Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-10-15
SOUTH CAROLINA NEWS.

SOUTH CAROLINA NEWS.
- Gaffney special OF October Is, to
the Charlotte Observer: Coroner ]. s.
Sfnesett received information from the
Gowdeysville section of the county
this afternoon that a young white man
named Blackwood had been acci-
dentaily shot and killed by his cousin.
The two young men, who were both
about 20 years Of age, were out hunt
ing at the time Of the accident shortly
after dinner. Blackwood handed his
gun to his cousin to hold, and while
,, In his hand II discharged. A physician
was summoned from Gaffney, but be-
fore he reached the scene the young
man was dead. The name OF the
cousin cannot be ascertained. Before
ne died Blackwood made a statement
that the shooting was purely acct
dental, and that no blame was at
tached to his cousin. In view of this
statement the coroner decided that no
inquest was necessary.
-Governor Blease was the euest M
mis- Charleston friends to the number
OF about 1000 at the Schuetzenfiatz
last Friday night AS q token of es-
TEEN he was presented with an expen-
sive diamond ring, the presentation
speech being made by Joseph From
berg and appropriately replied to by
the governor. The governors speech
was addressed particularly to CHARLES
ton, which he recognizes as differing
from the balance Of the state In cer-
tain particulars. He took occasion TO
say that he had never intended the
charleston people to understand that
ne was going to punish them II they
voted against him. On the contrary.
ne was glad to say that he was too
much Of man for anything IKE thai I
1t was his purpose to continue the
policy with regard to Charleston that
he had pursued heretofore, and that
poilcy was to leave Charleston to en-
JOY q full measure Of self-government.
he did not mean by that that lawless-
ness was to be tolerated; but he
recognized that Charleston conditions
were peculiar, and he felt sure the
people could be trusted to do what
was best for themselves. He said that
although majority had come out of
the Charleston boxes against him, II
was not the same majority that went
IN those boxes. He urged the people
70 turn out and give George Legare a
dig majority 30 as to guard against
tne success OF a possible contest, and
SAID that while he thought the Demo-
Gratis would have been wiser had they
nominated Harmon at Baltimore. still
Wilson should be supported as the
Democratic nominee. He made It clear
that In the distribution Of favors, in
Guiding appointments, he would always
prefer men who had supported him.
when 1t came to matters Of duty he
stood ready to do Justice regardless of
now man voted. The governor was
applauded throughout his speech. Az
ter the close Of the speaking the bal
ance OF the evening was spent In dane
ing.
Ganney special Of October 13 to
the Greenville News: Shortly after
midnight last night, a posse of Gaffney
men headed by Sheriff Thomas and
Chief OF Police Lockhart, waged a
pitched battle with four convicts from
tne Spartanburg county chaingang.
In the encounter Arthur Hopper.
well known young white man OF the
city and a member OF the posse was
seriously injured by a shot from the
convicts while Earle Coleman, a con-
vict was shot by Chief Lockhart and
George Fleming, another convict, was
shot by some other member of the
posse. The convicts made their es-
cape from the chaingang yesterday at
noon, from the Pacolet mills, by over
powering the guard and taking his
pistol away. They were lead by Ellis
Sampson. One Of the convicts vol
unfairly returned to the chaingang.
A message was 'phoned out to sheriffs
Of all the surrounding counties and
last night about o'clock Sheriff w.
w. Thomas began the formation of
his posse. Accompanied by Deputy
Sheriffs Henry Lockhart and Joe
Watkins, Rural Policeman Byars,
Chief Of Police T. II. Lockhart and
Citizens Derbin Jones, John Spencer
and Arthur Hopper, he started out on a
search for the convicts. On the Union
road in the eastern part Of the city
about one mile from town, the posse
separated, each officer taking a sep
arate road. When Hopper was riding
near Sangsing's store he observed the
four convicts crouched behind bush.
Alighting from his horse he advanced
towards them, when one Of them shot,
the bullet taking effect In the groin.
notwithstanding the fact that he was
seriously injured, Hopper grappled
with one OF the negroes and threw him
to the ground, holding him there until
the arrival Of the officers. When they
reached the scene, the other negroes
were fleeing and Chief of Police Lock-
hart shot Coleman in the body. The
two prisoners were brought to the
county Jail, while Mr.. Hopper was car
ried to his home by DIR. ]. c. Pittman.
The physician states that Hopper will
probably recover, while 1t is assured
that the negro convict shot by Chief
Lockhart will die. Hardware stores In
the city were opened up last night and
armed men sent all over the country
to search for the two convicts still at
large. The search was kept up all
last night but no trace was obtained
until this morning. Rural Policeman
Byars with Special Deputy Lloyd Aus
tell were searching the woods when
Mr.. Austell came upon George Flem-
ing. The negro surrendered without
struggle and was brought in to the
county Jail, where 1t was discovered
that he too had been shot last night,
the bullet taking effect in his leg.
It was stated that the fourth man, Mil
ler, is now surrounded a few miles
from the city and will soon be cap
tured. A large force of men have
been sent to the scene and every ef-
fort is being made to definitely as
certain II the suspect is the negro
wanted. There was only one weapon
in the crowd Of convicts and when
Fleming was captured this morning he
had it. 1t is therefore presumed that
he is the man who shot Mr.. Hopper.
The negro still at large Is Ellis Samp-
son, who was the leader of the party
and it is expected that a desperate
battle will take place when an effort
Is made to capture him. DR.. ]. N.
Nesbitt. county physician. operated on
Coleman this morning and states that
the bullet passed entirely through
him. He will probably not last through
the day.