The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-04-14
DIED IN Jail.
THE CoLoRED PREACHER WHO
WAS ARRESTED

And Shot BY Another Colored Man,
Claiming to Be United States De-
tective, Dies of Wound.
Rev. James Jefferson, the co1ored
preacher who was arrested and shot
at Branchyille the first of last week
I by negro named B. w. Williams,
who claimed to be a United States
Detective. died at. Bamberg on last
Saturday from the wound inflicted
by Williams. After arresting Jeffer-
son and shooting him Williams took
him to. Bamberg and committed him
to jail under the name of w. Fl.
Blackman. When carried to Bam-
berg Jefferson was suffering from
pistol shot wound In the abdomen,
inflicted By Williams, and at an ear
ly hour Saturday morning he died
from perotinitis as a result of the
wound. A jury of inquest was en-
panelled by Coroner Zeigler, which,
after hearing the evidence Of Jeffer-
sons wife, DR.. H. F.. Hoover, j. B.
Hunter, sheriff, and c. B. Free, rem
dered a verdict to the effect that the
deceased came to his death from a
pistol shot wound inflicted by B. w.
Williams, Jr. .r,.;.-
From the evidence adduced at the
inquest it. would seem that a most
uncalled for murder has been COM
mitted by this man Williams, and
he should be made to pay the eX-
treme penalty for his foul crime. Will
liams, who murdered Jefferson,
seems to think that his claiming to
be detective should have sheilder
him from arrest and punishment for
his outrageous crime. 1t was also
brought out at the inquest that Will
lliams, who did the shooting, saw an
advertisement offering a $500 re-
ward for an escaped criminal from
Alabama and concluded that Jeffer-
son was the man wanted. He &C
cordingly went to Magistrate Zeigler,
Of Bamberg County, and swore out
warrant charging him with MUIR
der.
Armed with this warrant. he went
to Branchville, accompanied by
Ouillie Drawdy, white man, and
drove up to the residence of the de-
ceased at about o'clock Monday af-
ternoon, April 9Th. Jefferson was
asleep in his house when they hailed
at the gate. His wife responded and
was told to ask her husband to come
out to look at some pictures in the
buggy. She woke him up and he
went out to see the pictures, but as
soon as he reached the buggy Will
liams. "the detective" threw his pis-
tol on him and it went off, and JET
ferson fell to the ground mortally
wounded.
Neither "the detective" nor his
white friend made any explanation
of their action, but securely tied the
wounded man and put him in the
buggy and drove off to the residence
of Magistrate Zeigler, in Bamberg
county. He was kept there until
Tuesday afternoon, when he was sent
to the Bamberg Jail in almost dy-
ing condition, where he remained un-
til death relieved his sutferings Sat
urday morning. To say the least OF
it the magistrate acted very strange
ly. He should have investigated the
matter when he found the prisoner
so desperately wounded.
Williams, 'the detective admit
ted to Messrs. C. B. Free, J. B. Hun
ter and others that he did the shoot
ing, but claimed that the deceased
| jumped at him when he started to
arrest him and took hold of his hand,
and that his pistol went off, but he
did not know how. This is a lame
tale and should not be believed for
one moment If an innocent man
can be called out Of his home and
shot down as Jefferson was by a So
called detective there is defect in
the law and it should be remedied
at once.
The above are the facts in this very
strange and outrageous case as was
brought out at the Coroner's inquest
at Bamberg on Saturday. Most OF
the testimony was given by the wife
of the murdered preacher, who says
she was a eye witness of the whole
affair. The body was shipped TO
Branchville for interment, accompan-
led by the wife of the murdered
preacher, who had been nursing MIN
since he was first put in jail on Tues
day, April Z. The deceased is said
to have been resident of Branch
Vile for the last six or eight years,
and preacher of the Gospel
Williams, hearing of the death or
Jefferson, and having been made to
believe that the fact that he is de-
tective will save him from persecu-
ton, went to Bamberg Saturday and
surrendered to Sheriff Hunter. Sher-
iff Dukes, having been notified, ne
sent over to Bamberg and had Will
liams brought to Orangeburg and
lodged in jail, where he will likely
stay until he is tried, and we hope
convicted, if the caes is like 1t is