the hands Of SheriG Jennings.