The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1909-07-22
MAN SHOT WHILE ASLEEP
SINGULAR ATTACK on YOUNG
MAN IN AIKEN.

MAN IN AIKEN.
Edgar l.. Shealey, Asleep in Bed,
Aroused by Crack OF Pistol and
Discovered Himself Wounded.
Aiken, July 15.-Early this morn
ing Edgar L. Shealey, a prominent
young man of this city, was shot in
his room at the home of Misses Rey-
nolds and McGhee, where he board
ed, on York street. He was shot
once with a pistol. and the ball en-
tered his thigh and lodged. His
wound is not thought to be serious,
but it is exceedingly painful. The
shooting is one of the greatest mys-
teries this city has ever witnessed,
and neither the police, Mr.. Shealey,
nor the ladies of the house can offer
satisfactory reason or solution OF
| it.
Mr.. Shealey is engaged to be mar
ried and invitations were issued
day or two ago to his marriage to
Miss Ruby Coward, daughter of Mr..
and Mrs. Thomas w. Coward, who
reside a short distance from the city.
Last night Mr.. 'Shealey called upon
her. Miss McGhee attended dance
with Mr.. William Murray, who also
boards there. Miss Reynolds re-
mained at home, but she had expect
ed to go when Mr.. Shealey left, and
on returning about II o'clock Mr..
Shealey called to see her home from
the dance, but finding that she did
not come to the dance, went home
alone. Miss Reynolds AYERS that she
left the front door open and a light
burning in the hall.
Arrived at House.
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 do
ing so, he says he heard some one
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
says it was not she. She did not open
the door, as she says she left it open,
and she thought it was some one try
ing to obtain entrance to the house.
A colored woman was sleeping in the
house, the cook.
When Mr.. Shealey called Miss
Reynolds recognized the voice and
got up and opened the door. Shealey
went to his room, and soon after re-
tired At about 12:45 pistol shot
awoke him and he instantly 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. A
careful search of the room revealed
nothing. No one was there, nor
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 says he heard no sound
after the shot was fired. Mr.. Murray
and Miss McGhee arrived from the
dance at o'clock.
Shot from Porch.
His room door was shut. The win
dow, opening on small porch, was
open, and he believes that he was
shot from the porch. Nothing definite
could be found from tracks. When
he came in his room he noticed that
the window opening on the porch had
been opened, Notwithstanding, he
says, that he shut it before leaving.
A physician was summoned at
once, and he is now resting well. The
ball has not been extracted yet.
Some bureau drawers were found
open in two downstairs rooms, but
nothing was missed. Nothing was in
terfered with in Shealey's room. No
motive can be ascribed for the crime.
The shot was fired from toward his
head, ranging down. Mr.. Shealey
says he does not know of an enemy
in the world and he is known to be
an exceptionally quiet and well-liked
young man. If it was committed by
a robber, why did he shoot when
Shealey was asleep, there being no
danger to the robber? The robbery
theory is not believed generally. Bur
|if it was someone who wanted to
murder him, what was the motive?
Mr.. Shealey is a highly valued
salesman for Powell Hardware Com
pany, and is to be- married, his
wounds allowing, to Miss Coward on
the 2Sth of this month.
1t is battling, and up to this time
the police can find no clue upon
which to offer an explanation.
500 Reward, 500.
The readers of this paper will be
pleased to learn that there is at
least one dreaded disease that sci
ence has been able to cure in all its