The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1912-10-31
LESTER GUNTER SLAIN.
Shot and Almost Instantly Killed by
Levi Gunter.

Lexington, Oct. 2S.-Lester Cunt
er, young white man Of the Stead
man section of this county, was shot
and almost instantly killed in the
public road about dark last night by
| Levi Gunter, his third cousin. The
tragedy occurred in front of the
home of Levi Gunter, and five shots
were fired. A bullet from a 3S-cali-
bre revolver entered the side, rang
ing upward and lodged about two
inches below the nipple, causing in
slant death.
From the evidence adduced at the
coroner's inquest this morning and
from what can be learned from the
accused, it seems that the trouble
had it's origin about week ago,
when, it is claimed, Lester Gunter
and two or three companies went to
the home of Ed. Gunter, father of
Levi Gunter, and acted in very un-
gentlemanly manner in the presence
of the sisters of Levi Gunter. The
trouble was renewed at the Baptist
church at Steadman yesterday and,
according to the statement of Levi
Gunter, he was attacked by seven
young men. Levi Gunter says that
he ran, being unarmed. Lester
Gunter was in the party, all of whom
were under the influence of whiskey.
Last night Lester Gunter, Glover
Hall, and Clinton Corley, in a bug
gy, drove by the home of Levi
Gunter.
Glover Hall testified that when
they were about in front of Levi
Gunter's house Lester Gunter said:
Boys, believe will see if he wants
to shoot" and gave three yells. At
this juncture, Hall said, Levi Gunter
came to the door of his house and
fired four or five times. None of
the party in the buggy returned the
tance Lester Gunter said that he
was shot, and he expired few min
utes later. The two companions car
ried the body of Lester Gunter to
the home of his brother, four miles
distant, where the inquest was held
this morning. The testimony of the
other young man who was with Les
ter .Gunter at the time of the shoot
ing is substantially the same as
Halls.
Levi Gunter, according to his
statement, did not know that any
one was injured until he reached
Leesville with his father this morn
ing, and was apprised of the fact by
some friends who had seen Sheriff
Miller and Coroner B. D. Clarke
pass through on their way to hold
the inquest. The young man board
ed the first train and came to Lex
ington and gave himself up at the
Jail. He does not hesitate to talk
about the crime, although he was
very visibly affected. He said that
he shot in self-defense; that the
young men in the buggy stopped
in front of his home, began to
curse and make all kinds of
threats. He said that they told
him that he would either have
to shoot or be killed. At the time
the buggy drove to his home he said
that he was sitting around the fire.
side with his wife nursing his two
year-old child He said that when
he went to the door he believed that
he was going to be instantly shot,
and that in defense of his own life
he began to fire. He heard nothing
further and did not know that he
had injured anyone until this morn
ing.
Levi Gunter has employed the law
firm of Efrd & Dreher to defend
him, and it is likely that an appll-
cation for bail will be made as soon
as the papers can be arranged. He
is about 80 years old and has a wife
and one child.
Lester Gunter was about 19 years
of age and unmarried.
The dead man is a son of James V.
Gunter, and his relatives have Sc
cured the services of E. l.. Asbill, OF
Leesville, to assist in the prosecution
of the case.
Butts Convicts Eat 5000 Lbs. Fish.
Jackson, Ca, Oct. 2S.-The Butts