Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1907-05-09
SHOT TO KILL
4 Columbia Butcher ksd Nllle
on His Way to Wrk
MURDER OR SUICIDE.

Although the Suicide dior, H..
Been Advanced. He Odaaly Car
ried His Money to ad from Hi
Market. Crime Occrs About Five
O'Clock in the Mor.ng.
Another homicide. VIII evidences
Of successful hold upoccurred IS
the surburbs of Columbian Thurs
day morning. r. T. Westcoi, q but
cher. was shot and killed, hile d
his way to his market from ,is re6l1
denoe In the surburb OF yaverley
The affair is a mystery, bu there's
evidences that a hoidup and obbery.
such as resulted several wexs aro
In the double killing OF Chtles Il.
Green, Shandon merchant, I'D Ed
gar Marshall. the supposed hihwaY-
man, was attempted.
In this case, however, the lobber
III robber there was) did no take
any chances. brt shot TO kill The
fact that the homicide occured at
nve O'Clock n the morning, an that
two chambers OF Westcott's ow MIS-
toi were empty. lends some coor 10
the theory OF suicide, but therebeing
circumstances OF immateriaI mture
which also tend to supper this
theory. But the general Impression
Is that he was waylaid and m trder-
ed.
Westcott lives In waverey! No.
l,O16 Oak street, street whchlruns
parallel to Main street in Columbia.
HIS home Is an ordinary on, story
cottage. but seems to have sen q
happy home. containing a haI,y and
Intelligent family. 1t was Wefcott's e
custom to arise about s o'clok and
prepare to go to his market. lie lost
his left hand several years an, and
his wife usually assisted m in
dressing. His son, Robert. 1 Srears
OF age, was usually awaked h,out
the time his father left the Anse
and followed him to the mark
The little spaniel dog, Bird HE,
went with his master, who was us
toned to carry his pistol in BIT >ne
hand as he walked along the 3b-
urban streets at this early hour. II
was Westcott's custom, as 1t was he
custom of Charlie Green, the Shn.
don merchant, to carry money btk
and forth between his market ad
his home, as he had no safe I'm lis
market. Thursday morning he ~
lowed the routine he was accustomd
to follow every day.
Arising about five o'clock, or !,
short time before that hour, he can
ed his son, and with his dog starte
out. The boy in twenty-five minute
followed In the usual routine, alorf
Oak street. across Gervais street
almost to Lady street, where a by
path was taken through the ground
of the Waverley School and betwee
the large and small schoolhous
buildings, which stand about te
feet apart.
At the corner of the small schoo
house, which is the left as one walk
in that direction, the boy came acros
the lifeless body OF his father, tn
little dog sitting by his masters bod
on guard. The pistol was at tn
dead mans right side.
The boy, paralyzed by grief an
fear. kept his wits still about hir
and instead of running back hom
to alarm his mother, went to hi
grandfather's so that the news Nigh
be broken more gently at home. HI
relatives were soon on the scene an
summoned physicians, and the Off
GERS of the law.
Constable Richardson OF Waverle
was the first officer to arrive, and h
kept the crowd back as much as pos
sible, in order that tracks might b
followed. Coroner Walker was ther
as quickly as possible, and Sherii
Coleman followed. The coroner sc
cured from the penitentiary an
from the county chain gang severa
blood hounds, but they failed to I'm,
any trail, though put on the scene II
a remarkable short time.
The body was removed to Val
Metres undertaking establishment
where several physicians examine,
the wound. 1t was found that tn,
ball had entered the left side of th
head, above and to the front of tn,
ear and above and to the rear of tn,
temple. The ball penetrated tn,
brain, lodging In the skin on tn,
right OF the head, where II was Gu
out. 1t was 32 calibre. The wount
must have produced instant. death
The unmistakable powder burns ol
the left side of the head, where tn,
bullet entered, showed conclusivel,
NAV thO pAotOt WbOn hIOu tWnB DldCSt
almost, IL not directly. against tn,
head.
III Westcott was murdered-ant
there is no reason to say that he wa
not-the murderer was standing II
front of the little school house a
the victim walked along the side, ant
as Westcott emerged from the hous,
the murderer placed the pistol at tn,
head and fired. 1t was an idea
place-if not an ideal time OF da,
for a hoid-up-and not likely spo
for suicide. The fact that he wal
shot In the left side OF the head
which was toward the scheol house
while his left hand was goHe, Is An
other circumstance to be gen iute
consideration.
Westcott was fifty years ease and
was a native of Richland @ nty. He
left wife and four chiit m Hf
was formerly an engineer a pahoui
thirteen years ago fell undo mos.
Ing train at the union statio nd In
trying to shove himself Ss the
way, his left arm was cut Just
below the elbow. He then Il the
road andl set up in busincs| but