The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-02-20
TOM WATTS
 WAS LOST Negro PrObabiyLy in
 Butler County. KILLED A WHITE FARMER Resulted From Pistol Duel Be-
 tween the Two. slayer Last Seen in Hands ee Mob Near Pine Flat Since Which
 Time He Hns Been Re-
 ported 'sEissang."
KILLED A WHITE FARMER

Greenville, Feb, 1s,-(Special.)- wicks Grimes, a we'll known white farmer of Butler County. was shot and killed by Tom Watts this afternoon near Pine Flat. sixteen miles west of Greenviile. Watts, who was wounded in pistol duel with Mir. Grimes. Is generally believed to have been lynched. He was last seen In the hands of a mob and he has been re- ported Host" or missing"
 After killing MT. Grimes. Watts made an attempt to burn the body. but was unsuccessful. He was seriously wounded over the heart by a bullet from the pistol of MT. Grimes and was forced to go to the house of a white man for aid. While there word of the tragedy went abroad and a mob came for the negro. He was last seen as the mob was carrying him away. AL though the negros body has not been found and nobody has admitted know ing anything of a Iynching 1t Is not doubted that Watts has been lynched.
 OGlcers NOtiAed.
 
 Deputy Will Raoull left immediately for the scene of the tragedy as soon as news of 1t was telephoned to him. He found the neighborhood of Pine Flat quiet with the quietude of calm after a storm. lie returned to Green- viile late this evening and brought the only authentic news of the tragedy. al- though there had previously been a number of sensational rumors.
 Mir. Grimes was shot by the negro Tom Watts in the public road near Pine Flat The negro after an unsuecess- eui attempt to oura the bodys went to the home of a Mr. Carter and asked for treatment for 8 wound in his breast over his heart which he sustained in the pistol fight with MT. Grimes. pr. Wall was called In to attend the negro. After he had examined and treated the wound, Dr. Wall went to Butler Springs to telephone Sheriff Hartley of the tragedy. While he was gone a mob went to the Carter home and took Watts away. after which he was lost" This much of the sensational occur renee at Pine Flat is known. Just what happened before the shooting be- tween Mr. Grimes and the negro Is not known with certainty. One story of the events and conversations prelim- mary to the tragedy is out, but 1t is the story the negro told at the Carter home and it's truth is doubted by some.
 Pistol Duel Fought.
 This story is to the effect that while he was riding a horse down the road Mir. Grimes overlook the negro walk ing. Grimes told the negro he was a United States officer and had a warrant for his arrest.
 The negro told Grimes that he did not believe he was an officer and asked to see the warrant. Grimes abused the negro and the negro retaIiated by cursing Grimes. With this Grimes pulled one of the late pattern Colts automatic pistols and began firing at the negro and the negro pulled his own pistol and began shooting at Grimes Grimes shot seven times, but only one bullet took effect. This bullet struck the negro in the breast just above the heart. The negro fired only one time, but his shot killed Grimes instantly.
 This Is the only ciroumstantial ac- count of the killing that has yet reached Greenville and 1t may be ma terially altered by later reports.
 A thorough investigation will be made of the disappearance of Watts and some arrests may follow.