The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1912-03-20
The Hudsou-Baker Difficulty

Owing to the interest in this county
in the deplorable shooting which oc'
cured in kiDgstree last week, both
parties being Clarendon men, we repro
duce from the kingstree Record the
!accoun. OF the shooting. Messrs- Baker
and Hudson are originally from the
New Zion section of this county and
both men are Of good repute and large
family connections Ever since the un-
! fortunate shooting there has been au
anxiety throughout the county for the
stricken man, as well as sympathy for
the Young man who did the shooting.
The quiet and serenity of kingstree
was sadly interrupted on Monday after
noon about $50 O'Clock as the news OF a
shooting affair spread over the little
Town 10 the effect that Mr.. j. G. Hud-
son had shot and seriously wounded his
former business partner, Mr.. W. T.
Baker, in the Office of their livery
stable. at the rear OF court house square.
The cause of the shooting, if there be
any cause at all, was brought about
over the paltry sum OF S24.00 which
HUDSON claimed Baker was due him OFT
of earnings by certain horse which
was boarder in the stable, ana used IN
the livery business by Hudson. It seems
that this was business matter between
Mr.. Huos son and Mr.. O. Il. Patrick, 10
whom the horse belonged, and over
which Mr.. Baker had taken no jurlsdlc'
ton.
The livery business OF Hudson &
Baker was established here sometime
ago BY y. O. Hudson and W. P. Baker,
they having bought out the business OF
". P. Hawkins. Several months ago
Mr.. Hudson died, and his son. J. G.:
Hudson, came here 10 take charge OF
his fathers interests in the business.
The affairs OF the old firm we're settled
up by Mr.. Baker, but no accounting or
inventory of the stock was made until
last week, when it was found that Mr..
Hudson had little Or no balance to his
credit in the business, which was moth
ing more than ne expected, and the
settlement between himself and Mr..
Baker was satisfactorily effected, and
good friendship apparently existed be-
tween them.
About 5 o'clock Monday afternoon Mr..
Hudson went to the Office in the stable
where Mr.. Baker and Mr.. Jas. Adams
were engaged at the desk. Mr.. Hadson
took q position at the desk to the left OF
Mr.. Adams, thus placing the latter be-
tween the two. Mr.. Hudson said to Mr..
Baker that there was S24.00 due over
and above the amount OF its board on
the Patrick horse which should be PAID
TO him. Mr.. Baker replied that this
was a matter entirely between himself
and Mr.. Patrick and that he had sup
posed it settled, as nothing was said
about it in the settlement OF the CO.
partnership business, but that he would
think it over and if there was anything
Hudson he would pay him. where
upon Hudson cursed Baker, who step
ped back from the desk and endeaTored
to reply when Hudson drew revolver
from his hip pocket and fired, the ball
entering Mr.. Bakers left side just
under the arm pit, presumably ccursing
towards the spinal column.
The direct conversation leading up
to, and the shooting itself occurred so
quickly that Mr.. Adams did not have
time to interfere, although as Mr..
Baker stepped back he noticed Hudson
throw his hand to his hip, and wheeled
around on his stool. Mr.. Adams threw
out his hand just in time to receive
powder burn from the weapon. Mr..
Baker fell to the floor, while Hudson
walked out OF the Office and to the
sheritf's office in the court house, where
he Immediately gave himself over to
the custody OF Sheriff Graham, who
placed him in jail.
Drs. Jacobs and Scott attended Mr.
Baker, who was taken to Charleston
Tuesday night. While the wound is Of
a serious nature, it is not thought to be
fatal.
Both men were held in high esteem
here, and this affair, seemingly quite
uncalled for, has caused much surprise.
and regret.
Physically, there is no comparison
between the two men, as Mr.. Baker is
much older and has for sometime been
in6rm.
In reply to questions by the writer
Mr.. Baker said he had never had the
least trouble with Mr.. Hudson in any
way and had not anticipated any as
result of their settlement; that Hudson's
action in shooting him was surprise
and altogether unexpected and uncall-
ed for.