The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1909-02-25
FATAL DISPUTE OVER LAND.
j. A. Reed Shot and Killed Last Fri
day by w. n. Carter.

A very unfortunate and sad af-
fair took place near Norway on Fri
day morning about 9 o'clock, which
resulted in the death of Mr.. ]. A.
Reed at the hands of Mr.. w. n. Car
ter. 1t seems that these two gentle
men, with Mr.. H. S. Spires, who is
the father-in-law of Mr.. Carter, met
to settle a dispute between them
about some land, when Mr.. Carter
shot Mr. Reed. The ball passed
through Mr.. Reeds stomach anC he
died at 3 o'clock the same afternoon.
Messrs. Carter and Spiers met Mr.. j.
w. Barnes, whom they informed OF
the sad occurrence, and he hurried
to the assistance of Mr. Reed at
once
He was found to be in a serious
condition, but was made comfortable
by Mr.. Barnes with the assistance
of some others, who had gathered at
the scene of the shooting in the
meantime. They did all that could
be done for the unfortunate man,
but it availed nothing, as he linger-
ed until about 3 o'clock, when he
passed away. Mr.. Reed was about so
years of age and Mr.. w. N. Carter is
a comparatively young man. They
lived on adjoining places, and had
been on friendly terms until the
trouble about the land line arose,
which resulted in the unfortunate
tragedy narrated above.
We understand that Mr.. Carter
says Mr.. Reed fired the first shot at
him, and that he shot him In self-de-
fense. Mr.. Carter says Mr.. Reed
warned him not to put his hands on
a certain wire which Mr.. Reed had
stretched to mark the line between
their lands, which was in dispute,
and which they had met to settle. Mr..
Carter says when he took hold OF
the wire, presumably to remove the
same, Mr.. Reed fired at him. Mr:
Carter claims that this shot passed
through his hat and graZed his skull.
Then, Mr.. Carter says, the firing be-
came genera. with the result as
stated above. Several shots were
fired by each party, he says.
Coroner Rickenbaker held an in
quest over the body of Mr.. Reed on
Saturday, and the jury, after hear
ing the testimony in the case,
brought in a verdict charging Mr..
Carter with the killing of Mr.. Reed.
The Jury also charged Mr.. Henry 5.
Spiers, who, as stated above, is the
father-in-law of Mr.. Carter, with be-
ing accessory to the killing. 1t is
said that Mr.. Spiers, who was present
when the shooting took place, mace
an effort to prevent the unfortunate
This is the version OF
the unfortunate affair as given out
bv Messrs. Carter and Spiers. we
have not heard the other side, Dut
suppose it will be brought out IN the
trial of the case when it comes De-
fore the courts.
Mr.. Carter came up to Orangeburg
at once and surrendered to Sheriff
salley. and is now in Jail. So did
Mr.. Spiers as soon as the jury or
INQUEST implicated him as an acces-
sory in the killing. The whole al
fair is to be deeply regretted. 1t has
settled nothing, but plunged Two
families into endless trouble. AS tar
as we have heard whiskey had moth
ing to do with the matter. 1t was
simple falling out Of two men over
matter that could and should have
been amicably settled. From Mr:
Carter's statement, it seems that
both he and Mr.. Reed went to the
meeting, to adjust their land dispute
with pistols in their pockets. This
ia What caused the shooting.
This unfortunate affair occurred
not very far from where Constable
Valentine was killed by a negro some
time ago. If we mistake not the
negro who killed Constable Valen-
tine lived on a place of Mr.. Henry
spiers, who is charged with being
an accessory to the killing OF Mr..
Reed. It seems that there was no
one present at this latest shooting
but Messrs. Reed, Carter and Splers'
and therefore we have only one side
of the story of the tragedy. What
version Mr.. Reed would give were he
still alive will only be revealed when
the secret of all hearts are made pub
lie. Again we say this sad affair is to
be deeply regretted.-Orangeburg
Times and Democrat.
0k AHYrIy