Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1906-09-26
KILLED At SPENCER. =.
Conductor Hedrick Shoots Down Flag.
man Whitaker. Shooter Surrenders.

y
Ger was in the throes of excite
ment on account of a killing which
occurred in the rear of the store of
the Spencer Clothing and Shoe
Company.
It is stated there was no quar-
rel between the men at the time
of the shooting. Whitaker was
in the store purchasing some arti-
cles, when Conductor. Hedrick
and his wife came IN. When
Hedrick saw the other man he at
once drew his pistol, Whitaker
ran through the store in order to
escape by the rear entrace, He'd
rick followed him and shot and
killed him just after he had got
outside of the store. After the
shooting Hedrick went to his home
and stated that he wanted to sur
render to the officers. Sheriff
Julian, who was at once notified
of the killing, sent out deputies
Krider and Rice to arrest Hedrick.
They found the latter at his home
waiting for them, and he was
placed under arrest and brough
to Salisbury. Conductor He'd
rick on his arrival here, retained
Overman and Gregory and Glenn
ent and Clement to take charge of
his case. 1t Is reported that the
plea of Hedrick will be that he
killed Whitaker in self defense,
as the latter is said to have drawn
a pistol at the time Hedrick did.
The shooting was caused, so it
is stated, by the attentions of
Whitaker to Mrs. Hedrick.
The slam man, G.. G. Whitta-
ker, was a fagman on the South
ern between Monroe and Spencer,
and was from Pilot Mountain, N.
C.
Conductor Hedrick IS from
Davidson county, and some years
ago was employed in store in
this city. While here he killed
Adolphus Shipping, but he was
acquitted by a jury Oh the ground
of self defense.
Coroner Dorsett held an inquest
over the remains of Whitaker,
the jury rendering verdict to the
effect that the deceased met his
death at the hands of Hedrick.
Witnesses at the inquest testified
that as Hedrick fired his last shot,
he remarked, Il guess you are
dead" The prisoner was COM
mitted to jail without bond.
W. P. Dorton and J. P. Biggs,
who were in the store of
the Spencer Clothing and Shoe
Company when the two men met,
and John H. Harris and R. B.
Gobble, who saw the latter part
of the affair, we're the only wit
nesses examined. Their testimo-
ny is the same in substance as the
account of the killing published
above.
H. F. Whitaker, of Pill t
Mountain, the father Of the slain
man, will employ counsel to as
slst in the prosecution, 50 it is
stated. The remains were ship
ped to the former home of the
deceased Saturday morning.
1t developed at the inquest that
the deceased received several bull
let wounds. One entered the back,
near the shoulder and penetrated
the body, this wound of itself be-
ing sufficient to cause death. One
entered the right hip, the left leg
received a wound, and the chin
was struck by bullet.
It seems to be settled that the
killing was the result Of the al
legged intimacy between Whitta-
ker and Mrs. Hedrick. It is said
that soma weeks ago Conductor
Hedrick came home unexpectedly
and was made aware of certain
conditions, which caused him to
threaten prompt and sure ven-
geance upon Whitaker if his in
} tlmacy with Mrs. Hedrick did not
, caasa at once