The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-10-02
SHOOTING At WAGNER,
BECAUSE OF POLITICAL QUAR-.
REL HUGH LONG SHOOTS
PICKENS GUNTER.
Details OF the Affair Are Not Clear.
Probably Caused by Political Diff
ferenceS.

WAGNER. Sept. 2S.-Tonight the
little town Of Wagener, Aiken county.
lies within the thrOes Of dlsorderly
and turbulent condition never before
experienced in its entire history. The
condition arises from the fact that
In a personal encounter this after
noon about o'clock on the business
square Of the town, Hugh Long, rep
resentative-elect from Aiken county,
shot and probably mortally wounded
Pickens Gunter, president Of the Bank
Of Wagener and one Of the county's
Oldest and most prominent citizens.
The wounded man Is a first cousin
to r. L. Gunter, who Is prosecuting
attorney for this, the Second, judicial
district
Eye-witnesses to the tragedy are
silent and suspicious and refuse to
discuss the matter. But this much is
clear. About 6 o'clock this afternoon
the two combatants who were bitter
political enemies, met in front Of the
local branch Of the Bank of Western
Carolina and bitter invectives were
hurriedly exchanged and before any
one could realize what was transpir-
Ing the two men had clashed.
A relative of the wounded man,
Ray Gunter, political friend Of
Long. rushed In and apparently en-
deavored to separate the comOatants.
And it was at this time that Pickens
Gunter was shot. Some claim that
Long shot while Pickens Gunter
was on top of him while others state
that 1t was not Long who fell to the
ground In the clinch but the two
Gunters and that Long stood of and
fred twice at the wounded man. How
ever. all witnesses agree that two
shots we're fired. The first missed;
the second found its mark. penetrat-
ing at the left and lower portion OF
the abdomen and making its exit
through the back. having passed
clearly through the body. The instru-
ment used was 3S calibre revolver.
Long then hastened from the scene,
not going to his own house. but to
that OF neighbor, where he re-
mains barricaded at this time. or the
tnt.
the matter all agree In venturing the
opinion that the difference between
the two mon arose from a peculiar
and strained political situation which
has been existing In this county and
particularly in this section for some
time
Briefly two men from Wagener
Hugh Long and ]. c. Lester Busbee.
were in the race for house Of repre-
sentatives. The lines were closely
drawn in the immediate vicinity.
The factionalism was bitter and per-
sonalities were INDUCED In indiscrimi-
nately. The election Of Long In the
second primary famed the hatred to
an unbelievable degree and Long was
sent numerous messages wherein his
life was threatened in the event that
ne should return to Wagener. his
home. But upon the election In the
third primary Of last Tuesday Of Mr..
Busbee, Long feeling himself safe
ventured to return. All this afternoon
the trouble was precipitated.
Sheriff T. r. Raborn was wired at
Aiken Of the trouble and urged to
come to Wagener at once. He, accom-
panied by two rural policemen. Mus
coe Samuels and S. f. Holley and a
newspaper man who was sworn In as
special deputy hastily left Aiken
In an automobile arriving here about
80 O'Clock.
And when the posse arrived here
they encountered a condition with
which they were absolutely unable to
cope Numerous groups OF dissatisfied
people stood murmuring. At intervals
firearms would be discharged and the
more timid Onlokcrs skurried for
places OF shelter. The local police
are unable to abolish this nuisance
and the officers from Aiken are ap-
parcntly resigned to this lesser OF the
two evils. Long can't he moved. The
threat has been openly made that if
he Is taken from the house in which
he has concealed himself he will be
taken from the officers and shot into
mincc meat. 1t has been sworn that
Long will be lynchcd.