The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1905-06-30
Assassination Of the Rev. II. D.
Granger, a Baptist Minister
IN HORRY COUNTY.
Commander Johnson and Charlotte Sim
mons, White Man and Woman,
Living in Adultery, Arrested for
Committing the Revolving
Crime. Now in Jail.
Crime. Now in Jail.

Crime. Now in Jail.
A dispatch from Conway to The
State says another tragedy has occur.
red 10 stain the fair fame OF Horny
county, sickenipg and revolving in Its
details. Friday morning Rev. Har.
mon u. Granger, a Baptist minister,
who lived on his farm near Bayboro,
was shot dead il bis he!d about s
O'Clock in the forenoon. The cri'ue
was perpetrated by an assassin who
had hidden himself in the woods ad.
joining the field, and who fired both
barrels OF his shotgun, each loaded
with a full load of buckshot, for 80
were found In the body. Mr.. Granger
was the pastor Of several country
churcH-1, and it is said that no man
In HerrY county has preached more
funerals or married more couples.
He was known and loved not only
In his immediate neighborhood and
community, but throughout the
length and breadth Of the whole coun-
ty. His family consisted of his wife
and four children, some of whom were
working in the field near him when
the dastardly crime was done. His
brother, Daniel Granger, is magis-
trate Of the county. Just after the
shooting runner was dispatched to
Bayboro, the nearest tel. graph office
on the Atlantic Coast Line railroad,
which was three miles away, with the
following message to the coroner:
Come; Rev. II. d. Granger shot
dead in his field by unknown party.
(Sigred) IL. S. AFFORD
DR.. Burroughs, coroner, B. j. Ses
sions, sheriff, and q number OF others
vent to the scene Of the murder as
quick as they could from Conway.
They reached the scene about o'clock
in the Afternoon, where they found
gathered nearly every body in the com.
nuntty. The coroner's jury was EN-.
paneled at oncas and the taking Ut the
testimony continued until a o'citck
Saturday morning. a more thorough
investigation at an inquest has sci
dom been made.
Waeu the shooting occurred the
other members OF the family were so
badly frightened that they did not 20
at once to the PROSTATE body, but
raised such all outcry for nelp that
neighbnIs soon came. The body fell
at the first shot, and death must have
been instantaneous for the Shot
ranged from the waist to the head,
pisrci! 6 every vial organ liver,
spleen, kidneys, lungs, spinal cjlu nm
and brain. The mule ue was plowing
stopped, and the chin Of the falling
body caught on the or blr between
the plow handles. The budy was not
touched or moved until the arrival uf
tile coroner. The friends Of the fami-
ly had erected shade out OF blankets,
pine tops, and so forth. The Girec-
tion from which the shooting was dore
was determined first by probing the
wounds, and was atterward confirmed
by tinding the wadding from the gun
IN nearby bushes.
at first, no suspicion was enter
tained OF any one In the community,
fer 1t was not thought that Mr. Grain.
ger had an enemy: but first one little
circu instance and another combined
to cast suspicion upon near neighbor,
Commander Johnson, and his para
mour, Charlotte SIN mons, nee Prince.
Johnson and this woman had been
living together in open adul;ery for
some months past, and had Eeen the
subject or severe comments by Mr.
Granger who was understood to be
agitating having them presented be.
for the next meeting OF the grand
jurv.
The testimony developed the facts
that Johnson had made veraI threats
to various parties that IL Mr.. Grainger
persavered in his Intention, he (John-
sony would make him smoks," or
would "bloody his shirt" etc. Alo
taat some time ago, about two weeks
earlier, he had purchased buckshot.
He and his plramour reached the
scene together about O'clock in the
afternoon, saying that they been fisa.
ing, and had just returned, which was
| the reason OF their not coming sooner.
| When johnson was pu5 on the stand
| he testified to the fact that he and
mis- woman" had been fishing, and
that he had carried his gun In the
nope OF shooting squirrels, but that
the only shells he had were loaded
with No. shot. His action, expires
sion and general deneanor were such
as to increase these Au,piciors.
For some time he seemed to be un
aware therof, but finally took The
alarm, and 1t was Gnly by he exercise
OF the greatest fnesse that Mr.. Nc
Caskill the deputy sheriff, was able tt
hold him on tie ground until the order
for his commitment could he prepared
and signed. He has never directly de
MED the commission, although he ha.
done Sd by patent implication. AfteI
his arrest, he broke down in a ii,
weeping and ho slirg, which was re
/ neated q l. the dnnns Sntu.Lo.. -. -, =