The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1907-01-24
Lead Pipe Bit Net Death in q
Water Cistern.
THE COESPSE FOUND.
The Negro Eyidsutly Intended tc Steal
Lead Pipe, Lost His Balance in J
the Darkneas and Vas Drown.
ed. Woman Fled When
Body Appeared.

The Charleston Post tells Of G grue-
some find IN that city. 1t says the
body Of William Csmpbsll, a negro
forty.fve years Of age, q " lite washer 4
and thief by occupation, was found I'm
the oistern of an empty house, No.
339 Esst Bay stTeet, Wednesday
morning by w. B. Murray, an old col-
ored man.
Indications are that Campbell was
going down into the cistern to steal
lead pips, found the water of q great
ar depth than he thought, lost hia
head, md was drowned in the terrible
darkn: 3 of the death trap. The water
In the'JIssefn wss over FIVE f,et IN
depth. Gam pbsll's height was not
much mora than this. There is no
Suspicion of foul play in the desth Of
the negro.
Old 'usn Murray, who has worked
thirty days fer Mr.. T. G. Main, the
owner Of The house where Campbell
came to his miserable end, was IN
charge Of Whitswashsrg and cleaners
putting this house inso condition for
renting. He found the door leading
into the piaZz2 OF the house open, and
later discovered that the cistern cover
was of. Ho nearly fell into tho hole
himself. as the room whey9 the cis.
tsrn is, was dark. Murray only saved
himself by clinging on to ths door
knob which he held by lucky chance.
OF courss the old man was inRte
over tho oareleGsnsss as he thought Of
the women or men under him In leaE-
| ing the door open, and the cistarn
cover of. They all denied knoRledga
ofiS. Then he took the depth Of the
water with s,n eve to cleaning the cia.
tern cut. Down went the piece OF
goard ne ussd. Ho came in oonsEca
with something soft. The thing felt
like q body. :. Z.
Old mSn Murray was frightened he
pulled the board out Of the water,
drove 3 nall into one end, and pushed
E6ewn again. He told the excited EEo.
men about him to stgnd bsok. while
hs pulled q heavy thing up. a Wooly
head appeared, and further e1srGion
showed thu body OF William Camp
bell. The women led screaming. Old
Murray shook like leaf, and called
for help.
The find was reported to the coro.
ner and the police. Deputy Coroner
Oonnelley with Policeman Duncan and
zssly pulled the body out OF the eia-
tern, and 1T was cent to tho hospital.
Joseph Perry, who was seen with
Campbell Wednesday at the house was
arrested as . witness.
From what could be learned it was
evident that Campbell was trying to
isteal the lead Of the cistern pump.
he had already made way With the
outside prrJ Of the pine. Murray said,
and yesterday the pump and zlno
about thu chimney Of the house we're
stolen. Campbell must have return.
ed to the house Wednesday night,
and making his way through the
Scom leading to the passage way bs.
tween the front part Of the house a.Id a.d5 3
the kitchen, tried to got into tho cis:
torn. In the darkness he lifted 5ha
pieces Of board anG heavy atone from
over the oistern, squeezsd through ths
narrow holo, and dropped into chilly
water almost over his head. The In
quest into his death was held TIL,
afternoon at three o'clock at Ropar
Hospital.
The lead for which the negro gaW,
his life would have brought him . few
cents from Q Junk dealer.