The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1906-07-04
Mir. J. T. Parks Shot and Killed
in Street Row
BY NIB. ROBT H. COVAR
Who is Himself Seriously Wounded ID
the Shoulder. The Shoosisg Was
Caused by Some Business IRON.
bic Between the Two Men
Brewing Sometime.

A most deplorable tragedy was en-
acted in the streets Of Orargeburg
about eleven o'clock last Friday morn
ing, resulting In the death OF MI.
Jas. T. Parks, OF Columbia, and the
serious woundirg OF Mr.. Robt. &. CO.
var. Of this city. These two gentle
men met in Church street, In the
rear OF the Courthouse, and without
exchanging many words went TO
shooting each other with the result
above described. The tragedy caused
great shock to the entire connunl-
ty, and eor time business vas almost
suspanded and nothing was talked
about hardly but ths terrible occur
,encs that had resulted in the death
Of one gentleman and the desperate
wounding Of another.
It was about eleven O'Clock when
several pistol shots rang out in rapid
succession, which startled every one
who heard them. The shooting olo
not LAST but q few seconds, and no one
could say kow many sho5s were ex-
changed between the two combatants,
50 rapid wss the triLg. It Is supposed
that eight or ten shots we're treo ID
al. As soon IS possible people hurried
to the scene after the pistols had been
empt,ed. Immediately after the shoot
Ing MI. Parks vas seen slowly walking
backward and sideways toTarcS ehe
Northwest corner OF the Couftnouse
SQUARE and Mr.. Covsr slowly following
him, both gentleman apparently re-
losding their pistols.
When MI. Parks reached the corner
he crossed over Church street ana en-
tered the law Office Of Messrs Bowman
g. Bowman. Wnen he reached the
tfce be gave his pistol to I. W. Bow.
man, Esq, who was standing IN DIS
ceaoe door, having gone there on nesI-
ING the pistol shots. At this Tune MI.
Parks did not seem to be badly hnr5,
but be was very pale, and SAID 70
those who had gathered that he was
fatally shot. NJ. Parks sat down IN
q chsir, and 1t soon EscSne sppsren1
that he was seriously hurt. be Was
examined sy physicians Who 81 nrst
thought that be was not fatally
hprt but after being removed tc
the residence Of bis brother An'!a",
DR.. J. 81. Percy clear, and care
fu, examination made, it was founo
that he was shot completely through
the BODY and the attending physicians
pronounced the wounds fatal. MI.
Parks was hit in three places. One
bau entered his chin and two ssiucS
him in the stomach, one passing clean
through his body and lodging just
under the skin on the other sioe. be
was conscious up to half past nine
O'Clock, but about that time his MIND
b Gan to wonder and at ha:f-past
twelve O'Clock the end came.
Inne6iatelY after the shooting MI.
A. G. Lindstedu took Mr.. Covar's
pistol. About this time hr. CoVaf's
father came up snd commanded his
son to stop, which he did and turned
from following Nh. Parks and was
carried to his tfice, where ne was
examined by physicians ano rouho 10
lave been hit in two pisces. Ole
ball passed completely through his
right shoulder and another struck
him In the right hand, shooting on
his thumb nail. Another ball passed
through his hat, but did not touch
his head. Sevsral bullets struck TIE
store Of the Orsngeburg HARDWARE
Conpany on the corner OF Russell ano
Church Streets. These balls must
have come from Mr.. Parks pistol.
and indicates the position OF the COM
bstants at the time Of the trlng. MI
Coyar was removed to his home,
where he now lies suffering from hie
wounds, which are qaire painful ano
nsY result seriously.
In the excitement incident to such
3 deplorable affair statements vary
and it has been quite q difficult matter
to obtain the facts. Some OF the
nearby witnesses state that they are
unable to say which Of them fred the
first shot. Others say inst Mr.. Parks
speke to MI. Covar snd appeared to
ask him q question. The reply from
Mr.. Coyar seemed to be eff mstiV5
and then Mr.. Parks struck him IN the
face with bis ast. Then Mr.. Parks
fred and both pistols we're enptied in
sn incredibly short time. When the
shooting took place MIR. Covar was il
bis shirt sleeves, and carried bis pistol
buttened up in his SHIFT. One thing
is certain both men expected a dill
Guilty and had prepared foi it.
The trouble seems to have been
caused by a business trouble between
the two gentlemen. While Mr.. Parks
resided IN Ocangeburg he owned srd
published The Patriot newspaper.
Mr.. Cova1 no wed here FROM E5ge6eld
county " tek= charge Of the mechan.
ical work Of the paper for MI. Parks.
and was In h,s employ for severa!
7ea1S, during which time they seemed