The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-07-17
mYsTER RIOUS CRIME
YOUNG MAN WOUNDED WHILE
SLEEPING IN HIS ROOM.
Upon Returning From a Visit to
Fiancee, is Awakened in the Early
Morning by Pistol Shot.

Morning by Pistol Shot.
Early Thursday morning Edgar
L. Shealey a prominent young man
of Aiken, was shot in his room, at
the home Of Misses Reynolds and Nc
Ghee, where he boarded, on York
street. He was shot once with
pistol, and the ball entered his thigh
and lodged. His wound is not
thought to be serious, but it is ex-
ceedingly painful. The shooting is
one of the greatest mysteries that
city has ever known, and the police,
Mr.. Shealey, or the ladies Of the
| house can offer no satisfactory So
luton of it.
Mr.. Shealey is engaged to be mar
ried and invitations we're issued day
or two ago to his wedding to Miss
Ruby Coward. daughter of Mr.. and
Mrs. Thomas w. Coward, who reside
short distance from the city o.
Aiken. Wednesday night Mr.. SSS-s1ey
called upon her, Miss McGhee at
tended a dance with Mr.. William
Murray, who also boards there. Miss
REYNOLDS remained at home. but she
had expected to go, when Mr.. Shea
ley left, and on returning at about
II o'clock Mr.. Shealey called to see
her home from the dance, but find
ing that she did not come to the
dance, went on home alone. Miss
Reynolds AYERS that she left the front
door open and light burning in the
hall. When Mr.. Shealey arrived at
the house he found the front door
locked and no light in the hall. He
first rang the door bell, and as he was
doing so, he says he heard someone
walking in his room upstairs. He
thought, he says, that it was Miss
REYNOLDS trying to find a match to
strike a light, but Miss Reynolds
saws it was not she. She did not open
the door, as she says she left it open,
and she thought it was someone try
ing to get entrance to the house A
colored woman, the cook, was sleep
ing in the house.
When Mr.. Shealey called Miss Rey-
nolds recognized the voice and got
up and opened the door Shealey
went to his room and soon after
retired. At about a quarter TO ],
pistol shot awoke him, and he in
stantly arose and went to the door,
which he found closed. He called
to Miss Reynolds and then felt the
wound for the first time, although
blood on the bed shows that the
wound had been bleeding before he
got up. He says he was asleep lying
on his back at the time. careful
search of the room revealed notn-
ing, No one was there or could any
one be found anywhere in the house.
The colored woman and Policeman
Busch, on his beat, heard the shot.
No one else heard it. Mr. Shealey
saws he heard no sound after the
shot was fired. Mr. Murray and Miss
McGhee arrived from the dance about
o'clock, soon after the shot was
fired
The room door was shut. The
window opening on small porch was
open, and he believes that he was
shot from the perch. Nothing de-
finite could be found from any tracks.
When he came into his room, he no.
ticed that the window opening on the
porch had been opened. notwithStand-
ing, he says, that he shut it before
leaving. a physician was summoned
at once, and he is now resting east
". The ball has not been extracted
yet.
Some bureau drawers were fonnd
open in two downstairs rooms, but
nothing was missed. Nothing was
interfered with in Shealey's room
No motive can be ascribed for the
crime. The shot was fired from to-
wards his head, ranging down Mr.
Shealey says he does not know o!
an enemy in the world, and he Is
known to be an exceptionally 1Hirt
and well-lked young man. il II Wa"
committed by rohber, why dill ne
shoot when Shealey was aSl"rp, ana
there being no danger 10 the fohher:
The robbery theory is not believed
generally But it was someone VINO
wanted TO murder him, what was the
motive?