The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1907-05-08
SHOT TO Kill.
A Columbia Butcher Killed While
on His Way to Work.
MURDER OR SUICIDE.

MURYER Uk SUGGlDE.
Robbery was Doubtless the Motive,
Although the Suicide Theory Has
Been Advanced. He Usually Car
ried His Money to and from His
Market. Crime Occurs About Five
O'clock in the Morning.
Another homicide, with evidence
Of successful hold up occurred in
the surburbs Of Colum bia on Thurs
day morning. R. T. Westcott, a but
cher, was shot and killed, while on
his way to his market from his resi-
dence in the surburb Of Waverley
The affair is a mystery. but there's
evidences that holdup and robbery,
such as resulted several weeks ago
in the double killing Of Charles 3.
Green, a Shandon merchant. and Ed
gar Marshall, the supposed highway
man, was attempted.
In this case, however, the robber
(if robber there was) did not take
any chances, but shot to kill. The
fact that the homicide occurred at
Ave O'Clock n the morning, and that
two chambers of Westcott's own pis-
tol were empty. lends some color to
the theory Of suicide, but there being
circumstances of immaterial nature
which also tend to support this
theory. But the general impression
is that he was waylaid and murder
ed.
1,016 Oak street, street which runs
parallel to Main street in Columbia
His home is an ordinary one story
cottage, but seems to have been a
happy home. containing a happy and
Intelligent f@mily. It was Westcott's
custom to arise about O'Clock and
prepare to go to his market. He lost
his left hand several years ago, and
his wife usually assisted him in
dressing. His son, Robert, IS years
of age, was usually awaked about
the time his father left the house
and followed him to the market.
The little spaniel dog, Brownie,
went with his master, who was accus-
toned to carry his pistol in his one
hand as he walked along the sub
urban streets at this early hour. It
was WeStcott'S custom, as it ives the
custom of Charlie Green, the Shan
don merchant, to carry money back
and forth between his market and
his home. as he had no safe in his
market. Thursday morning he fol-
lowed the routine he was accustomed
to follow every day.
Arising about five O'Clock. Or a |
short time before that hour, he call
ed his son, and with his dog started |
out. The boy in twenty-five minutes
followed in the usual routine, along |
Oak street, across Gervais street,
almost to Lady street, where q by
path was taken through the grounds
Of the Waverley School and between
the large and small schoolhouse
buildings, which stand about ten
feet apart.
At the corner of the small school
house. which is the left as one walks
in that direction, the boy came across
the lifeless body Of his father. the
little DOG sitting by his masters body
on guard. The pistol was at the
dead mans right side.
The boy, paralyzed by grief and
fear, kept his wits still about him
and instead Of running back home
to alarm his mother, went to MS
grandfather's so that the news might
be broken more gently at home. Hls
relatives were soon on the scene and
summoned physicians, and the OH
GERS of the law.
Constable Richardson Of Wayerley
was the first officer to arrive. and ne
kept the crowd back as much as pos
sible, in order that tracks might De
followed. Coroner Walker was there
as quickly as possible. and Snerin
Coleman followed. The coroner Sc
cured from the penitentiary and
from the county chain gang several
blood hounds, but they failed to hno
any trail, though put on the scene IN
4 remarkable short time.
The body was removed to van
Metres undertaking establishment,
where several physicians examined
the wound. 1t was found that the
hall had entered the left side OF the
head. above and to the front OF the
ear and above and to the rear OF the
+emnle. The ball penetrated the
brain. lodging in the skin on the
right of the head, where it was cut
ont It was SO calibre. The wound
mnst have produced instant death.
The unmistakable powder burns on
the left side Of the head, where the
bullet entered, showed concluslVelJ
that the pistol when fred was piaceo
almost, If not directly, against tne
head. -,
If Westcott was murdered-ano
.here is no reason to say that he was
rot-the murderer was standing III
front of the little school house as
the victim walked along the side. anc
as Westcott emerged from the house
, the murderer placed the pistol at the
boad and fired. It was an ldeas
nIace-if not an ideal time Of day
Far hold-up-and not likely spot
FOR suicide. The fact that he was
shot in the left side Of the head,
rhich was toward the school house,
wbile his left hand was gone, is an
othec circumstance to be taken into
consideration.
Westcott was fifty years Of age and
voc . native of Richland County. He
lott a wife and four children. he
n.as Tormerlv an enginee" and about
thirteen years ago fell UNDER q mo-
ing train at the union statlon' @ an ana +ha ~
irving to shove himself OUT o. u ene \:
way, his left arm was eut on Jus, US
below the elbow. He theh qull tue
road and set up in business as M ou..
cher, his market being on ianiG. ;. ,.
street. in the city of COLUMBIA: II
mile from his residence 70 me-
ket. and the place or the AiIi.ne =
about two blocks from MS none
r>y1aru MYSTERY.