The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-10-23

From Daily Item. Oct. 20.
George Mitchell. a negro for whom
warrant was issued by Magistrate
Douglas Jenkins on the charge Of dis
posing Of property under lien, was
killed In Mr.. J. N. Tindars store at
Tindals station yesterday afternoon by
Constable Charlie Jenkins. The story
Of the killing IL told In the testimony
taken by Coroner Flowers at the in
quest last night and 1t shows that
Mitchell was q desperate and reck-
less man who dened the law and made
a determined attempt to kill the off,
Ger who made an effort to arrest him.
Cosntable Jenkins had to shoot and
shoot quickly to save his own life and
the jury of inquest completely exon
Grated him In the verdict returned at
ter hearing all the evidence.
Magistrate Douglas Jenkin, who ac-.
companied his brother. Constable
Charlie Jenkins. when he attempted
to arrest Mitchell. was painfully but
not dangerously wounded by Nit
chell. bullet passing through the
sfeshy part OF one thigh. A negro
child who was In the store when the
shooting occurred was probably fatally
wounded by stray bullet, which
lodged In the back Of Its neck. At
last report the child was still living,
but was In a critical condition.
The testimony taken at the inquest
follows:
Harry William, being sworn says:
was behind the counter when the
constable came In. pointing his pis-
tol In Mitchell'a face. said you are
my prisoner. Mitchell drew his pis-
tol and Mr.. Jenkins fred, both shoot
Ing several times. Don't know how
many times either fred. Mitchell
asked me for credit, which refused.
Mitchell sid there was wsrrae 1sr
him. III. Tindai told MIN IL thsy had
warrant for him for him to go with
them. ne said I have done nothing for
them to have a warrant for me- and
won't be arrested. They continued to
talk and Mr.. Tindal advised him 20
let them arrest him peaceably. lie
said win not be arrested. If Mr..
Jenluns had not shot Mitchell, Nit
cheil would have shot him When,
constable tried to arrest him he pull
ed his pistol Mr.. Jenkins then fired.
H. T. WILLIAMS.
]. M. Tindal. being sworn says:
The first time saw anything of the
dimcuity saw Mitchell out In
the yard with a double barrel gun on
his shoulder and I inquired Of some
Of the paroles what was the trouble
and was Informed that they were try
ins to make an arrest, and the mag
istrate told me that they had come
for that purpose and that George
Mitchell refused to be arrested. While
talking 80 magistrate a little boy,
Frank Willis came In and said that
George Mitchell wanted to buy twen-
ty-hve cents worth on credit and can
ne get Il? I told the boy to go back
and tell my clerk that we did not
charge anything. I told the magis-
trate that would 60 over and see the
coiored man and try and get him to
submit to arrest without any trouble.
l did go and talked to Mitchell and
did all I could to get him TO submit
to arrest. and see Mr.. Jones and
was sure he would do what was right.
Mitchell said he would not do it, as
he had seen Mr.. Jones already. Then
he asked me what they would do with
me. told him all he would have to
do would be to give bond. / told him
II he did not submit and 60 they will
carry you. He said / will not do it.
won't let any cracker arrest me. 1
approached the store door. He fol-
lowed me. AS ne was within a few
peared from the out side and walk
inc up to a few feet Of Mitchell put
pistol In his face and said you are
my prisoner. George Mitchell and
the constable both began firing. Nit
chell shot three times, that l am sure
OF. Am not sure which shot first. but
am sure If constable had not fired
when he did Mitchell would have kill
ed him. The shooting ceased. told
Mitchell to- put up his pistol. He
placed 1t on the counter. Placing it
under an oil cloth cover on counter.
The constable then took him and
brought him from my store to the
piazza OF Tindal & Cuttino's store. He
h to AtaA