The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1909-05-13
SHERIFF GETS MIDDLETON.
Negro Who Shot Valentine Now in
Orangeburg Jail.

night about, 10 o'clock with Middle
ton, the negro who made the BASTARD
ly attempt to assassinate Mr.. J. H.
Valentine while at his work yester-
day morning. 1t was not until about
sun down yesterday evening that
Sheriff Salley got the negro, although
he had been taken prisoner earlier in
the afternoon, and reports had reach
ed the city to the effect that the sher-
if was on his way here. In
taking the negro it was necessary to
shoot him, and the negro is now in
Jail suffering from severe wound in
his face and shoulder.
There was a large crowd in and
around the scene of the shooting
and the search for the negro yester-
day, and at times it is believed that
it would be with some difficulty that
the sheriff would be able to get
possession of the negro. The
sheriff was unable to locate him,
and the community was aroused,
and it was feared that there might
be q lynching. The sheriff was as
sisted in quieting them, however,
and the negro finally taken in Gus
tody by Sheriff Salley.
Mr.. J. H. Valentine was at his
work in the field yesterday morning,
and started to go from one field to
another. He drove his horse with
the plough on his way to the field,
and had to pass wooded land. It was
while he was passing through this
patch of forest that the negro opened
fire on him. The negro was laying
in ambush, and as Mr.. Valentine got
opposite to him, he opened fire. Mr..
Valentine was shot in his hand and
also in the body, but the wounds are
not of a serious nature, and he is not
confined to his bed. The negro got
,, away, but was captured about 3
o'clock in the afternoon.
The news of the attempted assassi-
nation spread, and 1t was not long
until men were on the trail of the
negro. He was finally captured at
the home of Mrs. Nj. V. Gray, sister
of Mr.. Valentine, who saw the negro
passing, and in order to make an at
tempt to capture him, she called him
in and gave him something to eat.
While the negro was at Mrs. Gray's
two gentlemen, Messrs. Smith and
Turner, were passing, and they were
notified Of the negro's presence. The
house is somewhat elevated from the
ground, and the negro took refuge
behind a brick pillar Here another
shooting took place, and 1t was at
this place that the negro was wound
ed. He would dodge out from be-
hind the pillars and fire at his
would-be captors, and they in turn
fired at him. He was finally brought
to, however.
While in custody the negro made
an attempt to get away, and drawing
knife, he cut Mr.. Turner, one OF
his captors, on the cheek, inficting
very ugly wound. The prisoner
was overpowered and no more trou-
Bile was experienced with him.
About a year ago the negro Mid
dleton was under arrest and In the
custody of Mr.. Valentine, and while
in his buggy the negro resisted and
severely choked the officer, who
fired on him. About week ago the
negro wrote Mr.. Valentine letter,
so it is alleged, saying that he would
get even with him in one way or an
other. The negro was seen on the
place yesterday and this is given as
the cause of the shooting.
The negro is about As years OF
age, and he confessed to all that he
had done while on his way with the
sheriff last night. He said he ex-
pected to hurt somebody and ex-
pected to get hurt himself.
He is a bad character and will no
doubt get the limit of the law, when
his case Is called for trial.-Orange-
hnrp Evening News.