The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-09-25
A DASTAROLy CRlMt
SHOT TO DEATH ON THE PUBLIC
ROAD

ROAD
By Cowaraly Assassins, Concealed
in the Bushes, Six Miles FROM
.Brancllyille.
One Of the most dastardly and
cowardly crimes ever committed in
this secti3n of the State occurred
Tuesday night about six miles from
Branchviiie. when young Presley
Reeves. son Of Mr.. A. NJ Reeves
who lives just across the line in
Dorchester county. was foully shot
to death in the bushes on the road
side: along which he was driving Iii
a wagon on his way to a cotton
field for a load of cotton pickerS
that had worked for him that day,
It seems that the young man haG
carried one load of cotton pickera
to their homes and was returning
for another when he was so cruelty
assassinated The exact spot in the
road where the cowardly crime took
/place has been located, as well as
the spot where he fired the fatal
shot at his unsuspecting victim as
he drove along the highway. The
shot took effect in the head of young
Reeves and he must nave been killed
instantly. as the gun was loaded with
buckshot. The young man fell Off
his seat in the wagon dead, as hr
was found laying in the bottom OF
the wagon body.
After the shooting the mules re-
turned to the home of Mr.. A. NJ.
Reeves. the father of the young
man. who was Mortified on going
olt to the wagon to find his son lay
ing cold in death in the bottom OF
the wagon shot through the head
with load of buckshot. Mr.. Reeves
Immediately gave the alarm, and as
soon as the news Of the ssassina-
ton reached Branchville telegram
was sept TO Governor Ansel at Co.
Iumbia Informing him of the dast-
ardly crime and requesting that he
send biood-houpds at once to track
and run down the assassins. The
Governor acted promptly and the
dogs reached Branchvil!e during the
night.
In the meantime the excitemen.
had become intense and several hun
dred good and true men were ready
to start on a hunt for the assassinS.
The dogs were taken to the place
where the assassin was concealed
when he fired the cowardly and fatal
shot. but they failed to strike a
trail. Before the dogs arrived on
the scene many people had crossed
and recrossed the track Of the as
sassin. making 1t impossible for the
dogs to follow the trail of the
coward who so cruelty n Sdered a
fellow man. This was great dis
appointment, as It was hoped that
the dogs would run down the as
sassin.
y dispatch from Branchville says
the settled conviction now is that
neither night rider nor negroes had
anything to do with the killing, but
that it was done BY a white man
of respectable connections, whose
motive was revenge growing out Of
the bitter feeling against young
Reeves on account of recent law
suit. This man is still in the COM
munity. but no arrest has so far
been made The evidence. as yet
has been insufficient The young
man who was murdered had only
been married few months.
The young man was waylaid about
one and half miles from his home
on the public road. The place where
the assassion took his stand was
found about ten feet from the road
in bushes on the edge of a ditch,
to the left of Reeves returning
home After shooting the assassin.
rran Gown oa the ditch bank about
twenty-five yards and mounted either
a mule or a horse and made good his
esc,gpe. They were unable to do
anything with the bloodhounds. be-
cause they would not trail mule or
horse tracks. Everybody in the COM
munity is greatly aroused over the
terrible deed.
A jury of inquest assembled
Wednesday morning and viewed the
body OF the victim ana adjourned
TOR a few days. 1t isSaid that ev!-
dence is very bad to get. as the
people are very much scattered in
the neighbnrpood where the crime
was committed. Two or three white
men are said to be under suspicion.
one Of whom is said TO have made
threats against young Reeves re-
Gently and to have purchased some
buckshot shells in Branchville Tues
day. The murdered man had recent
ly been appointed a game warden,
and it is thought that may have
something to do with the dastardly
crime The matter ought to be
Sifted to the very bottom.