The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1906-07-06
BY MIR. ROBT 81. COVAR
Who is tIlmaeIf Seriously Wounded In
the Shoulder. The Shooting Was
Caused bv Some Business Troa.
BILE Between the Two Men
Brewing Sometime.

a0GeQ IN bQ6 bUIe0Vb VI oAShRoo"Ae
about eleven O'Clock last Friday morn
ing, resulting In the death OF MIR,
Jas. Il. Parks, Of Columbia, and the
serious wounding of Mr.. Robt. IL, Co
var, Of this city. These two gentle
men met in Church street, In the
rear OF the Courthouse, and without
exchanging many words won't to
shooting each other with tho result
above described. The tragedy caused
great shook to the entire communi'
ty, and for time business was almost
suspended and nothing was talked
about hardly but the terrible occur.
Yenco that had resulted In the death
of one gentleman and the desperate
wounding Of another.
1t was about eleven O'Clock when
several pistol shots rang out IN rapid
Buccession, whioh startled every one
who heard them. The shooting did
not last but few seconds, and no one
could say how many shots were ex'
changed between the two combatants,
30 rapid was the firing. 1t Is supposed
that eight or ten shots wore fired IN
oil. AS aoon as possible people hurried
to the scene after the pistols had been
emptied. Immediately after the shoot
Ing Mr.. Parks was seen slowly walking
backward and sideways towards the
Northwest corner OF the Courthouse
Square and Mr.. Covar slowly following
him, both gentlen an apparently re-
loading their pistols.
When MI. Parks reached the corner
he CROSSED over Church street and on
tered the Law office of Messrs Bowman
g. Bowman. When he reaohed the
he & gaSe b HIS pistol to i. 3 Bow,
man, ESQ, who was standing In bis
Cfilce door, having gone there on hear
Ing the pistol shots. At this time Mr..
Parks did not seem to be badly hurt.
but he was very pale, and said tt
those who had gathered that he was
fatally shot. Mr.. Parks sat down iE
q chair, and 1t soon became apparent
that he was seriously hurt. he wa>
examined ay physioians who at frs,
Thought that he was not fatally
hurt but after being removed tt
the residence Of his brother In law,
DR.. J. II. Percy clear, and care
full examination made, 1t was found
that he was shot completely through
the body and the attending physicians
pronounced the wounds fatal. Mr..
Parks was hit In three places. One
ball entered his ohin and two struck
him In the stomach, one passing clean
through his body and lodging just
under the skin on the other side. He
was conscious up to half past nine
O'Clock, but about that time his mind
began to wonder and at half-p pas,
GWelv0 O'Clock the end came.
Immediately after the shooting Mr..
A. o. Lindstedu took Mr. Coyar'e
pistol. About this time Mr.. Covar's
father came up and commanded his
con to stop, which he did and turned
from following Mr.. Parks and was
carried to his fiios, where he was
examined by physicians and found to
Lave been hit In two places. One
ball paSsed completely through his
right shoulder and another struck
him In the right hand, shOOting of
his thumb nail. Another ball passed
through his hat, but did not touch
his head. Several bullets struck the
store of the Orangeburg Hardware
Company on the corner Of Russell anC
Church Streets. These balls must
have come from MIR. Parks pistol
and indicates the position OF the com
batants at the time Of the firing. Mr.
Oovar was removed to his home
where he now lies suffering from his
wounds, which are quite painful ant
may result seriously.
In the excitement incident to sucl
q doplorable affair Btatements var,
and 1T mas been quite o difficult matte
to obtain the facts. Some OF tn,
nearby witnesses state thai they ar,
unable to gay which Of thom fired tn,
first shot. Others say that Mr.. Park
spoke to Mr.. Oovar and appeared ii
ask him o question. The reply from
Mr.. Oovar seemed to be affirmative
and then Mr.. Parks struck him in tn
face with his tst. Then Mr.. Park
fired and both pistols were emptied II
an incredibly short time. When th
shooting took place Mr.. C0var was II
his shirt sleeves, and carried his pisto
buttened up In his shirt. One thini
Ia certain both mon expected diff
Guilty and had prepared for 1t.
The trouble seems to have beer
caused by business trouble betweor
the t9o gentlemen. While Mr.. Park
resided In Otangeburg he owned all
published The Patriot Newspaper
Er. Oovar moved here from Edgefielt
county 20 take charge of the meohan
ieal work Of the paper for Mr.. Parks
and was In his employ for severa
years, during which time they SCENE,
to boon the most pleasant and inti
mate terms.
When Mr.. Parks moved to Oolum
bia about two years ago Mr.. Covar be
came Interested In the business, an
was givon entire management Of tn
paper except the editorial department
which was retained by Mr.. Parks
who came down each week to loo
after 1T. About the first OF the yea
Mr.. Parks sold his interest |
The Patriot and the printing out6
to Mr. j. H. Funderburg and Mr.. o.
var, and the newspaper has since bee
published by Funaerburg So Covar
publishers and proprletors.