Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1908-09-23
sHERrFP PROBABLY K1LhED.
Attempted to Arrest Desperate Me-
gro, Who Resisted.

Fort Gaines, Ca. Sept. 21.--At an
early hour this morning Sheriff w.
w. Beard, of this county, in attempt-
ing the arrest of negro supposed to
be implicated in the murder of the
Bus boys. near Shellman, last week,
was, 1t is believed, mortally wounded,
The negro passed through the town
early this morning and inquired the
way to the river WI rf, at the time
confiding to the negro who piloted
him that he was one of those who
had killed two men near Shellman.
He engaged this boy to show him to
the wharf and on the way rehearsed
his story Of the killing in Randolph
county.
After carrying him to the wharf
the negro boy came back to town and
went Immediately to Sheriff Beard
and informed him of the whereabouts
of the criminal. They, together with
Bailiff Womack, went to the wharf.
Seeing Sheriff Beard approaching,
the negro ambushed himself and
when in close range Of him, he OPEN
ed fire and continued shooting until
he had emptied his gun, hitting She
riff Beard four times, shattering both
arms and shooting him through the
abdomen and lungs.
Sheriff Beard shot four times, one
ball penetrating the negro's neck and
another his scalp and was himself
desperately wounded.
The news soon spread over the
town, and in fifteen minutes heav-
lily armed force of determined men
and outraged citizens were In pur-
suit Of the criminal, and after an
hours hunt succeeded in overtaking
and capturing him.
In the chase the negro showed his
desperate character by firing num-
ber of times at persons who were in
the searching party. He was put
upon a wagon and hauled through
the streets still alive, while large
body of citizens followed, demand
ing that he be lynched. r
He was carried to the depot Of the
Central Of Georgia Railway Company
to await the arrival OF the 4 o'clock
train, on which 1t was supposed par
ties from Shellman, who had been
advised of his arrest, would come to
identify him.
While waiting for the arrival OF
the train the mob continued to in
crease in numbers and, finally, be-
coming uncomfortable, commenced
firing on the negro until his body was
literally riddled with bullets.
AS soon as 1t was known that She
riff Beard was so desperately wound
ed steps were at once taken to pro-
cure the services of DR.. McRae, of
Atlanta, in the hope of performing
an operation, which the local physi-
clans trust will save his life.
Sheriff Beard is one of the most
efficient and fearless officers In the
State, and he has a host of friends,
who mourn his misfortune and who
earnestly pray that his life may he
spared, though the chances of his
recovery are thought to be small,
|indeed.
Racing Against Time.
Racing against time to save the
life OF Sheriff w. w. Beard, of Clay
county, who was shot FIVE times and
perhaps mortally wounded by George
Thomas, an alleged negro murderer,
whom mob afterwards killed, DR..
Floyd McRae, of Atlanta,' accompa-
MED by an assistant and a trained
nurse, left Atlanta Monday morning
for Fort Gaines on special train
provided by the Central of Georgia
Railroad. The special was given the
right of way over all other trains
and began its dash of 240 miles at q
schedule of 65 miles an hour.
AS soon as the shooting was learn
ed OF DR.. McRae, of Atlanta, was
called over the long distance tele-
phone and requested to come to Fort
Gaines as quickly as possible. He
was told that an operation seemed
imperative If Sheriff Boards life was
saved.