The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1910-04-07
NEGRO FOULLY MURDERED
DEAD BODY FOUND IN EDISTO
RIVER LAST MONDAY.
Negro Named Robert Woods Arrested
and Later Makes Full
Confession.

Monday afternoon Of this week
while some negro boys and men were
fishing at the Edisto river, near new
bridge, they found the body of man
lying in the water, a pole being
placed on the body to hold it in the
water. They at once came to town
and reported the find, and the body
was identified as that of Gilbert
Brown, a negro of this place. The
man had been shot in the left side of
the head and chest with small shot,
at close range, and also struck In
the head with some weapon. The
body was at once brought to town,
and Magistrate H. D. Free summoned
a jury to hold an inquest.
1t was known by several people
that Brown and young negro
named Robert Woods, alias "Prim-
py" Woods, had gone together to the
river fishing last Friday afternoon,
and Woods was at once arrested, he
having been about town all the time
since Friday and making no effort to
get away.
The inquest was in session until
late Monday evening, and number
of witnesses were examined, all the
testimony going to show that Brown
was last seen in company with Wood
at the river on Friday. DR.. E..
Kirkland made a post mortem ex-
animation. 1t also developed that
Woods had gone to Mr.. Wilson, who
lives this side of the river, Friday
afternoon and borrowed his gun.
He returned it broken later in the
afternoon, the stock being broken
| off. Mr.. Wilson then made him go
and get the stock, and Woods paid
him 5000 for breaking the gun and
lis cents for the two shells used.
Every circumstance and all the evil
dence pointed to Woods as the MUIR
deler, but he denied killing Brown.
He told a number of different stories,
but finally on Tuesday, when the
jury again assembled, he made a
full confession Of the murder to Mag
istrate Free. Later he told the jury
the same story.
The story of Woods Is that he
and Brown went fishing together,
and while at the river Brown brought
up an old quarrel they had some
two years ago, and drew his pistol
on him. That Woods then went to
Mr.. Wilson and borrowed the gun
and hid it near the place they were
fishing. Soon Brown brought up the
matter again and again drew his
pistol. Woods says he then got the
gun and shot Brown once, who went
to jerking and throwing his arms
around from the effects of the shot
and threw his pistol in the river.
That he then shot the second time
and Brown fell on the river bank,
when he went up to him and struck
him on the head with the gun,
breaking the stock and knocking him
into the river.
This is the tale of Woods, but it is
not believed. It is the general opin-
ion that Woods murdered Brown for
what money he had and possibly a
pistol and watch. Woods Is worth
less sort of negro, and has served
time on the chain gang. He is about
seventeen years old, while Brown
was thirty-five. Woods was recently
severely cut with a razor by wo-
man, and he seems to be general
all round rascal Brown married the
sister Of Woods, but they have been
parted for some time, and she is now
living with another man. Woods
was never known to have any money,
yet he had money to pay for the
gun. No money, watch or pistol was
found on Browns body, and Woods
denies all knowledge Of any money
or watch. It is likely that If the
watch and pistol can be located,
Woods will make a further confes-
sion. However, he seems to be a
likely candidate for the gallows.
Clergy Urge Local Option.