Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-08-06
ROCK HILL HAPPENINGS.
Mr.. James T. Ferguson Killed-Homi-
eide at Ashes Brick Yard.

Correspondence OF the Yorkville Enquirer
Rock Hill. August 5.-Mr. James T..
Ferguson, one of York cOunty's prom
inent and progressive farmers, died
Saturday night in the Rock Hill hos
pital, where he had been taken few
hours before on account of injuries
received by accident. Services pre-
paratory to communion were being
held at Neely's Creek Associate Re-
formed Presbyterian church and Mr.
Ferguson, who was an elder I'm the
church, was preparing, after the Sat
urday service. to start home. He had
partially hitched up his horse. when
In throwing over some part or the
harness the animal became frighten-
ed and bolted. Mr.. Ferguson running
beside and trying to stop the runa-
way. Although quite active for his
age the increasing speed was too much
for Mr.. Ferguson and he was thrown
violently to the ground, the buggy
passing over him. 1t Is not known,
although a number saw the whole
thing, Just how the fracture Of the
skull was made, but when he was
reached the injured man was uncon-
scious and it was found that he had
received a terrible injury to the left
side of the skull above the ear. He
was brought here to the hospital and
Doctors Fennell and Miller operated.
taking out several square inches of
the bone and removing several clots.
The patient stood the operation well,
considering his age, which was nearly
81, but failed to rally and died at
IL o'clock without regaining con-
sciousnesS.
Mr.. F erguson was a highly respect
ed citizen and had all his life lived In
the Neely's Creek neighborhood. He
was twice married. First to MISS
Patton, who died years ago, leaving
seven children, all Of whom survive.
He also leaves a widow, VINO was
Miss Bigham of Mecklenburg county,
n. c., and one child. The body was
taken from the hospital to the home
OF DIR. Isaiah Simpson, a brother-in-
law, and later to Neely's Creek church
where. after the service Sabbath day,
the funeral was held.
"Tit" Jones, one of the negro hands
employed at the w. n, Ashe brick
works near the city. in the vicinity OF
Winthrop college, was shot and in
stantly killed Saturday afternoon by
Mr.. Frazier Anderson, the foreman
and paymaster at the brick yard. The
coroner's inquest was held Sunday
morning and the evidence given there1
by the FIVE or six negro men, fellow
workmen with Jones, was practically
the same. The substance of 1t was
that during the Saturday afternoon
settlement or paying off" so much
noise and confusion was going on
among the hands in the small office
building that Anderson ordered the
small boy with him to put the men
outside and he would call them up
separately for settlement. This was
done and Jones, who did not seem to
like the arrangement, did a good deal
Of loud talking and was the last one
out. He was so nearly in the doorway
that the boy had to push him when
the door was slammed to and locked.
This further enraged Jones, who with
an open knife in his right hand en-
deavored to open the door to get back
in, cursing all the time. When he
failed to get the door open he start
ed toward the other door with open
knife and cursing the white folks for
keeping him out of his money. At
this time Anderson appeared in this
door, warned the negro not to come
any further and ordered the others to
take him away. Jones continued to
advance until within four or five feet
of the doorway. when he was shot,
the whole load from the shotgun en-
tering his breast and his body falling
toward Anderson. The jury found
verdict in accordance with the above
evidence and added the statement
that in it's opinion the killing was JUS
tifiable.