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.

Mr.. Clarence @. Gist Waylaid by a
Negro Pullman Porter ut the Sen.
board Airline Depot and Assassi.
natcd.-A Posse is Hunting the
Murderer Down With Several
Blood Hounds.
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 Limo
depot by Arthur Davis, negro,
whom Mr.. Gist had arrested at the
base ball grounds Thursday afternoon
Tor 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
the 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.. Gjst at Carlisle.
Parties left Union for Carlisle as
soon as they heard of the crime to
assist In hunting the negro down
Bloodhounds were asked to be sent
from the State penitentiary, but as
the first train leaving for Carlisle
was over the Southern at 7:1O Fri
day morning 1t was thought that the
dogs would not get there in time to
be Of service. Capt. Griffith would
have 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 beer In several very success
full chases. 1t will he remembered
that these dogs were used in the cap
ture Of the four safe crackers near
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 1t is not expected that
the citizens Of that town will com
NIT and rash act in their excitement
Davis is a Pullman porter and has
Pullman pass on his person. Rail
road and Pullman officials and con
ductors all over the State nave been
asked to look for him and it is be-
lieved that he will be caught In a few
days, If not sooner.
rNMr. Gist was a brother Of PreSi-
dent William Fl. Gist Of the Bank of
Carlisle and nephew Of the late
Gov. Gist. ne was an Industrious
farmer and was serving as constable
for the magistrate at Carlisle when
he arrested the negro Davis at the
baseball grounds
Mr.. Gist was about 25 years Of
age. He married two years ago 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 % to %
years Of age; between feet in
ches and s feet 8 inches in height,
weight about go pounds. He is very
black and has bulging eyes. rather
red. Five hundred dollars reward Is
offered for his arrest.
Davis was arrested on Friday and
Is in jail to await trial. He was
found at the house of another ne
gro, Chalmers Dawkins, who said he
had come to his house the night be-
fore and ask ed to be allowed to spend
the night. AS soon as the officers
reached Dawkins, house he told them
that 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 Lyles, his brother-inlaw,
have also been arrested as accesSOr~
les and locked up. The elder Davis
ia bad follow 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 vas accidental, winch,
OF course, Is all a yarn.
Not q word was heard about lynch
ing the prisoners, every body seem
ing disposed to let the law take its
course Mr.. Gist was assassinatcd
for arrcsting Davis at the ball ground
by order Of the Intcndant of Carlisle.
Davis was disOrdcrly at the grounds,
and the Intcndant told him to be
have or leave This made the fellow
mad and he became more diSordcrly
than ever. Then Mr.. Gist was order
ed to arrest him, which he did and
locked him up.
In a short time Davis was turned
out on bond his father and whitc
man signing II. Davis then went TO
his fathers restaurant and got a piA
tol. He way laid Mr.. Gist ON his way
homo and shot him. There is ne
doubt about the guilt Of Davis and
he will be executed accordingly after
fair trial The man at whose mouse
Davis was arrested is a wcll-to-do re
spectacle negro, and he had no de
sire to conceal Davis. AS soon as
the officers asked him If he had seer
Davis he told them where they couid
find him.