The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1907-06-26
GEORGE v. MAbUS
BRU1ALLY Slain.
Shot From Ambush While Re-
turning Home From Mill
Saturday Morning -Four
Young Men Charged With
Deed-All Now in Jail.

Batesburg, June 25.-One of the
most cowardly and brutal murders
ever recorded in the annals of crime
was committed about three miles from
this town last Saturday morning about
nine o'clock.
Mr.. George w. Mabus, highly re-
spected young farmer, left his home
about two miles from this place early
Saturday morning with two sacks of
corn in his buggy to go to the grist
mill of John Kneece, just across the
line into Aiken county. After getting
the corn ground into meal, Mr.. Mabus
started on his way home when, with
in short distance of Mr.. J. R. Cord
er's, he was shot from ambush and
mortally wounded by some cowardly
assassin in the bushes. The weapon
used was shotgun loaded with buck
shot. The load entered the head and
neck and produced death in three
hours.
Bloodhounds from the penitentiary
were sent for and they arrived on the
ground where the murder took place
late in the afternoon, but owing to
the dry weather and cold trail moth
ing was accomplished.
The murder of Mr.. Mabus greatly
stunned the people of this community
and for while excitement ran high,
but at no time was there any threats
of violence against the murderers on
the part of the dead mans friends.
Magistrate F. P. Shealy summoned
jury of inquest Sunday morning
with Mr.. M. E. Rutland, of this place,
as foreman. Edward L. Asbill, Esq,
of Leesville, represented the State.
Witnesses testified that Clifton Fallaw,
brother of Lee Fallaw, the young man
engaged in a cutting scrape with
Mabus few months ago, was seen a
few minutes after the shooting, COM
ing from the direction where the
crime was committed, with shotgun
in his possession. It was also claimed
that Clinton and Lee Fallaw were
seen near the place of the murder
short while afterward. After hearing
all testimony given at the inquest the
Jury returned verdict charging Lee
and Clifton Fallaw, two brothers, with
murder, as principals, Clinton Fallaw
as accessory before the fact, and
Isaac Taylor, young man in the
employ of the Fallaws, as accessory
after the fact. Sheriff Corley arrived
on the afternoon train Sunday and
went at once to the home of the Fal-
laws and placed them under arrest,
and on Monday morning carried them
to jail at Lexington.
That the cold blooded murder of
George w. Mabus was the most cow
ardly crime ever committed in this
section of the State is not doubted by
anyone. The sympathy of this entire
town and community is extended the
family of the deceased, and every
citizen here stands ready to assist
every effort to bring the guilty assas-
sins to Justice. Mr.. Paul Mabus, the
father of the dead man, is one of our
best citizens and is highly esteemed
by all who know him. The blow falls
heavily on him as his murdered son
was his chief support in his declining
wears. George Mabus was only 22
wears of age and has always been
known as an honest, upright young
man. A few months ago he and Lee
Fallaw became engaged in a personal
difficulty on the streets of Batesburg,
which resulted in both men getting
seriously cut. The motive for the
murder is supposed to be the result
of the feud between the two young
! men. y,