The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1906-06-13
that If things kept on as they were
Weeks would be the man who would
suffer for 1t,

06RAAoU oSh$ShSki "6o SASS@s~S
augmented and even some OF those
who set themselves up as his friends
FASTENED to telephone him and warn
him that he had best not tarry In
that community. AS result he very
promptly left and when last heard
from be was in Augusta, Ga. To
parties there he is alleged 80 have
made the statement that be proposed
30 settle In Southwest Georgia. That
ts one story. Another is that be de-
clsred his intention 0: going to Nash.
vi lie Tennessee Whas could have been
Boylston's purpose Is be sought to
lure Dl. Smith to his home in such
shc ckire manner? That Is a ques-
tion which continues to puzzle the
minds OF a great many Of the people
in Williston and elsewhere. That
there may be those who would like to
have Dr.. Smith out Of the way can
very we'll be believed, but there Is
no5hing known which would cause
suspicion to point to Boylston as be-
icg one Of this number.
The phase Jim Smith scrape"
in the letter received by DR.. Smith
brings up ; tragedy Of a year ago,
aher J. T. Smith, Jr., well'tc.do
young merchant and f>rmer OF Willis
ton, was brutally assassinated in some
aocds on the eags OF the town. On
the afternoon OF March 3, 1905, late
In the day, he was seen to mount his
horse in Willtstcn and ride cut in the
direction Of his plantation, to the
north OF this place. He did not re-.
turn and when later In the evening
his horse gallopsd back into the town
riderless and with blood stains on the
saddle, his frier ds were at once
alarmed. a searching party was
hastily organized and it was soon
learned that he had been seen TO ride
into q certain piece ct woodland and
that shortly afterwards the party
who saw him heard two gun shots,
but attached no Importance to chem,
thinking that it was MI. Smith him
self shooting at game. The woods
we're searched and in something like
halt an hour the searcners came upon
the dead body of him they sought.
Two loads Of bird shot had been dis
charged In his head and body, the first
tearing Its way upward alcng the
arm and shoulder and entering anc
breaking the neck. This wound
must have produced instantaneous
death. The second load had bsen fired
at somewhat different angle, cutt,
ing Gus the lips and gums, tearing
one OF the eyes from its socket and en-
cering the brain. There were eViG'
snces OF Wadting in the ground in line
With this shot and it Is believed that
it was fired after Smith had fallen
from the saddle ard prone in death.
The only other circumstances deVel
oped in connection with the killing
vas the fact that just before leaving
Wi:liston Smith had received note
toe appearance Of which was such a:
to excite comment. the address be-
ing somewhat peculiar in its form,
and it is known that the letter va!
mailed at WIlliston, and not brought
In by one OF the rural carriers. No one
processes any knowledge either as tt
the contests Of this note OF It's author
ship. but every one seems to think II
is connected In some way with his
death. There is rumor to the sf ic1
that it was written by a woman, but
so far as can be learned there is moth
ing upon which to base this rumor.
TIE friends OF Smith assert that be
was man OF the s5r!csest Integrity
and that he led blameless life. The
people Of Williston generally decline
to discuss this phase Of the matter.
Ask them as to the why Of Jim
Smiths being so cruelty done to death
and they shake their heads. ALL
5hey say, that is mystery"
a mystery it undoubtedly Is so far
as the general public is concerned
Whether there are these who know
more about the killing than the scant
details here given is anather matter.
II there are any such they at least de-
cline to talk for publication. 1t is
Known, however, that an earnest ef-
fo.t has been made to get at tie bot.
tom facts Of the matter. a reward
Of $500 was cfered by the Governor
for the apprehension and conviction
OF the slayer Of Smith, and this offer
vas supplemented to the extent Of
50, 500 by the friends and relatives Of
the dead man, this money being now
on deposit IN the Georgia Railroad
Bank, In Augusta. 1t is stated that
fully a thousand dollars additional has
been spent by the relatives Of Smith
IN the effort to collect evidence which
would SECURE the conviction Of the
guilty party. A mum Der OF detectives
have, it is understood been engaged
on the case at one time and another
Just what has bsen accomplished can
not be said. but the impression Is Cur
rent st Williston that enough ev:-
dencs has already been brought to
light to awaken at least strong susp1-
cions in the minds Of the Investigators
as to the Identify Of tie slayer. D1
W. 9. Smith who is a cousin Of the
murdered man has been untiring In bis
Efforts in the natter, and it is gener-
lily believed that he has better
grasp Of the case for the prosecution
than anybody else, and That In the
svent OF the case being brought into
Court his preseace would bs essential
10 the interests OF the State.
A motive for an attempt upon DR..
Smiths life Is thus furnished, bus
5his does not answer the question el-
ready asked. as to why Boyistyn should
aish to make such an attempt. Boyl
,ton himself Is reported to deay that
inch was his purpose. He gave nc vert