The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1908-04-16
A BAD LOOKING AFFAIR
NEGRO PREACHER SHOT AND DIED
IN JAIL HERE.
Shot by Alleged Negro Detective Who
Claims He Was Resist.
ing Arrest.

ing Arrest.
Rev. James Jefferson, the colored preach
er who was arrested and shot at Branch
vile the first of last week by negro
named B. w. Williams, who claimed to
be United States detective, died at Bam-
berg on last Saturday from the wound in
hicted by Williams. After arresting Jefer-
son and shooting him Williams took him
to Bamberg and committed him to jail
under the name of w. H. Blaekman.
When carried to. Bamberg Jefferson was
suffering from pistol shot wound in the
abdomen, inflicted by Williams, and at an
early hour Saturday morning he died from
perotinitis as result of the wound. "A jury
of inquest was empanelled by Coroner
Zeigler, which, after hearing the evidence
of Jefferson's wife, DR.. Il. F. Hoover, J.1
B. Hunter, sheriff, and G. B. Free, render
ed verdict to the effect that the deceased
came to his death from pistol shot
wonnd inflicted by B. W. Williams, Jr.
From the evidence abducted at the in
quest it wonld seem that most uncalled
for murder has been committed by this
man Williams, and he should be made to
pay the extreme penalty for his foul crime.
Williams, who murdered Jefferson, seems
to think that his claiming to be a de-
tective should have shielded him from ar
rest and punishment for his outrageous
crime. It was also brought out at the in
quest that Williams, who did the shoot
ing, saw reimbursement Offering $2oo
reward for an escaped criminal from
Alabama and concluded that Jefetson was
the man wanted. He accordingly went
to Magistrate Zeigler, of Bamberg county,
and swore out warrant charging him
with murder.
Armed with this warrant he went to
Branchville, accompanied by Quillie
Drawdy, a white man, and drove up to
the residence of the deceased at about
O'Clock Monday afternoon, April 9th.
Jefferson was asleep in his house when
they hailed at the gate. His wiferespond-
ed 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 Williams, "the de-
tective," threw his pistol on him and it
went off, and Jefferson fell to the ground
mortally wounded.
Neither ''the detective nor his white
friend made any explanation OF their ac-
ton, but securely tied the wounded man
and put him in the buggy and drove of
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 dying
condition, where he remained until death
relieved his suferings Saturday, morning.
To say the least of it the magistrate acted
very strangely> He should have investi-
gated the matter when he found the
prisoner so desperately wounded.
Williams, ''the detective" admitted to
Messrs. c. B. Free, ]. B. Hunter and
others that he did the shooting, but claim
ed that the deceased jumped at him when
he started to arrest him and took hold OF
his hand, and that his pistol went OH, but
he did not know how. This IS lame tale
and should not be believed for one mo-
ment. If an innocent man can be called
ont of his home and shot down as Jefer-
son was by so-called detective there IS a
defect in the law and it should be remedl-
ed at once. ,
The above are the facts in this very
strange and outrageous case as was
brought out at the coroner's inquest at
Banberg on Saturday. Most OF the tesn-
mony was given by the wife of the muir
dered preacher, who says she was eye
witness of the whole affair. The body was
shipped to Branchville for interment, ac-
companied by the wife of the murdered
preacher, who had been nursing him since
he was first put in Jail on Tuesday, April
7. The deceased is said to have been a
resident of Branchville for the last six or
eight years, and preacher of the gospel
Williams, hearing of the death OF Jeher-
son, and having been made to believe that
the fact that he is a detective will save
him from prosecution, went to Bamberg
Saturday and surrendered to Sheriff
Hunter. Sheriff Dukes, having been not1-
fed, he sent over to Bamberg and had
Williams brought to Orangeburg and
lodged in jail, where he will likely stay
until he is tried, and we hope convicted,
if the case is like it is reported above
orangeburg Times and Democrat.
! No,., Dor>or for wa1ferbefO.