The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1907-05-31
BRUTAL MURDER
OF a Prominent Citizen Of Union
County by a Negro.
GREAT Excitement.

MIR. Clarence @. Gist Waylaid by a
Negro Pullman Porter ut the Sea-
board Airline Depot anil Assassi-
natcd.-A Posse is Hunting the
Murderer Down With Several
Blood Hounds.
A dispatch from Carlisle in Union
County to The State says Mr.. Clar-
ence G. Gist was killed there Thurs
day night near the Seaboard Air Line
depot by Arthur Davis, a negro,
whom Mr.. Gist had arrested ut the
base ball grounds Thursday afternoon
for bOisterOuS conduct.
While being taken to the guard
house Davis made threats, saying
that he would have further trouble
with him. After being released on
bond 1T seemed he hid himself near
tho depot and attacked Mr.. Gist
while the latter was on his way to
his home. After the shooting the
negro made his escape but the citi-
zens are determined to effect his cap
ture.
a special to The State from Union
Thursday night about ten o'clock
stated that there was considerable
excitement there over the dastardly
assassination Of Mr.. Gist at Carlisle.
Parties left Union for Carlisle as
soon as they heard Of the crime to
assist In hunting the negro down.
Rloodhounds were asked to I've cent
from the State p~enitentiary, but as
the first train leaving for Carlisle
was over the Southern at 7:10 Fri
day morning it was thought that the
dogs would not get there In time to
be of service. Capt. Griffith would
nave sent the dogs Thursday night If
there had been any possible way.
Hounds were secured from Mon
roe, N. G.. The Monroe dogs are as
fine as can be secured in the South,
having been in several very success
that these dogs were used In the cap
ture OF tho four safe crackers "a
Monroe in 1902.
A message from Carlisle at half
past twelve Thursday night stated
that no trace had been found Of the
negro Davis. Conditions there are
reported easier. No violence has
been done and it Is not expected that
the citizens Of hat town will COM
nit and rash act in their excitement.
Davis is a Pullman porter and has
u L ihit BtpS VIZ ~ ~ 'N''
road and Pullman officials and con
ductors all over the State lay been
asked to look for him and 1t is be-
lieved that he will he caught In q few
N days, IL o sooner.
MIR. Gfst was q brother Of Presi-
2 dent William II. Gist of the Bank of
Carlisle and a nephew Of the late
Gov. Gist. ne was an industrious
farmer and was serving as constable
r.. - -. ;.s, .D - ~ ell vhn
he arrested the negro Davis at the
baseball grounds.
Mr.. Gist was about 25 years of
age. He married two years E Miss
Wilbom, daughter OF Mr.. Stanford
Wilbom, a prominent planter OF
Union county, and who was at one
time county commissioner.
The negro Davis is about 23 to 20
years Of age; etwecn 3 feet = IN
ches and S feet 8 inches in height,
weight about 100 pounds. He is very
black and has bullying eyes, rather
red. Five hundred dollars reward Is
offered for his arrest.
Davis was arrested on Friday and
Is in jail to await trial. lie was
found at the house of another ne
gro, Chalmers Dawkins, who said he
had come to his house the night be
fore and asked to be allowed to spend
the night. AS soon as the oilccrS
reached Dawkins, house he told them
hat Davis was in an upstairs room,
where he was found and arrested.
Wade Davis, father Of the murder
or, George Davis, his brother, and
George Lylcs. his bro~ther-in-law,
have also been arrested as accessor-
les and locked up The elder Davis
Is a bad fellow, and has been before
the courts several times for selling
whiskey. One or two Of the last
named had pistols on their persons
when arrested. Davis claimed that
the shooting was accidental, winch,
OF course, Is all a yarn.
Not a word was heard about lynch
ing the prisoners, every BODY seem
ing disposcd to let the law take It's
course. Mr.. Gist was assassinatcd
for arresting Davis at the ball ground
by order Of the lntCndant Of Carlisle.
Davis was disOrdcrly at the grounds,
and the %Intcndant told him to be
have or leave. This made the follow
mad and he became more ~diSorderly
than ever. Then Mr.. Gist was ordcl
ed to arrest him, which he did and
locked him up.
In q short time Davis was turnct
out on bond, his father ana a "hlt'
man signing it. Davis then went tt
his fatler y restaurant anu 6'' ~
tol. He way laid Mr.. GiSt on ms way
homo and shot him. There IS nc
doubt about the guilt Of Davis. ant
he will be executed accordingly altci
a fair trial. The man at whose mouse
Davis was arrested is a wcll-to-do re
spcctable negro, and he had no ne
sire to conceal Davis. as soon a'
the officers asked him If he had 3ccl
Davis he told them where they coui'
find him.