The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1909-08-19
NEGRO COMMITS MURDER.
AND is DANGEROUSLY WOUNDED
WHILE BEING CAPTURED.
Says a Woman Told Him to Kill Wat
son, and Procured the Cartridges
With Which to do the Killing.

Last Sunday night a week ago a
negro named Henry Fielder, alias
Mann Stroman, shot negro named
John Watson on the plantation of
Mrs. NJ. E. Bamberg, few miles
from town. Watson was shot in the
back, and was carried to hospital in
Augusta, where he died few days
later.
Fielder made his escape for the
time being, but remained in the vi
cinity where the killing occurred,
until last week when number of
the law-abiding negroes of that Sec
ton came to Sheriff Hunter and ask
ed that they be deputized to capture
Fielder, which the sheriff agreed to-.
Thursday night they attempted to
capture Fielder, but he showed fight,
and with a pistol fired number Of
shots at the crowd who were attempt
ing to arrest him. They returned the
fire with guns and pistols, but Fielder
eluded them in the darkness and got
away. The crowd then went to the
chain gang, which was in camp near
by, and asked for the dogs to trail
Fielder. Foreman Kirkland was sick
and could not 60, but he. allowed
some of the TRUSTEES on the gang to
go and take charge of the dogs. A
trail was at once struck, and soon
Fielder was located, but again he
opened fire on the crowd, which was
returned.
However, the would-be captors Of
Fielder did not care to get into close
quarters with him, so they went to
Mr.. H. W. Adams's house and asked
him to phone to Bamberg for some
white men to come and get Fielder,
as they had him surrounded. Deputy
Sheriff Wilson and others at once
went out and got the negro, whom
they found to be dangerously wound
ed, his wounds having been inflicted
by the men who were attempting his
capture during the firing. Fielder
was plentifully sprinkled with small
shot in the neck and shoulders, and
there was a bullet wound just above
the heart and one in the ear. He had
lost much blood, and at one time it
looked as if he would die, but he is
getting better, and no doubt will live
to be hanged for the murder of Wat
son.
He has confessed to the killing of
Watson, and says he was instigated
by a negro woman named Betsey
Bull, who has also been arrested and
lodged in jail, charged with being
accessory to the crime. 1t seems that
Watson had been living with the wo-
man, but went off some time ago, and
when he returned Fielder was living
with the woman or at least was cher
man." so, although Watson made no
attempt to resume his former rela-
tions with her, she told Fielder she
wanted Watson out of the way and
got the cartridges for him to do the
killing. She then sent Watson word
to come to her house, and he went
and found there the woman and Fell
der. Another negro was with Wat
son, and as they were leaving, with
out any quarrel, Watson was shot by
Fielder three times from the rear, two
bullets taking effect, one in the back
and one in the leg. The negro who
was with Watson then put him in the
buggy and carried him to his STEP
fathers house near Capernaum
church, from where he was carried to
Augusta and died as above stated.
From Felder's confession, there is
little doubt but it was a case of mur-
der, as he states, so we have been in
formed, that there was no quarrel
and he had no grudge against Wat
son. That he only killed him be-
cause the woman wanted it done.