The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1912-09-19
A TERRIBLE TRAGEDY.
h-E
W. Paul Riley Shot and Killed by G.
Moye Dickinson.

NO uOuDI IAS ulooI o"Aoi OLA
heart-rending tragedy which has ever
happened in Bamberg was that which
occurred last Thursday. night about
eleven o'clock, when 31r. W.; Paul
Riley was shot to death by Mr.. G..
Moye Dickinson.
The two men were representatives
of the most prominent and influential
families of the town and both stood
high in social as we'll as business cir
cles, Mr.. Riley being cashier of the
Peoples bank, and Mr.. Dickinson
manager Of the local cotton oil mill.
r They had. not been on friendly
terms for severafyears and it is hard
to imagine what induced Mr.. Riley
to visit the premises of Mr.. Dickin-
son at such an hour of the night. He
was not a drinking man and had been
seen on Main street only about one
hour before the tragedy occurred and
at that time he was in his usual jo-
vial and happy mood. Some think
he must have suddenly become men
tally unbalanced and while in that
condition wandered into the premi-
ses, where he was killed.
The whole community is deeply
grieved over the unfortunate affair."
for there were few men in Bamberg
more universally loved and respected
than w. Paul Riley and his slayer.
Mrs. Riley and little son, Jeffer-
son. were spending the summer at
Hendersonville N. c., with her par
ents, all of whom were notified at
once and came home on the first
train.
Mr.. Dickinson surrendered to the
sheriff Immediately after the Shoot
ing, his residence being. next door to
the iail, and he remained in th6cus-
tody of the officers until his attor-
neys, Mayfeld & Free, appeared be-
fore Judge H. F. Rice at Aiken On
Saturday morning, who granted bail
in the sum of $4,000, and Mr.. Dick
inson at once gave bond, which was
about nine o'clock Saturday morn
ing. Solicitor Gunter represented
the State at the inquest and before
Judge Rice when the application for
bail was made. The coroner's jury
rendered formal verdict, merely
that Mr.. Riley came to his death from
a gun shot wound at the hands of Mr..
Dickinson.
The body was found in the lot OF
Mr.. Dickinson, and death must have
occurred instantly. Persons who
heard the shots rushed to the scene
and found Mr.. Riley lying on his
face with a gun shot wound in the
back of the head and one in the
shoulder. The weapon used was a
breech loading shot gun.
No happening since we have been
resident of Bamberg has been so
much discussed nor has caused such
shock to the people of the town
and community. Both parties are
popular and prominent, and the sin
cere sympathy of all goes out to the
families of all concerned. Mrs.
Riley and Mrs. Dickinson are first
cousins, Mr.. Riley married Miss Kath-
leen Copeland, daughter of Mr.. and
Mrs. J. D. Copeland, and she and one
son about eleven years old survive
him.
Personally the editor of this news
paper feels this tragedy as much as
any man in Bamberg. Both parties
were our good friends, and we can
never forget the many acts of cour-
tesy and kindness shown us by Paul
Riley as we'll as Mr.. Dickinson. God
knows we would have given anything
in our power to have averted such
tragedy. We publish below the state
ment of Mr.. Dickinson, made in ap-
plying for bail, and the testimony
given at the coroner's inquest by Mrs.
Dickinson, their little daughter, Re-
becca, and Miss Eolia Leighton, who
was visitor in the Dickinson home
that night. This is all the official
record so far:
Dickinson's Statement.
Personally appeared before me G.
NJ. Dickinson, defendant in the above
entitled action (of the State VS.. G.
NJ. Dickinson) who, being duly
sworn, deposes and says:
THAT on the night of September
12, 1912, he carried his little son to
vaudeville show in the town Of
Bamberg, S. c., and returned there
from at about 10 o'clock at night.
going to his home situated in the
county and State aforesaid, on the
intersection of two streets within the
corporate limits of the town of Bam-