The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1905-10-11
A Camden Merchant Murdered
in the Street by Robbers.
A DESPERATE CRIME.
MIR. R. A. McDowali. a Prominent Mer.
chant, WayIaid aud Assassinated ia
tie Heart of the City by Foot.
pads for the Purpose of
Robbery.


Camden, S. c., was waylaid and foul
ly murdered on his way home on
Tuesday night Of last week about 8
o'clock and robbed OF bis watch, keys
and al the money be had with him.
He was struck In the bsck ct tee head
presumably with heavy club.
The spot selected was nsar large
tree opposite Hampton park. AS he
vas late coming home Mrs. McDow-
all, his wife. said to her son, Robbie,
who is about 13 or II years old, that
be had better 60 and see what was
OBTAINING his father. He rad not
gone far before be stumbled over his
father who was in the last throes Of
death.
The city is thoroughly aroused and
al streets are heavily guarded to pre-.
vent the escape CT the assassin. The
oloodhcunts will be Immediately Sc.
cured from the State farm, which is
about IL miles distant. Chief Of Po
lice Halle is very active aud is leaving
nothing undoae to capture the guilty.
party.
The State says: Ii IS natural that
Camden should be deeply stirred over
the bold AID terrible murder Of a
paaceaole cioiZsn IN the heart OF the
town. It seems that il there is not
a gang Of desperate thugs and high
waymen il this State, that a wave OF
a new form CT lawlessness has taken
hold here, as roboeries OF this sort,
such as have occurred in Columbia rec
emily, are not common In South Caro-
lima, whatever else may be the Short
comirgs OF the State.
Mr.. MeDowall, the murdered man,
was about IS yeacs o.d and 77as re.
spected, sober ne:chsn5 Of Clm
den. He Leaves his one s)n and his
wife, VINO was Miss halle. Es is a
brother Of Mr.. w. NJ. McDo Sall, the
editor.
1t was stated tat Mr NoDowall
vas carrying lons his o50zs 10 post
snd tha5 the books Wlr5 fund near
his body. His vile, baccocilg uneasy
about lis delay ia coniag home, sant
ger son 20 sse what WIS tie Eattsr,
and the sen follG h:s father not mors
tnan a half b:o3G from MS home. l'hs
spot where the murdss was conmiJ-
Ted is On Deka.b streeS, be51een
Main street aad tie Sol-aerl rail
way depot. opposite Hampton park.
It is no5 knOsn low mucat If any,
money Nj. McDowal! hai On his per
son when killed, and peculiar thing
is that his keys were takea, as vas
the case when tie htgawaynan held
up judge Ernest Gary in Columbia a
week ago. 1t is sa!d tAat Mr.. M3'
DoWall was not kno@n to havs ene.
mies and that robbery is the only NC
tive for the murder.
a telephone message from Camden
st /. 40 O'Clock tois morning Stated
that uhs 5loJdhoundS from the State
farm had then jls5 arrived and were
being taken to the sceaa, which had
been carefully su:ried IN order to
prevent the ooliuera5ion CT the ecent.
Il seems that Mr.. M:DoWaG was
struck OF the side OF tie head under
the lett ear powerful blow which
must have felied MIN at oGcs and psr-
haps prevented saY attempt on bis
part 30 fight for bis lie. Il is thought
that there wss oaly one ro5oer but
there is said to hs absolutely 20 clue
or suspicion OF his ildenlSy. 1t is
stated that the roboer> secured, be-
sidss the keys in Mr. MoDo"all's
pockets, the amount OF s25 IN cash
aad his watch. a large croyd vas at
The scane until tie doSs srciVsd.
At215 this mo:a:ng q mas5age
FROM Camden was 30 the effect that
tae b:oSGioul1s hai usen en- the
ground for some time, but dad JAILED
to tsss tie scent, and wsce wander
ing arcuGd the pa1k, where rs or so
men were still sethered awaiting de.
velopmsutS. There was SAID TO be
90 solution OF the mystery, 60 light
yet on tie dsa.h Of Mr.. McDoWall.