The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-07-04
]. T. PARKS KILLED
IN PISTOL FIGHT IN ORANGE
BURG.
Covar Not seriously Hurt-Business
Transaction Leads to Encounter Be-
tween Two Former Partners in
Newspaper Work.

N
Orangeburg, June ga shoot
ing affair took place this morning on
the public square, just in the rear of
the court house, between Mr.. James
T. Parks, formerly Of this city and
now Of Columbia. and Mr.. Robert II.
Covar, which resulted in the wound
ing Of both of the principals and the
death of Parks.
1t was about II o'clock that a
regular fusilade Of shots was heard
from the street in the rear Of the
court house. At that time there were
not very many people on the streets
in that locality, although there were
several spectators at near distance
and number of spectators saw the
shooting from a distance or running
out at the first sound Of the pistol
shots saw a part of the affair. 1t was.
a genuine pistol duel and it seems
that both parties emptied pistols at
the other Spectators say that both
parties manifested considerable nerve
during the shooting. After the pistols
had been emptied Mr.. Parks walked
off towards some of the Offices on law
range. while Mr.. Covar walked on to-
wards Mr.. Parks and attempted to re-
kload his pistol After Mr.. Parks had
either crossed the street or was very
fnearlv across ne also attempted to re-
load. At this stage spectators inter
fered and the. pistols We're taken from
the principals. 1t is said that Mr.
coyar had two fresh cartridges in his
pistol, which are supposed to have
been put in after the shooting.
Mr.. Parks was taken into the Office
of Messrs. Bowman & Bowman, which
was nearest, and physicians were hur-
riedly called. A partial examination
was made at once, and then stretch
er was produced and he was carried
TO the home of Mr.. w. II. Percy
| clear, the father of Mrs. Parks. Mr..
| Covar was taken into his printing Of
fee. which was a short distance away,
after which he was also taken to his
home on a stretcher. Mr.. Coyar was
shot through the shoulder and
through one of his fingers. His wound
is paint but is not considered neces-
sarily dangerous The latest reports
are that he is resting very well, and
it is thought that he will recover.
Parks Fatally Shot.
Mr.. Parks seems to have been shot
| in three places. One ball struck in
front of his body and passed through
the stub end of pocket check book
| that he had in his inside coat pocket.
He was shot through the chin. This
| wound, though painful, was not espe-
cially serious. IA third bullet pene-
| trated his left side and is supposed to
! have passed through the body. At
4! this time the exact facts cannot be as
certained in regard to this matter
This last bullet may have penetrated
the intestines. The doctors said that
| Mr.. Parks has no hopes for his: re-
coyery. 1t is said that he did not
lose consciousness.
In the excitement incident to such
| deplorable affair statements vary and
| it has been quite difficult matter to
obtain the facts. Some of the nearby
| witnesses state that they are unable
| to say which Of them fired the first
shot. Others say that Mr.. Parks
spoke to Mr. Covar and appeared to
ask him a question. The reply from
Mr.. Covar seemed to be affirmative
and then Mr.. Parks struck him in the
face with his fist. Then Mr.. Parks
fred and both pistols were emptied
| in an incredibly short time.
Business Dispute.
While Mr.. Parks resided in Orange
burg he owned and published The
Patriot newspaper. Mr.. Covar moved