The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-02-03
IRleEOI IT llURENs.
PATROLdAN STONE AND YEGG-
MAN KILL EACH OTHER.
IAurens Shocked ut Double Tragedy
Two Policemen Attempt to Ar.
rest Suspicious Character, Which
Results In the Death Of Two Men.

Results In the Death Of Two Men.
Laurens. Jan. 2s.--Few tragedies
have 30 shocked the people Of the
community. as the result Of a deadly
encounter last night between PATROL
man McDufie Stone and w. Frank
Walker and an unkonwn burglar
whose OUTFIT Of tools indicates that he
was q safe-cracker. This morning
the unknown yegyman lies dead a,
the city station house and Patrolman
Stone II at the point Of death. with
five pistol wounds In his body. The
story Of the tragedy as learned from
MT. Walker and Mr.. Stone. who IL still
conscious. IL that In the course OF
their nightly rounds the two police
men met the through freight from
spartanburg which arrived here at
AIS o'clock. as u their custom. Upon
reaching the depot Mr.. stone walked
down one side Of the train Of cars and
Mr. walker down the other. Seeing
q stranger. with Z little meal sack in
his hand. Mr.. Stone accosted him and
inquired what he was doing.
n am q trainman." replied the
stranger. y
"I am going back to the caboose.' -
again replied the unknown.
well. where IL your lantern?" said
Mr.. Stone. train hands. don't walk
around here In the dark" Thereupon
Mr.. stone advanced in reach Of the
man and laid his hand upon hts
shoulder. about to arrest him, such
being instructions relative to loafers
at the depot. As soon as Stones hand
touched the stranger he whipped out
his pistol. . 45 calibre. magazine.
from inside his vest and began firing,
emptying the chamber. five Of the
shots taking effect In the body OF
Stone. one In the bowels. three In the
fieshy part OF the leg and one In the
lower lip. SO close was the range
that stone did not have an opportunity
to draw. 20 clinched his antagonist
and together they fell to tho ground.
They were 20 lying when Police
man Walker crawled under from the
othsr side Of the train the stranger
struggling to loose himself. He was
almost free from the weakening hold
Of Mr.. Stone and was reloading his
pistol when Walker came upon him.
Don't shoot" cried the. stranger,
II arm already shot to pieces" which
Of course was q blum 20 gain time,
for Stone had never drawn his pis-
to- Il will surrender" said he.
Give me your pistol them said
Walker. Pretending to hand the pis-
tol to the policeman. the stranger
f,red at walker who quickly drew
and shot the man to his death, four
or fve shots taking effect.
Policeman Walker then hurried to
the station house summoned the ply
sicians and notified Chief Bagwell.
The stranger lived about ,three-q quar-.
ters of an hour after being carried to
the police station. but he could not be
made 20 talk In spite OF the numerous
Efforts to ascertain his identity. About
his person were found some letters.
but In them there il nothing of a clue.
In the sack which he held In his hand
was a complete yeggman's outfit with
nitro giycerine. dynamite. keys.
wrenches. etc. he had $50 in cur
rency.
One OF the train hands states that
there were two men down at the sta
tion and that one escaped In the me-
lee; Mr.. Walker says. however. tina,
he saw only the one.
Mr.. Stone died at $50 this after
noon. never having recovered from
the severe shock. Death was caused
by shock and internal hemorrhages.
The body Of the dead yeggman has
been embalmed and will be kept here
for Identification.