The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1911-01-26
SLAYER OF Y0UA6 GIRL uAGUISHIAG
IN JAIL.
Was FORMERLY An OFFICER
Jco Bates the Former Spaztanburg
Policeman Loses His Appeal TO
Supreme Court and VIII
Hang. Hair and Besfd
Turned White.

I
murder of Docia Bioter, pretty
young girl, will hang. unless unfor-
seen events arise in the case. The
Supreme Court Of South Carolina
has upheld the decision OF the Cir
cult Court Of Spartanburg county
and has ordered that the latter
court set a new date for the execu-
tion Of Bates.
! Given a speedy trial in Spartan
burg county and convicted. Bates.
through his attorney, the Hon.
Stanyarne Wilson, carried the mat
ter to the highest courts and his
case has been pending since the ap-
peal was taken. Finally this has
been disposed of and the dawn of
the morning when he will walk up
on the gallows is staring the pris-
oner in the face, and, it is said, is
fast driving reason from his mind.
Story OF the Crime.
The crime committed by Bates
was considered the most atrocious.
brutal and heartless murder IN the
| records of the courts of this coun-
| ty, and he has received little SYM
| pathy from any quarter. Joe Bates
! was married man when he first
met his victim, and few men had n
better wife than had Joe Bates. Be
coming greatly infatuated by this
affinity, Docia Boiter, who had en-
, hfe. 90
own legal wife and the two soon
became parted. From this time
throughout the following eighteen
months Docia Boiter and Joe Bates
lived together. Their household
was apparently q hapy one during
the first part OF this life, and TIE
two seemed to be devoted friends.
AS time passed the girl grew old
er and the love OF Bates for her
grew less warm, il seemed, and
trouble was not usually in this il
legal founded home. Bates was
tried in police court in this city on
two separate occasions. charged with
beating the girl. who at one time
whom he lived as man and wife.
The first occasion the defendant
was fined $50 for whipping his wife,
and one the second the amount Of
the fine was doubled.
The Girl Malries
Soon the girl became tired of the
life she was leading and desire to
stop it entered her mind. A young,
industrious and energetic farmer
from near this city came into her
life, and after knowing him n short
while Docia married ]. b. Boiter.
He took the girl away from Joe
Gates and carried her 10 his own
little home on a farm where the two
were happy. Bates brooded greatly
over her taking away and was liv-
ing alone at little house in this
city. A month passed and on a Sun
day morning. August 80. 1903 came
into the city to spend the day with
friends. Going to their home.
which was next to the ones where
the girl and Bates had lived togeth- !
or Off eighteen months, they in
tended taking dinner
Learning OF her presence in the
city, however, insane jealousy enter /
ed the heart of Joe Bates and he
went to the house where the girl !
was. Calling her TO one side he
talked to her for several minutes. |
What was said in this conversation |
will never be known. Others heard !
her pleading with the man to leave |
her and finally she walked away. |
leaving him standing alone on the
'front.' porch of the little house.
He followed her and at close
range pulled his pistol from his
pocket and fired three times, in
stantly killing her whom he had
left his own and legal wife. He was
placed In the county Jail. tried. con-
victed and sentenced to hang. Boi-
ter went back to his farm, where he
has since lived, and the body of the
woman was quietly buried.
The Man, Joe Bates.
Prior to shooting this woman,
Joe Bates was a policeman in this
CITY, and was dreaded by every ne
gro in town. while the white popu-
lation held him in the highest es-
TEEN. He was great detective and
over SO per cent who we're arrest
ed in this city during the time that
he was on the police force were ar
rested by Bates. He knew every
negro In town and possessed a great