The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1907-01-23
Lead Pipe But Met Death in a
Water Cistern.
TIE CORPSE FOUND.
Tie Negro Evidently lnterded to Steal
Lead Pipe, Lost His BsIsnce in
the Darkness and Was Drown.
ed. Woman Pied When
BODY Aoceared.
Body Appeared.

AI0 SUsai1EesoA SeS VC445 Va d S40o'
some find In that city. It gays the
body Of William Campbell, negro
torty.fi years OF age, q whitewasher
and thief by occupation; wss found in
the cistern Of an empty hougs, No.
339 East BaT ssrset. Wednesday
morning by w.. B. Murray, an old col
ored man.
Indications are that Campbell was
going down into the ctstern to steal
lead pipe, found the water Of q great
.. depth than he thought, lost his
head, and was drowned In the terrible
darkness Of the death trap. The water
IL the cisteIn was over five feet IN
depth. Campbell's height was not
much more than this. There Is nc
suspicion OF foul plsy In the death OF
the negro.
Old ,usn Murray, who has worked
thirty days for MI. T. G. Main, the
owner Of the house whore Campbell
came to his miserable end, was In
charge Of whisewashers and clesners
putting this house lnso condition; for
renting. He found the door leading
into the piazzs OF the house open, and
later discovered that the cisteln cover
wss eff. He nearly fell into tho hole
himself, as the Ioom where the cis-
tern is, was dark. Murray only saved
hinself by clinging on to the door
knob which he held by . lucky chance.
OF course the old man was mate
over the carelessness as he thought Of
the women OF mea undst him In leav-
ing the door open, and the cistarn
cove, of. They ali denied knowledge
Of 1t. Then he took the depth OF the
water with an eve to cleaning the chs
tern out. Down went the piece OF
goard he used. he came in contscs
with something soft. The thing felt
like a body.
Old man Murray was frightened he
pulled the board out of the water,
drove 3 nail into one end, and pushed
down again. he told the excited wo.
1en about him to stand b.ok, while
he pulled e heavy thing up. a Eooly
head appeared, anG further exertion
showed the body Of William Camp
bell. The women fad screaming. Old
Murray shook Like q Leaf, and called
for help.
The find was reported to the coro.
ner and the police. Deputy Coroner
Connelley with Policeman Duncan and
zesly pulled Gss body out Of the cis-
tern, and 1t was sent to the hospital
joseph Perry, VINO was sesn with
Campbell Wednesday at the house was
arrested as witness.
From what could be learned it wa5
evident that Campbell Was trying to
steal the lead Of ths cistern pump.
He had already made way with the
outside pnrt OF the pipe. Murray said,
ana yesterday the pump and zinc
about the chimney Of the house were
stolen. Campbell must have return
ed to the house Wednesday night.
and making his way through the
room leading to the passage wsy be.
tween the front part OF the house and
the kitchen, tried 20 get into the cis-
tern. In the darkness he lifted the
pieces of board and heavy stone from,
over the cists,n. squeezsd through the
narrow hole, and dropped Into chilly
water almost over his hesd. The In.
quest into bis death was held this
afternoon at three o'clock ST Roper
Hospital
The lead ior which the negro gave
his life would have brought him fen
cents from 3 iuGk dealer.