The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-06-10
LEKINGT0N'S DOUBLE TRAGEDY
j. II. BOUKNIGHT. WHITE. KILL
ED, ALLEGED SLAYER MIS-.
ING.
Cloud of Mystery Apparently E.n-
velopcs Affair - Story Circulated of
white Caps" Visiting Home of
Negro Suspected of Setting Fire to
Farmers Barn and Stables.

hoAiHSloH, June i.-Ine DOdy or
j. Pink Bouknight, the prominent
farmer Of the Shady Grove section Of
the Dutch Fork, who, it is thought,
was shot and killed at an early huor
yesterday morning, while heading a
posse of white caps" Jy Will Col
Inns, negro. was laid to rest at
Shady Grove church this aftern oon at
) o'clock, in the presence of a large
congregation of friends and rela-
tives.
VIII Collins, who did the Shooting,
has either been killed and his pody
thrown into Broad River, or he has
succeeded in making good his escape,
according to the most reliable infor-
nation obtainable from that section
today.
The first news of the death of
Bouknight reached Lexington yester-
day morning, when Coroner Bolton D.
Clark received a telephone message
stating, in effect, that ]. p. Bouknight
was dead and requesting the officers
to come over and hold an inquest. No
particulars as to how he came to his
death were given, and attaching but
little Importance to the message on
account of the meagreness of the in
formation given, the coroner ordered
Magistrate Wallace e. Lorick, of
lrmo, who lives not far, from the
scene, to hold the inquest.
Repeated efforts to get full infor-
nation as to the cause Of the death by
telephone yet proved futile, it being
understood, it is said, that no infor-
nation be given to the press. Nothing
Of the real seriousness Of the situation
was learned until the return of Depu-
ty Sheriff Miller, who was early on
the grounds yesterday.
After making the most rigid inves-
tigation Mr.. Miller was not able to
give any Of the real particulars Of
the tragedy further than that it was
reported that Bouknight had been
shot in the stomach with a shotgun
while making an effort to enter the
home Of Will Collins through win
dow. 1t seems, however, from what
can be gathered from those who will
have anything to say, (and they al
in the small minorityD that VIII Col
Inns had been accused Of burning the
barn and stables Of Joel Fulmer,
prominent young farmer Of the i'm
mediate section, and that suspicion as
To his guilt was strong.
On Monday night, it is said, a party.
the way from twenty-five to fifty arm
ed men, went to the home of Collins
and demanded that he come out, and
after being repeatedly requested to
show himself, AMI refusing to do So
ii was decided to break in the house
and j. p. Bouknight headed the way
when he had gotten into the window,
according TO the story, he was fired
upon by Collins. the entire load TAX
ing effect in the stomach.
The negro rushed for the window
and fell over the body Of the man he
had shot and as he ran off in the
darkness, with nothing but his night
clohes to protect his body, he was
fired upon by the crowd. The dep
uty sheriff traced the negro, or "a
fleeing man, at least for distance Of
II the woods, where all traces were
lost.
Opinion is divided as to the where
abouts Of the negro. but the majority
believe that he was killed and his
Doc thrown into the river to hide the
crime Others declare that the gr0ans
OF tn" dying man so frightened the
party That their attention was di-
Nertcd from the negro and that he
made his escape. One of Collins
children received wound in the
back.
The wife of Collins. it is said,
makes the statement that. she told
her husband to shoot, believing that
Sh"' together with her two children.
would all hc killed. she gathered her
two children i'm her arms and mar
AGED to make her escape in the dark
ness.