The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1906-04-11
he GIVES UP.
NEGRO WHO KILLED Mr.. WOOD.
WARD AT MONTMORENCI

NEGRO WHO KILLED Mr.. WOOD
WARD AT MONTMORENCI
Goes to Columbia and surrerders te
the Governor Who Has
Bim Locked Up.
The Columbia State says q man
charged with murder was put under
arrest at the door to the governors
rfiee Monday. The fugitive is Luke
Gray, who Is accused Of aving killed
Mr.. CEf,rd Woodward at Mont.
morenci, Aiken county, on the night
OF the End Of February. Gov, Hey
9ard last Friday offered reward OF
sl00 for tie capture and conviction OF
this negro. The family Of the deceas
ed had offered a reward Of $50.
Luke Gray appears to have been be-
wildered when be came to Columbia.
He is a negro Of low mentality, and
what he has had has been impaired by
terrific blow on the skull when he
vas run over by train on the South
ern railway last summer. There Is
terrible scar on the lett side OF bis
head. and be says that the doctors
have told him that ii will end bis life
this summer il he goes out in the
sun.
Just exactly what be was intending
TO do when he went to the State capi.
tol is difficult to learn, but the negro
says that be came here to give him
self up" Caesar Chisholm, the wise
old messenger CT the governors Office
Hbo has learned much In his time
sspied q negro hanging around the
CO pEtol, ard thought there was some.
5hing suspicious in his behavior
TIE man looked like vagabond,
said Caesar, and I began to question
aim. He said to me that be was
afraid to go to Aiken, and I thought
that he was running from the lynch
ers. told him this was the place il
he wanted protection, and I got h.n
to come inSide.''
Anout that time Caesar was sent
up street on SINE errand by the gcv
eincr and the negro remained in the
corridor OF the State capitol, where
his appearance caught tre attention
of soma OF the attaches OF the efdces
but they said nothing about 1t at the
C:me. When Caesar came back be
Questioned bis protege closely. Luke
Gcay nsds no attempt to conceal hi>
usme or identity from the beginning
ae said that he had had a difficulty
with g white man and Was afraid tx
20 back to Aiken.
WHAT did you do to hiE?' asked
Caesar.
"Shot him." was ths laccnic an
swer.
And what became OF him. ask:6
Caesar.
Il been tod that be is dead" sale
the negro in reply.
Caesar thought it was then abb u
time to look into the matter from ths
standpoint OF the governors Office
and be started to ask Gov. Heywsrc
il 2 reward had bean Cf9red for thi:
fugitive, and to see II there was or
file any information as to the commits
sion Of the crime.
Before going to the governor witt
3ha Information, however, Caesar saw
Mr.. HERS, the State house Cfficsr
End called him to take charge Of the
fugitive. Mr.. Hiers Officially put the
negro under arrest after conferring
with Gov. Hayward as to the crime
in which the nag-o admitted bis par
ticipation. MI. HERS took the negro
over 10 the police station and put him
Ia a cell for safe-keepipg uatil be
could communicate with the sheriff
OF Aiken county.
Luxe Gray tells a strange story. he
6e3iares that he die not attempt to
kill MI. Woodward, but shot In self.
aetense. According to bis story, he
aad gone to the depot to see about a
freight car being placed for some wood
and while at Mon Gmorenci he vent tc
MI. Wood wards store and taxed the
latter with having annoyed the negro's
wife that afternoon. Mr.. Woodward
pulled a knife out OF his pocket, so the
negro says. and advanced. Luke back.
ed out Of the store and down toward
tae railroad station, where Mr.. Wood
yard caughe up with him and made
stab at the negro. The latter threw ul
his left hand and caught the blow, but
q deep cut was made. Mr.. Woodward
then made another lunge and the ne
gro threw up his lett arm again. he
states that be felt sure that MI. Wood
ward meant TO kill him, so he deliber.
ately shot Mr.. Woodward with shot.
gun. The shot took effect in the
wounded mans left side and he lin
gered for month.
The negro claims that be had been
carrying the gun constantly, for be
vas employed by Mr. J. b. Chapman
to cut wood, and in the walk OF five
miles to and from his house every cay
he managed to kill some game oc
casionaIly. MI. Chapman had expected
4 car to be placed that day for some
aood that he was going to ship ano
he told the negro to 60 by and see il
tie car had been placed. It was at
shat time that he proceeded to take
Mr.. Wood to task.
Grey is .5 years old. He says that
Mr.. Woodward vas young man and
unmarried and chat be had a reputa.
tion IN that community which made
colored men dislike him. he also de-
cia1es that the place OF business that
NJ. Wcod7srd kept was not such g
nlace as was above suspicion from the
dispsnsary authorities and for that