The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-02-03
AWFUL TRAGEDY
Policeman and Ysggman Shoot
Each Other to Death
AT DEPOT IN LAURENS

Stranger Who is Shot by the
Patrolman and MORALLY Wounded.
The Stranger Is a Safe Cracker.
Laurens. Jan. ga shocking
tragedy occurred here last night az
the result of a deadly encounter be-
tween Patrolmen MeDufie Stone and
w. Frank Walker and an unknown
burglar, whose outfit of tools indi-
Gates that he vas safe-cracker. To-
night the unknown yeggman lies
dead at the city station house with
lour pistol wounds in his body, while
Stone, after undergoing an opera
lion, died late this afternoon.
The story of the tragedy as learn.
ed from Mr.. Walker and Mr.. stone
IS that In the course Of their nightly
rounds the two policemen met the
through freight from spartanburg,
which arrived here at 2:15 o'clock.
as is their custom. Upon reaching
the depot Stone walked down one
side Of the rain of cars and Walker
down the . Ter. Seeing a. stranger
with a little meal sack in his hand.
stone accosted him and inquired
what he was doing.
Where are you .going?" said
Stone.
i am going back to the caboose,"
lgain replied the unknown.
We'll, re is your lantern"
said Stone; train hands don't walk
around here in the dark. There
Upon Stone advanched within reach
of the man and laid his hand upon
lis shoulder to arrest him, such be-
ng his instructions relative to loaf
ers at the depot. AS soon as Stones's
aand touched the stranger, the lat
;er whipped out his pistol, a 45-cali-
bre magazine, from inside his vest
and began firing, emptying the
chamber, five Of the shots taking eff
feet In the body of Stone, one in tho
bowels, three In the feshy part of
the leg and one in the lower LID.
so close was the range that Stone
did not have an opportunity to draw,
and clinched his antagonist, and to-
gether they fell to the ground.
They were SO lying when Police
nan Walker crawled from the other
side of the train, the stranger strug-
Cling to free himself. He was al
most free from the weakening hold
If Stone and was %reloading his pis-
,ol when Walker came upon him.
Don't shoot" cried the stranger
am already shot to pieces" which,
Of course, was a bluff to gain time,
'or Stone had not drawn his pistol.
II will surrender" said he.
"Give me your pistol. then" said
Walker. Pretending to hand the
pistol to the policeman, the stranger
fred at Walker, who quickly drew
md shot the man, four of the five
shots taking effect.
Policeman Walker then hurried
o the station house, summoned the
physicians and notified Chief Bag
we'll. The stranger lived about
:hree-quarters of an hour after be-
ng carried to the police station, but
he could not be made to talk in
ipite of the numerous efforts to as
certain his identity.
On his person were found various
etters, which, however, afforded no
:lue whatever, and $110.60 in mon
~. In the sack, which he held In
lis hand, was a complete yeggman's
outfit, with nitroglycerine, dynamite,
keys, wrenches, etc. In addition to
hese, there were parts Of the Angus
@ Chronicle and Columbia State OF
January 26.
However, in the afternoon Asso-
dated Press dispatches Of January
81. there is an account from Atlanta
of a safe blowing case on MONDAY
light at Bolton, Ca, In which q
yeggman got away; and 1t Is a pos
sible theory that the man was ex-
mining the papers Of Tuesday Tor
news of It.. This theory Is, howeV-
,r. controverted by a shoemaker at
Watts Mill, who identified the dead
man as one whom he saw at Ms
,lace of business on Tuesday, and
l barber of this city, who seems TO
hink that he is the same mar whom
ne shaved early this week. DR.. W.
c. Irby, Sr., and his son, Mr.. Vancs
Irbv, state that the man very mucn
resembled one whom they met COM
ing into town a few days ago.
DR.. Query, of Columbia, together
with Drs. Bunch ard Shaw, and two
nurses, Misses Tronholm and MOD
lev. arrived in the city at 8 O'CLOCK,
and an operation was performed
ON Policeman Stone at about 4:3o
this afternoon, never having recoV-
cred from the severe chock. Death
was caused by shock and internal
hemorrhages. The body OF the deao
veeeman has been embalmed anu
will be kept here for identification.
One of the train hands states tnat
there we're two men down at inc
station, and that n escaped IN tne
melee: Mr.. Walker says, however
that he saw only the one. Mr.. u
H. Roper, cashier of the Enterprise