The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1910-03-31
WITNESS TELLS OF TRAGEDY.

WITNESS TELLS OF TRAGEDY.
Describes Desperate Mans Actions
During Battle and Siege.
Philadelphia, March 23.-One Of
the members Of the crew Of the train
on which Conductor wellman and
Porter Williams were murdered, to-
night gave . graphic story Of the
tragedy.
Eve left Warrington at 3 o'clock"
said the member Of the crew. "but
nothing peculiar In the actions Of Be-
thea was observed until the train
pulled out Of Baltimore. We had
scarcely reached the outskirts Of the
city when Bethea. who was occupy
ing chair in the parlor car. threat
ened to chastise Williams, because
Of no apparent reason, other than
that he took exception to the ic-ter
UCAu8 - uO8IVs
"A short time later the porter
again had occasion to pass through
the ear. He was busy opening q
ventilator. when Bethea arose and
lunged toward him. The porter hur-
riedly left the car and reported the
matter to conductor Wellman. The
latter told Williams to remain out
Of the car unless It was absolutely
necessary for him to enter. Bethea
In tho meantime had taken q seat In
. coach.
Bethea Becones EnEaeed.
when the train vas between
Havre Dc Grsce and Newark, the
porter started through the coach, not
noticing Bethea. The latter vas ap-
parently dosing In his seat but Just
% the eolored man passed him he
ross and said: You g. negro, I'll
shoot you full Of holes
"Williams was less than four feet
from the enraged man and @ Be-
thea spoke Williams turned half
around In evident surprise. J. A he
did %. Bethes fred . bullet into the
Dorter's heart. Williams fell back
into q seat and @ Conductor Well
man spoke 20 the murderer Bethea
fred again. This last shot went
through Williams's thigh and buried
itS6lf In the woodwork In the side Of
tho car. By this time pandemonium
reignsd. There we're about 80 per-
sons In the car and they made q mad
rush for both doors Conductor
Wellman apparently did not know
that Williams had been fatally shot,
o the negro Was sitting upright In
the seat. Az Wellman spoke to Be-
thea the latter turned. livid with
rage, and placing his revolver almost
against the conductors chest. fred.
Coadactoe Falle Dead.
"Wsllman dropped without NOV
ing. and Bethea, 1ourishing his re-
volver. backed towards the toilet
room. entered and closed the door.
In the meantime the train had reach
ed Newark. No stop vas made but
. message was thrown OF asking the
railroad oficials at Wilmington. II
miles distant. TO have policemen on
hand to arrest Bethea. None of "a
knew at this time that either WILL
Jams or Conductor Wsllman was
dead. Before the train reached VIII
mington the coor was barred from
the outside and hasty examination
OF both men showed that life was
extinct.
/. so bitter was the feeling against
the desperate man among the pass
engers that he would have been torn
limb from limb had they been able
to gain admittance to the toilet.
:, Policemen Waiting.
. 'When Wilmington was reached q
score Of policemen and citizens were
waiting on the station platform. The
top Of Bethea's head could be seen
above the window blind % he was
standing In the toilet. Capt. Kane Of
the Wilmington police force was the
drst man to step on our train. He
was followed by half . dozen other
policemen. AZ they approached the
toilet room Bethea threatened to
murder the whole bunch II they at
tempted to enter the room. The
officers withdrew from the car and
held . consultation. Their confer
enee was interrupted by several saots
from the toilet window. Bethea then
drew back - the policemen returned
the IRE.
AT this juncture q fire apparatus
appeared and . stream was turned in
the hrokon vfnAo~ pafhoa bon$ m