The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1910-02-24
FORMER POLICEMAN WAYLAID.
James A. Boulsnight Attacked by
Negroes at Lexington.

Lexington, Feb. 20.-James A.
Bouknight, former policeman at
Irmo, in the Dutch Fork, but more
recently employed as blacksmith in
the shops of James E. Rawl, in this
town, was waylaid on his way home
last night by two negroes, who beat
him over the head until he was un-
conscious, and who left him lying on
the street for dead. Mr.. Bouknight,
however, regained consciousness and
managed to go to his home, three
hundred yards away.
Medical aid was summoned and
the officers notified of the occurrence.
MIR. Bouknight recognized one Of his
assailants as being Mack Hill, the
other he did not know. Deputy
Sheriff Miller, with his usual prompt
ness, went to work on the case. At
ter searching for several hours, he
found Hill at the home Of his BROTH
er, some six or seven miles from the
Court House. He was under the in
6uence of liquor but made no resist
ance. He was brought to Jail. He
| denies his guilt, but circumstances
are said to be against him in addi-
ton to the statement Of Mr.. Bouk-
night. The officers have a strong
clue as to the identity of the other
negro and another arrest will be
made tomorrow it is said.
Mr.. Bouknight lives in the extreme
Northern part Of the town, and after
finishing his hard days work, came
down the street to purchase some
supplies. About half-past o'clock,
together with some friends, he start
ed for home, the other members OF
the party stopping at their respective
homes. When a little patch of woods
was reached near negro school
house, Mr.. Bouknight discovered two
men standing beside the street. AS
he was passing by Hill grabbed him
by the collar and commenced pound
ing him over the head with what Mr..
Rouknight says was revolver, at the
same time exclaiming with an oath:
1--WE got you now." The second blow
| felled Mr.. Bouknight, and the last
thing he remembered was a stick
coming down across his back. This
he says was in the hands Of the sec
ond party. After lapse of thirty
minutes, to the best of Mr.. Bouk-
nights knowledge, he regained con-
sciousness and was able to hobble to
his home.
Hill is said to be a most desperate
character. Several months ago, while
Mr.. Bouknight was policeman at
Irmo, he had occasion to arrest Hill
for being drunk and disorderly.
While making the arrest Hill drew
his pistol and shot the officer without
warning. For this he was tried,
He pleaded guilty to the charge and
was sentenced to pay a fine of 500,
which amount was paid by white
man for whom Hill agreed to work.
He has been in several other difficult
ties, always managing to get out.
Only a week ago he quit his wife, 1t
is said, and shortly afterwards the
house in which she was living was
fired, the woman and her boy very
nearly losing their lives. 1t is said
that, had it not been for cat ran
to the bed where the woman was
sleeping and scratched her in the
face, she would have been burned to
death.
The attack on Mr.. Bouknight is re-
garded as being one of the most das-
tardly crimes ever attempted in this
section, and had it not been for the
very quiet manner in which Deputy
Sheriff Miller worked on the case, it
is not unlikely that Hill would have
been summarily dealt with. Mr..
Bouknight's condition to-day is very
favorable, according to the statement
of the attending physician. The
severest injury is on the head, just
behind the right ear, and no serious
developments are expected.