The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-08-03
DESPERATE KILLED
aT RRANCHvILLE SATURDAY BY
CONSTABLE BYRD.
ME Negro Desperate, VINO Was

Ihe Negro Desperate, Who Was
Named Bennie Rowe, Shot Mr.
{, Byrd in the Thigh First.
Bennie Rowe, a noted negro des-
perado, for whom several warrants
were out for various crimes he had
committed in the last three or four
wears, was shot near the depot at
Branchville on Saturday afternoon.
He was not killed outright, but died
from the effects Of his wound at
about ten o'clock Saturday night.
He was shot through the body. Be-
fore Rowe was shot he attempted
80 kill Constable Byrd by shooting
him at close range. Luckily the ball
from the desperado's pistol hit MT.
Byrd in the thigh, instead of more
vital part Of his body.
1t seems that as the train from
orangeburg pulled into BranchVilie
on Saturday afternoon Messrs. S. J.
McCracken and Harry Byrd, both OF
whom live in BranchvilIe, who hap
oened to be at the depot, saw Rowe
standing on one side Of the rail-
road track above the depot, where
he had jumped from the moving
train before it reached the depot.
When first seen he was loading
revolver. Mr.. McCracken, who was
acting as a special constable, called
to Rowe and asked what he was do
ing with the gun. Rowe insolently
replied, "You come here and l will
show you"
Mr.. McCracken, knowing that
Rowe was wanted, reported the TACT
that the desperate had arrived on
the afternoon train, and related the
incident about the conversation that
had taken place between him and
Rowe to the Magistrate at his OF
fee, a short distance from the depot.
Constable Byrd, who was present,
remarked that he had warrant for
Bennie Rowe. A short time after
wards Constable Byrd went to the
depot on some other business.
While there he saw Rowe, and at
tempted to arrest him. AS he walk.
ed up to the desperate and was
about to place him under arrest
Rowe, without any warning, turned
and shot at Constable Byrd, the
ball taking effect in the thigh, but
producing only q slight wound.
Rowe, thinking possible that he
had killed Constable Byrd, as he
fred on him at close range, attempt
ed to get away by running. Consta-
BILE Byrd, Notwithstanding he had
been shot by the desperate, kept
cool, and after commanding Rowe
several times to halt, fred on the
deeing desperate. ThNee shots
were fired at Rowe, one Of the balls
hit him in the. small OF the back
and passed clear through his body.
Notwithstanding this desperate
wound the desperada Kept on run
ming until he was stopped by a citi
gen who was coming from the direc-
ton in which Rowe was running.
He showed fight to this citizen, but
ne was too badly hurt to resist much.
Rowe fingered until about ten
o'clock Saturday night, when he
breathed his last. Coroner Ricken-
baker empaneled jury and held an
inquest on Sunday. Constable Byrd
YVES completely exonerated. He has
rid the country Of desperate, who
had attempted to murder him be-
cause as an officer Of the law he
had attempted to arrest him. Had
Rowe succeeded in getting away he
would have laiven trouble, as he
was well armed, and the fact that
he had fired on an officer of the
law who tried to arrest him, shows
that he did not mean to submit
without battle. But he tackled
the wrong man when he run upon
Constable Byrd.
During the inquest Rowe's body
was at an undertaking establishment
just across the street from the pas
senger depot, where it was viewed
by hundreds of people. He was
large and powerful negro and had
a most repulsive face. He had
bad record and was a desperate fell
low, as was shown by the way he
acted when Constable Byrd went to
serve the warrant on him. 1t was
fortunate for Constable Byrd that
the aim Of the desperado's pistol
was not true, or that brave officer
of the law would have been killed
by his shot. The quicker such
characters as Rowe evidently was are
gotten out of the way the better
for the county and State. He had
to be killed some time, and it is
we'll he was killed before he had
Gi11a1 coroo opnI n;ti1op'