The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1912-10-11
ATLANTA VICE COMMISSION
ORDERS SPEEDY CLEANUP
NEWBERRY KILLING
STILL A MYSTERY,

Ne"peTTy, ocC. S.-WlCn 4S hours
passed since Spurgeon Johnson met
his death by shooting while seated
in his home in Moon township, 1S
miles west of Newberry, the mystery
surrounding the tragedy is as deep.
and impenetrable as it was when first
the Mortified spectators-Mr. John
sons wife, child and a woman rel
ative-rushed from their house and
bore the news. There is no clue to
the identity of the assassin; no sign
by which the murderer may be traced.
The coroner's jury returned verdict
that he had come to his death at the
hands of unknown parties. Dogs
found the track of the slayer, but
lost it at the point where the fleeing
assassin mounted a mule and rode
away.
The tragedy was enacted in re-
mote section of the county about 8:2O
Monday night. Mr.. Johnson was sit
ting in his room writing. A charge
of shot tore through the window, and
Mr.. Johnson fell dead. That the
muzzle of the gun was close to the
unfortunate man is evidenced by the
failure of the shot to spread. The
charge went into the side of the head,
making one large hole.
Mr.. Johnson dropped his head on
the table and then fell from his chair
onto the floor. Death was instan-
taneous. In the room at the time were
Mrs. Johnson and their little son
about seven years of age and a woman
relative of the family. There was
no telephone at the house and none
for several miles away. The nearest
neighbors were aroused, and they
spread the news of the tragedy, and
by midnight large crowd had gath
cred, which continued to increase dur
ing the night and after daylight.
For some reason suspicion fixed on
Will Thomas, negro, who lived in
the neighborhood. He was found, but
he proved that at the time the killing
occurred he was possum hunting
with several white men. He had car
ried his. gun with him on the hunt,
but had not shot it, and another gun
he owned and had lent to some one
else was produced, and it has not been
shot either. Then some of the crowd
suspected that Nose Hailstock, a ne
gro might have been the man, because
that day Mr.. Johnson, who had been
furnishing Hailstock, had sent his
wagon to Hailstock's rented farm and
got his cotton to pay his debt. When
Hailstock was named a party went
to his home nearby. They say when
they knocked for admittance it was
refused, and that they were fired
on from within the house and return
ed the fire, shooting Os Atcrism and
his son, aged 16. Neither was Sc
riously wounded. 1t is not thought
that Hailstock was at home that night
for he had recently returned from
hospital, where he had been operated
on, and was being treated at Cross
Hill by local physician. Then sus.
picion turned to John and Lee Jayne,
negroes, John living near the John
son home and Lee at Belfast, ten
miles distant, but no evidence was
found that either had anything to do
with the killing.
Sheriff Buford was notified of the
killing shortly before midnight and
started at once for the scene in an au.
tomobile, reaching there in an hour
or so and remaining in the neighbor-
hood trying to feret the matter out
until today about noon, when he re-
turned to town and then went back
this afternoon to continue his search.
He has the help also of Rural Police
men Peterson and Villains, but so far
they have no clue.