The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-11-26
BLOODY BATTLE FOLLOWS
HOLD-UP OF MAGISTh t.TE
CONTINUED FROM PAGE u.
denced by the fact that he fell to his
knees at the second or third shot.
Held Up in Road.

denced by the fact that he fell to his
knees at the second or third shot.
Held Up in Road.
About 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon
P B. Ellesor was returning from
Prosperity alone in his buggy when he
was accosted by two negroes, who
asked the white man for chew OF to-
bacco. When the farmer stopped the
negroes drew their pistols, one ap-
preaching from each side Of the bug
gy, and demanded that the white man
give up his cash. At the point OF the
pistol Mr.. Ellesor was forced to turn
over about $25, all the money that he
had in his possession: After robbing
Mr.. Ellesor the negroes forced him to
leave the buggy and the two highway
men took possession of the buggy and
horse and drove off down the road.
The negroes drove the animal to a
point near Pomaria, it is said, when
thew deserted the horse ana buggy,
leaving it beside the roadway, where
it was later found.
The Alarm Sounded.
Mr.. Ellesor gave the aalrm as soon
as possible and the officers at New
berry were notified. The citizens of
Peak were notified Of the occurrence,
and were asked to be on the lookout
for the negroes About 7.3O o'clock
an engine pulled up to the depot, and
those who were on the watch for the
suspects noticed two negroes riding
on the tender. The negroes were ac-
costed, and it is said opened fire on
the party, ]. T. Gallagher, foreman OF
construction gang of the Southern
railway, was the first. to receive a
shot from the negroes, ball having
pierced his shoulder, lodging in the
neck, near the jugular vein. James E.
Epting, a farmer, received bullet in
the left arm. When the negroes open
ed fire on the party of citizens the
shots were returned.
Escaped to River.
One of the negroes ran toward the
river and was seen to fail to his knees, !
the other ran through the streets OF
Peak with his pistol in his hand and
was fired on by his pursuers. The
negro ran for short distance, when
he fell to the ground as he attempted (
to cross a ditch, pistol ball having
entered his hip, passing through the
body and came out in the abdomen.
He was lodged in the guardhouse,
where he was kept until 10 o'clock this
morning, when he died.
Officers On Scene
At II o'clock last nightN NSheriff Mil
Ter was aroused from his slumbers by
telephone call, telling him of the
occurrence. The Lexington officer, Sc
curing an automobile, left at once for
the scene. He arrived at Peak about
2 o'clock this morning and found a
large party of citizens, the news of the
hold-up of Mr.. Ellesor and the shoot
ing that followed having spread over
the community like wild fire in sage
field. Sheriff Buford, Of NeWberry, had
been on the scene, but had returned to-
his home. Sheriff Miller made an in
vestigation and traced the missing
negro to a point near the river. Mes
sages were sent by the Lexington Of
fcer to all railroad points to be on
the lookout for the culprit.
Negro Denied Guilt.
The injured negro was interviewed
by the sheriff, and gave his name as
Richard Sparks and his home as Flor
ence. He said that his companions
name was John Brown. To Gthe last
Sparks denied that he and Brown had
held up the white man. Mr.. Ellesor,
however, identified the dead negro as
being one of his assailants.
Magistrate ]. H. Frick, of Chaplin,
held an inquest over the dead body of
the negro this afternoon, the jury
bringing in a verdict that the negro
came to his death by gunshot wounds
at the hands of unknown parties.