The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1907-01-11
BENNETTsvILLM. s. q. ERIDAY.JANUARY III, 1907.
WRECK AND MURDER
ATTEBdPTED BY FORMER SOUTH
ERN RAILWAY FIREMAN.
Diabolical Crime Was frustrated b,
the Runaway Train Running
Into Two Engines.

brancnvill6 Friday evening, DeCem
Der 20, had q narrow escape from be.
Ing wrecked by q runaway train sent
out from Augusta by Royal Sego, q
former fireman Of the Southern Rail.
way, for that express purpose. 1T
seems that Sego had somo grudge
against Engineer Oliver Ewing, who
Was running the engine attached to
the passenger train, and in order 10
iDjure him opened the throttle OF an
engine in the railroad yard at Au.
gusta and started it on Its errand OF
destruction, thereby imperrilipg the
life OF every passenger aS we'll as the
Grew Of the passenger train. The fol.
lowing account of the attempted
crime, which we take from the Au
gusta Chronicle of last Friday, will
bs read with interest:
Royal Sego, q white man al 80
years old, was arrested yesterday by
Constable Kolly and taken TO MagiB
trate Nurnburger's office, between
2.30 and O'CLOCK, charged with hsy.
Ing opened the throttle of the engine
which pulled the run away train out
of the Southern coach yard last Fri
day night and which was only pre-.
vented from wrecking the incoming
passenger train by colliding with on,
gines 3045 and 1404 on Washington
street, between Broad and Reynolds.
Sego is q former fireman of the
Southern road, and he claims that the
company owes him to tba amount OF
$4,000. He was arrested on q warrant
sworn out by the railroad company.
Judge w. II. Nurnburger being the
magistrate, the evidence w&rranting
tho issuance OF the paper having been
furnished by M. E. Boyett, an EN-.
ploye Of the road.
Boyett states that a day or two ago
SegO came to him and stated that he
was guilty Of opening the throttle OF
Southern engine No. 1852, tire one
which pulled the train Of two cars
through the heart Of Augusta. Sego
stated that IL the two freight engines
had not been on tha track at the time
Of the collision, he would sure have
got Oliver Ewing" Oliver Ewing ia
the engineer who was pulling No. II
last Friday night. the passenger train
from Branohville. and which train
would have Gollided with the runaway
engine and coaches, If it h&d not been
for the presence Of the two freight en-.
gines In the path of the runaway.
B-yett also states that Sego en-
deavored TO persuade him to assist In
derailing another train, bub5 he eays
that he refused tc aOeepl the Eel llose,,s
vllanous Initiation. When the aGI.f
thorities of the road heard of the
statements which had been made to
Boyotb, and investigation was held,
and tho arrest Of Sego was the result.
He was arraigned before Magistrate
Nurnberger shortly after 8 O'Clock,
but In default Of bond he was commit
ted to jail.
When making his statement to
Judge Number, Sego absolutely de.
MED that he had made any statements
whatever to Royott, and yehemently
claimed that he was Innocent. Boyett
says, on the contrary, that Sego even
went 80 far as to describe his manner
OF starting the engine, saying that he
S 1eaked up on ths eDgineor's side Of
the cab, pulled the throttle half way
open, and then jumped Off. He then
ran into one Of the nearby trainmen's
shacks, and the suspicious OF the man
inside were aroused, but he paid no
especial attention 10 the matter.
Considering the fact that the charge
Ia one OF the most serious which can
be brought aga!net any man, 1T Ia
generally thought that, in case he Is
proven to be guilty, he will received
q very heavy sentence. 1t is said that
SeRO Is at times sliphtly demented.