The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1905-03-10
A FOUL DEED.
A Citizen Of Williston Killed from
Ambush in Open Daylight.
SHOT FROM HIS HORSE

The Crime Was Committed Ia Edge of
Woods In faillug Distance of
Some Farm Hands at Work
In Field. His Watch
Missing.
A special dispatch from Williston
to The State says that community
was profoundly shocked Friday even.
Ing upon learning tbatone OF it's prom.
1nent citizens, j. II. Smith, Jr., was
foully murdered about a mile from
town. AS usual, Mr.. Smith had rid
den to his farm, and while riding
through a narrow strip Of woods was
shot from his horse. There we're two
shots fired, which were heard by sew
eral persons, and the horse was seen
c)ming out Of the woods and was
caught by negro tenant.
The woods In which the crime was
committed is surrounded by open fields
in which we're men at work, and 1t
seems impossible for the murderer to
bave committed this crime In daylight
and escape. The shots were heard
about half an hour fore dark, and In
the edge Of woods not far from a ten
ant house. AS soon as the horse was
brought to town without his rider a
party was made up and search begun
The body VAS found about $40 D. IN.
There were two shots which had TAX
en- ef ct, one in the side of the face
and arm and the other full In the face.
His watch being gone, points 10
r"bncry as the motive. BIoodrour ds
nave been telegraphed for and every.
thing possible Is being done to locate
the murderer. Mr.. Smith was q
prominent Mason, X OF P, and was
not known to have an enemy in the
world. the community is highly
wrought up but there has been no
rash talk so far, but there Is a deter.
mination to find the criminal IL pos.
Sible.
STILL MYSTERY.
A dispat CHI from Williston to The
State says there has been nothing In
the town which has Inflicted such a
shock as the revoliing murder of ].
L. Smith, Jr., Friday afternoon
about 30 O'Clock. Mr.. Smith had
ridden out to one of his farms about a
mile from town, and while in small
strip Of WOODLAND on the place he W. s
shot from his horse. Two discharges
were fired, the one fred while he was
on his horse, entering the neck at the
side, severing the jugular vein and
breaking the yer ebrae; the other,
which was fired when the Victim WI
on the ground, entered the central
portion OF the face, inflictiug horri
BILE Wonnd. The weapon which in
filcted the wounds was shotgun, dis
charged at close range OF few feet.
AS soon as the searching party
which had been hastily organized
upon the reaching OF the conclusion
OF foul play, found the body, aS1ury
was empaneled and an inyes ,gtion
begun, but as liz ------.o, vyidence
could be discovered consideration and
decision were postponed until Mon
day. AS soon IS the search. ng party
reached Williston bloodhoun6s were
sent for. BY l o'clock p. m., Sheriff
Creech and Supervisl n Morris Of Barn
we'll arrived with the chaingang
hounds. These dogs we're Immediate
ly carried to the spot and every effort
made to strike trail, but nothing was
accomplished.
WillIstCn Is at sea- A horrible
murder has been committed and there
is no trace OF evidence as to the per-
petrator OF the foul deed. In the
cloud Of gloom which rests upon the
town there Isl Silent, yet intense. de-
termination to put forth every fort
TO find and ferret every clue which
will lring the murderer to his due.
MIR. Smith was just in the prime OF
his manhood. In the estimation OF
every one he stood in the forefront OF
Williston's best citz ,nhip; g. man OF
shrewd bus iness INTEL, ct. Of broad.
mindednesS, man OF pleasing man
ners and of universal stetm, he wa.
q potent factor In this community S
life The fact that he was the man
that he was Is what makes it the
more difficult to arrive at basis Of
operation for the detection OF the
criminal.
NEGRO ARRESTED.
Jasper Siugieton, co ored, was ar.
rested at Williston on Saturday,
charged with the aSsas siinati N OF Mr..
j. I. Smith, Jr., Friday night. The
evidence against him Is purely cir, cum
stantial and 1T may be that fuller
inve>, sation will reveal that he Is not
The right man. This inquiry is now
In progre' and until all the Supposed
evid, nee IS In hand 1t will be I'M pos.
sible to say whether there is enough
to hold him for trial. Mr.. Spith was
murdered Friday ri ,ht about mile
fr' m iown. WI lie riding through a
strip If woods two shots we're tired
and he fell dead from his horse A.
soon as the riderless horse was seen d
par y was formed to search for the
murderer and the ssarch was kept up
all night. SATURDAY morning Single
ton vas arrested and is now locsed
up. Mr.. Smith was one Of the most
prominent citlZeI Of the community
and bis foul murder has created great
Indignation.
Woman's Whipping Machine.
Frederick w. Peabody, the Boston
lawyer who favoIs whipping post
for wife beaters In MASSACHUSETTS,,
says that he has received ideas csn.
| ntn,t tuhI