The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-11-30
ASSAULTED BY ROBBERS.
Young Mr.. Malcolm Johnstone Sus-
tains Serious Injuries.-His
Condition Improving.

Mr.. Malcolm Johnstone, the young
son of State Senator Alan Johnstone,
was assaulted and seriously wound
ed at a late hour on last Thursday
night as a result Of his seeking to
prevent the taking of a. horse from
the premises in rear. Of the house.
His assailants were three in num-
ber. None Of them, was recognized
by Mr.. tombstone, the only descrip-
tion Of any of. them. which he could
give being that one Of them wore a
light suit of clothes.
Mr.. Johnstone's most serious in
jury was to his back, although he
states he was also struck in the
head. AS a result Of the injuries to
his back, he was paralyzed in his
lower limbs. He has been steadily
improving, and DR.. Ellesor, his
! physician, stated yesterday that he
had excellent hopes Of his complete
recovery.
Young Mr.. Johnstone was spend
ing the night at the home Of his
aunt, Mrs. Clara McCrary, whose
home is near the residence of Sena-
tor Johnstone.. Mr.. Johnstone had
golH into the house something after
II o'clock, and was preparing to re-
tire, when he heard a noise which he
thought to come from the cotton
house. He went out to investigate,
but found no one in the cotton house:
He, however, heard a subdued voice
say "whoa," and concluded that
some one was at the stable. Going to-
one end Of the passage running
j through the stable he saw man
leading hores out Of the other end.
! The man started off with the horse
and Mr.. Johnstope hailed him.. and,
receiving no response, he fired. The
man continued to 60 on with the
horse, going out towards the pasture,
in the general direction of the rail-
roads. Mr.. Johnstone followed him
and. fred again. About this time
the man was joined by two. compan-
ions, whom Mr.. Johnstone had not
before observed, and the three start
ed towards him. Mr.. ..Johnstone
started back towards the house. At
ter firing several shots at him his
pursuers overlook him, at the steps
leading from the pasture into the
yard, near a negro tenant house.
There the assault occurred: The as
sailants then left, leaving the horse:
Mr.. Johnstone was UNCONSCIOUS for
some time, but finally ree9vefed suf-
6cient consciousness to eFa|WfF 5;||yF. to the
tenant house.
DIR. Ellesor was summoned, reach
ing the young man At abtont @t e. 2:so
O'Clock. -. - - ;. !.
/ Sheriff Buford went, out to see Mr..
Johnstone as soon as he heard of the
affair on Friday, and had a: talk with
the young man. He investigated the
premises, and, though some time had
elapsed, he discovered the tracks OF
three persons in a sand bar leading
into the pasture-the tracks going
both ways in the general direction of
the stable from the railroad land
vice versa. Chief Of Police John c.
Adams and Policeman J. L. Dickert
also went to the scene to investigate.
Chief Adams also took up the mat
ter with the railroad conductors, and
! learned that three men had left on
the early c., N. & L. on Friday morn
ing, going to Prosperity. One of
these men wore light suit Of clothes.
Chief Adams went to Prosperity on
Saturday morning, and he, with Chief
Of Police Workman, of Prosperity,
worked on the matter, learning that
the three men were 81. W. Welch,
G.. W. Martin and.J. B. Williams,
, who work at the Mollohon Mill, this
city. They had been met at Pros
perity by Hammet Martin, the
brother of G. W. Martin, and with
him had gone to Hammet Martins
home.
! At about II o'clock they phoned
for Sheriff Buford to come with the
warrants, and, not knowing the
names of the parties who had been
suspected, Sheriff Buford had fcti-
tious names inserted in the warrants.
Sheriff Buford secured an automo-
bile, driven by Mr.. W. C. Waldrop,
and he and Chief Adams and Chief
Workman went towards Leesville.
IL 1o,,,,o of u O OF