Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1907-08-22
BRUTAL MURDER
4 Wtite Man Killed by a Negro
at SummerviIIe.
KNOCKED HIM DOWN

And Beat Him to Death With the
Bar Of a Store Door, While the
Proprietor OF the Store Apparently
Looked On Without Raising His
Hand to Prevent the Brutal Muir.
der Of an Unarmed Man.
A dispatch to The News and Cour-
Ter says Mr.. Robert III. Graham of
Summerville was assaulted between
and 9 o'clock Saturday night nv
Luke Chisolm, colored, and died at
O'Clock Sunday morning without
having regained consciousness. The
assault occurred at the store of Mr..
u. II. Smith, in Stallsville. Chisolm
it appears, became offended at a re-
mark made by Mr.. Graham, and
Knocked him down, kicking him after
he fell to the floor and then beating
him into Inconsistencies with the
bar used in fastening the front door
of the store
Mr.. Graham, who was son of the
late Judge r. F. Graham, brother
OF DR.. w. F. Graham and a stepson
or DR.. II. A. Muckenfuss, of Sum-
merville about o'clock Saturday
night to go to his home in the south
western limits of the town. About
half an hour afterwards he entered
the store of Mr.. Smith. in Stallsville.
When little later, Luke Chisolm,
walked into the store, Mr.. Graham,
according to the evidence, Graham
extended his hand to him saying:
This is white mans hand and l
am going TO carry you home" or
words to that effect Thereupon
Chisolm, it is alleged. somewhat In
sultingly replied, "You are drunk. >"
aud knocked Mr.. Graham down,
struck him with both fists and also
kicked him.
Mr.. Graham and the negro scuffied
on the floor and then tumbled out of
the front door. One of the witness
said he heard the bar of the door
and heard him hit Mr.. Graham with
| It."
The proprietor of the store, seeing
the parties standing at the door when
Chisolm entered and talking togeth-
er, was under the impression that the
meeting was friendly, and turning
away to attend to a customer heard
some one shortly after fall, and look
ing backwards found Graham on the
floor, saw Chisolm strike him twice
with his fist and kick him in the
side.
Mr.. Smith called upon Chisolm to
desist, but Chisolm ran round to-
wards the door, got the bar and
struck at Mr.. Graham, and in a few
seconds they rolled out from the
store into the highway opposite. Mr..
Smith then closed the door and a few
minutes after went out and found Mr..
Graham lying face downwards in
front of the store. He then went over
and notified Mr.. Robert |. Limehouse,
who lives nearby.
Mr.. Limehouse had the injured
man Immediately removed to his
house, and medical assistance was
sent for. DR.. j. Julian Carroll, upon
arriving and examination, found a
confused wound of the left eye; ap-
parently produced by fist, and a
wound about two inches in length on
the right side of the head behind the
right ear. This wound extended
through the scalp and the inner and
outer tables of the skull, producing
compound fracture. There was also
a fracture at the base of the brain
|
blow.
Chisolm, after the assault and
while his victim was lying at the
door of Mr.. Smiths store, endeavored
to have Mr.. Smith let him in, stating
that he wished to talk with aim. Mr.
Smith replied that he had closed and
would not open again that night. Mr.
Graham's assailant soon after this
left the Brailsford plantation about
three mile from Summervilie, Where
he was living. and during the night
was taken into CUSTODY by party of
citizens who went ..,ere for that pur-
pose. While bringing him LACK to
Summerville 1t is stated that Un.solm
declared that Mr.. Graham had cursed
him and struck him, and that he
(Chisolm) struck him back, kicked
him and after they had rolled from
the store, hit nim twice in the mead
with the door bar.
Magistrate Richard Cook, acting
as coroner, empanelled a jury OF in
quest, with Mr.. William 7. Mackay as
foreman, which, after hearing the
facts related substantially above, and
the testimony of DR.. Carroll, render
ed a verdict that the deceased came
to his death by a blow or blows on
the head. inflicted by a bar in the
hands of Luke Chisolm.
During the day there was some
rash talk, but intelligence and de-
sire that the law should hold sway
prevailed, and Chisolm was commit
ted Sunday afternoon to the county
iail at ST. George TO await
trial at the Court of Sessions In
October. Chief Waring and the
county officials were fully alert to the
exigencies of the situation.
Mr.. Graham was man OF many
excellent traits of character, intelli-
gent and kind hearted. He leaves a
widow, the daughter of Mr.. l.. G.
Boyle. of ST. Paul's Parish, and sew
eral children.