The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1910-07-28
USED A BOMB
Former Mayor Of Virginia Town
Blown Up With Dynamite.
MAN BLOWN TO PIICES

mock ON the Lawn, Instrument ~
Death Was Hurled from Street by
an Unknown Hand, Tearing tho
Body Into Fragments.
The assassination Monday night OF
Mayor A. H. Bousman, aged 90, who
was killed by the explosion OF a
| dynamite bomb, hurled under the
hammock in which he was sleeping
in his front yard, has aroused and
mystified the inhabitants of Ridge
way, Va, and the surrounding coun-
| try.
The crime, unprecedented in that
/ section of the country, had apparent
ly been carefully planned by its per-
petrator, whose identity the authori-
ties or mem bers of The victims fam
lily have beer unable even to guess
at.
The dynamite bomb, which tore
the body of former Mayor Bousman
to pieces, was thrown from the
street in front of his home about
10 o'clock Monday night. The charge
of dynamite In the bomb must have
been a heavy one, because the body
of Mr.. Bousman was badly torn TO
pieces. A part of the fuse Of the
bomb was found mex: day on the
roof Of the Bousman residence,
where it had been blown by the
force Of the explosion. On the sides
of houses, sixty feet away, blood had
been spattered and bits of flesh adj
hered to the walls. Bits of the body
also were found on the roof of an
adjoini1;;.. house.
The. assassinated man is survived
by wife and son Of twelve years,
both of whom are prostrated by the
| murder. Mr.. Bousnlan only recently
retired from the office of mayor. He
had been offered the nomination,
but declined to accept the honor.
Mayor Bousman had been spend
| ing the hot evening sleeping IN
hammock, swung between two trees
on the lawn in front Of his residence.
Without word OF warning, at about
10 o'clock the dynamite bomb was
thrown by some one passing along
the street. It landed in the ham
mock at his feet and in an instant
exploded. The mayors feet were
torn away by the bursting shell and
his legs frightfully mutilated. In
great agony he died an hour later.
Although the town authorities,
when notified of the murder, made
every effort to discover the assas-
sin, no clue could be found and 1t
is believed he escaped without being
seen by any one. The news quickly
spread about town and excitement
grew to high pitch. The surround
ing community is worked up over
the murder and it is believed IL the
perpetrator OF the assassination. is
caught he will be summarily dealt
with.
AS mayor of Ridgeway, Mr.. Bous-
man presided over the Police Court
for the town, trying petty cases. It
it thought that some person upon
whom Bousman in his Court had
passed sentence of punishment, held
a grudge against him and had been
awaiting opportunity to wreak ven-
geance on the mayor.
While returning from his farm
in the country to the town a week
ago, some unknow person hurled an
explosive at MIR. Bousman as he was
riding past some woods. He told his
friends of the occurrence, but they
treated the matter as a joke, and 1t
was not given serious thought until
Monday.
At special meeting of the town
council a reward of $500 was Offer
ed by the town for the capture OF
the murderer. The Governor Of the
State and the authorities Of Henry
County will be asked to duplicate
the amount 1t Is believed friends
of Bousman will offer personal re-
wards. Detectives and bloOdhounds
are expected on each train.