The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-09-30
THREE H0M|CIOES IN ANDERSON
JOHN McGAHA SLAIN BY I'm.
KNOWN NEGRO.
Luther Ware, a Negro, Kills Another
Coiored Man-Negro Fatally Shoots
His Wife.

Anderson, Sept. 27.-Two killings a
shooting which may result in death
and an accidental death is the record
made in the past "a hours within
radius Of 25 miles of this city.
The first Of these occurred in Dunk
lin township in Greenyjlle countv
last night, when John McGaha.
white man, thrice tried and acquitted
for murder, was shot and killed bv q
negro whose name is unknown and
who has fled. According to reports
received here McGaha and one of the
Ashleys went out from their homes at
Honea Path into Greenville county
last night to arrest two negroes and
take them back to Honea Path. AZ
ter capturing the men and while re-
turning with them they were over
taken in the road by a negro, who
opened fire upon them. Between 12
and Is shots wer exchanged, and af-
ter the smoke had cleared away John
McGaha was found dead as he sat in
his buggy with two loads of buck
| shot in his stomach. McGaha was
acquitted by an Abeville jury two
weeks ago of the murder Of George
Clinkscales, colored, his third victim.
The negro who shot McGaha has skip
ped the country, and his whereabouts
are unknown.
The second shooting scrape occur
red on Mr.. Woodrow Campbelps place,
two miles from Starr, when Luther
Ware shot and instantly killed Homer
Mitchell, both colored. Ware has been
lodged in the county jail, and the
coroner's jury has returned a verdict
charging him with the crime. When
seen at the Jail this afternoon Ware
said he and several other negroes
gathered at the home Of Babe Will
liams, a notorious colored woman,
near Starr. and that Mitchell picked
quarrel with him on account OF a
| negro woman who was present Ware
says Mitchell drew his shotgun on him,
but one Of the negresses prevented
his discharging the gun. Mitchell, ac-
cording to Ware, advanced on him
with table knife or fork, and Ware
then fired on him with a 32-calibre
| Smith & Wesson revolver. Death re-
suited instantly. Mitchell falling at
Wares feet. Ware went to his home
and went to bed and was awakened
by a deputy. who brought him to the
Jail here.
The third shooting occurred in Cen
| terville township, four miles east Of
| Anderson, where George Childs, col
ored, shot and mortally wounded his
| wife. At q late hour this afternoon
the woman is still living, but ller
death is expected. Childs has skipped
| the country. Several officers are
securing the country for him, and his
apprehension is expected before tomor-
| row. 1t seems that Childs and his
Wile were engaged III dispute con-
cerning his cotton crop, and this led
to the shooting. He emptied two loads
Of shot into her stomach at close
| range. The shooting occurred on Mr..
| Ston-w wall Watson's place.
Another sad event occurred yester-
| day afternoon, when Jim Kelley, a
| white man, 20 years Of age. an en-
ployer Of the Anderson cotton mills
was killed by freight train Of the
Charleston & Western Carolina road
at Iva. 1t seems that Kelley attempt
ed to board the train as it was leav-
ing Iva. 1t is said that the train was
running about Is miles an hour, Kel-
ley lost his hold on the car and fell
beneath the wheels. The trucks pass
ed over one Of his arms and fearfully
crushed his skull, death resulting in
| stantly. The remains were picked UP
and brought to his people, who live
| in the Anderson mill village. The fu-
neral was held toGay, and interment
was made in Silver Brook cemetery.
&. G. & q. GOING TO CHARLESTON