The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-10-05


Columbia. Oct. Paul Williams.
bullet wound in his forehead, mute
evidence of foul murder. lies to-
night cold in death at a local under
taking establishment In this city.
The body was brought in on the
Augusta train at 1880 O'Clock this
evening.
All that the crowd gathered In
front OF the morgue knew was that
raul Williams, ninteen-year- old
young man. had been shot early to-
day by someone or some persons on
the circus train of Hagenbeck and
Wallace. His body was found today
by the crew Of passing freight at
Summit. few miles from Batesburg,
in Lexington county.
Two young men. at 2 O'Clock this
| morning, boarded the circus train in
this city, after the show of last
night. One of them. ]. c. weekley,
Is In the city tonight. He brought
the sad message OF his companions
death. The story told by weekley Is
remarkable for the period Of the
worlds existence. 1t is more a story
Of ages gone by, when bandits roam
ed and to rob man was the work of
gentlemen.
Weekley and Williams were asked
to so along on the circus train by
some OF the men Is the inforamtion
had here. One of the room mates of
the two boys is responsible for this
statement
According to Weekley, after the
train had sped past Lexington, sew
eral men came running through the
cars and out on the fiat car, where
he and his companion were. He ran
and got under some canvas In anoth-
er car. There he remained. breath
less with fear. He hoped that VIII
|lieasS% wvuld FOLLOW. : He heard al
pistol shot ring out, but still he re-
mained where he was. Soon he heard
someone approach softly and a man
lying above the canvas he was un-
der was relieved of his money. That
was the last weekley heard until he
slipped Off the back OF the train,
where he had afterwards run.
Today the body Of Williams was
round near Summit. Near his body
was watch fob. but his watch was
missing. On the coat of williams
was blood. and IL is said blood was
strewn on the circus train.
The theory that Is advanced here
Is that the men who did the shooting
and the robbing knew that it was
pay day with the circus and they
either went along for the purpose OF
robbery or belonged TO the circus
troupe.
Williams was employed here as a
clerk in the Southern Railway Office.
He was only 10 years Of age and was
handsome fellow His father
formerly conducted jewelry store
here. His mother was wired OF the
shooting. she being on a trip In New
York State. His father Is in Athens.
Ga. F. J. Williams Is the name of
the father OF Paul Williams. He
moved to Athens some time ago. his
original home being I'm Massachusetts.
Trembling yet from the scenes of
the early morning. weekley said:
We were around at the Blanding
street station watching the circus
men load the car. Paul said to me:
Let's get on the train and go to
Augusta We went around to get
passes for the return trip. We didn't
find anyone in, and we returned and
boarded the circus train. We got
on a Tat car on top of one of the
circus wagons, and lay down on
some canvas. When we had gone
probably fifteen miles out of Colurn-
bia we heard some men cursing. They
were calling out. What about that
gun you have. Turn over there and
remarks like that. When I looked
again they were coming up on the
wagon where Paul and I lay. said.
Come on, Paul. let's get away then
| dropped off OF the wagon. 1 heard
the men say. There are the -
IL was then dropped off the wagon
on the fiat car. ran to another fiat
car Just then heard a pistol shot.
kept on until I found place where
another man was lying down. RI
asked him To move. and / got under
the canvas where he was. the posi- |
tion being such that ne was above
me and l was secured under tho can