The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1913-02-07

Mr. hoDC. ~. coleman, one OF the
county's most highly respected ciki,
zens, was shot to death by an assss-
sin Friday evening about z O'clock.
Mr.. Coleman, who was sixty-s5x
years of age, had returned to Ms
home late in the afternoon from
Jonesville, which is about two milhs
distant, and was sitting before the
fire reading The Union Times, which
had been taken from the office that
day. The missives of death can3b
crashing through the window, shats
tering the glass and entering tJ)e
face, neck and right hand of ne
murdered man. Mr.. Coleman liVR1
about twelve hours after the s. b,
but did not regain consciousnerS
Harry Coleman, aged 80 years, a s3n
of the dead man, has been arrested
upon the charge of having commit
ted the dastardly crime. An inqu1bt
was held Saturday afternoon and Ne
verdict was that the deceased cane
to his death from a gunshot wound
in the hands of Harry Coleman.S
The tragedy has well-nigh dazed
the peaceable and peace-loving citir
zens in and around Jonesville Tor
Mr.. Coleman was held in high esteem
by everybody. He was noted as an
honorable, .truth-loving and upiriht
man, God-fearing man. Every6he
who knew him feels q personal G1ef
because of his untimely and inhuml b
taking-off. Many. were heard to %
"If he had an enemy in tho wcj 3;
/ never heard Of it, gS,s .
He was jealous Of his xeputstioa
Efor honesty, having Son one QcSaSiox
endorsed Tor s6ihe lf1 an iii}fS
took all the money he had tosdo it.
He was frugal, Industrious and eco
nomical. He owned good farm, said
to contain about two hundred acres
His modest, two-story home situated
on this farm, was built upon the
very banks of a creek, and upon a
peninsular formed by small branch
which emptied into this creek. In
ed hills. The whole place is pictur-
esque and reposeful. 1t reminds one
of mountaineer's home nesting in
between the hills and with the near
by stream so sure to be found in
such retreats. 1t was in such sur
roundings in the early evening hours,
and while the owner of the home was
sitting before the fire, a small table
upon his right holding lamp, and
without any warning whatsoever,
that the sudden boom of the gun was
heard and the good man fell with the
blood gushing from fifty horrible
wounds.
Mr.. Coleman had living with him
his neice, Miss Lizzie Coleman, and
his son, Harry Coleman. At the time
of the tragedy there was no other
occupant of the house, Miss Lizzie
having gone to a neighbor's house
about 200 yards away, and Harry
was supposed not to have returned
from a trip to Jonesville?
Mr.. Coleman had one other son,
Roland, who left here for the West
several years ago, and who is sup
posed to have died. His wife passed
away about three years ago. The
blacksmith shop, referred to in the
testimony at the Coroner's inquest,
and which is given below, is located
about 100 yards from the house.
Mr.. Coleman leaves one brother,
Mr.. w. G. Coleman, the only survi-
vor of family of twelve children.
Sheriff FAINT was notified of the
tragedy about 11:3O o'clock Friday
night, and with Deputy Colson, by
30 o'clock Saturday morning, was
upon the scene of the murder having
gone through by automobile imme-
diately upon hearing the news. Blood
hounds from the state penitentiary
were brought up Saturday morning
and put upon the supposed trail of
the assassin. These dogs finally
came to Harry Coleman, singing
him out in the midst of the crowd.
He was then sent off into the woods
and told to climb tree, the dogs in
the meantime being kept out of
sight, and behind the house. They
were then led around and allowed
to pass over his trail diagonally.
They took up the trail and went di-
rectly to the tree into which Harry
Coleman had climbed.
After Harry Coleman was lodged