Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1913-04-30
CHESTER VETERAN MURDERED.
Object Supposed to Have Been Rob-
bery-NO Clues Yet.

Chester, April 25.-John Q. Lewis,
an old Confederate soldier, was MUIR
dered at his home, three miles west
Of Cornwell, in this county, last
night the motive evidently being
robbery, as watch and pistol be-
longing to the deceased were miss
ing. This morning the murder was
discovered by James Dove, farm
hand, when he went to the house to
perform morning chores, and the
alarm was spread hurriedly through
the neighborhood. Sheriff Colvin
and deputies arrived on the scene
early, but a vigorous search has not
yet resulted in the apprehension of
the assassin.
1t was at first thought that it
might have been a case of suicide,
but the finding Of two wounds, one
in the side and the other in the
back, discounted this theory and the
coroner's jury brought in verdict
OF death at the hands of some un-
known party.
Authorities Bafiled.
Chester April 26.--Sheriff Colvin
and Deputy Sheriff Binderman and
Coroner GLADDEN. have arrived in the
S0
murder of John Lewis. A strong eff
fort was made to get line on the
criminal that so foully killed this
prominent old soldier and well
known planter, but the sheriff and
his deputy were baffled at every
turn. The shooting was unquestion-
ably done with double-barrel shot
gun. The only such gun that could
be discovered in that vicinity was the
one owned by the deceased. Sheriff
Colvin examined 1t most minutely,
but 1t registered no signs of having
been fired recently.
The murder has stirred up this
section of the county in a way that it
has not been in years. The cold
bloodedness OF the tragedy has stun
ned many OF the people. Nothing
will be left undone in an effort to ap-
prehend the murderer.
James Dove, who made the fires
for Mr., Lewis, carried key similar
to the one carried by the deceased,
and the night Of the murder, il Is al
legged, sat up with him until asshort
while before the two gunshots were
shear ar6ls shss ~ "a neigh hQr, ) j "a. Lee. who
lives a short distance away. Dove,
rather ignorant white man, so it
Is said, was the first arrival the next
morning.
When Dove found that his en-
pioyer had been murdered on his ar
rival early this morning, he made
haste to tell Mr.. Lee, the neighbor,
who, along with his son, Immediately
repaired to the Lewis home. Thence
Dove was dispatched to notify Mag
istrate Cassels, who in turn phoned
for the sheriff and the coroner.
A jury was empanelled by the cor
oner, but as there were no witnesses
no evidence could be adduced fur
ther than that the deceased met his
death by being shot twice with a
double-barreled shotgun.
About six years ago it is said that
Mr.. Lewis, from some misunder-
standing, separated from his wife
and children and that they have not
lived together since. He has lived
alone. From time to time he has had
large sums of money in his house.
Several hcndred dollars, his watch
and revolver were stolen last night
There was $40 in another purse,
which the murderer failed to get.
This $40 was in a coat hanging on
the wall. r..
Sheriff Colvin made a careful sur
vey Of the porch and the walk lead
ing out from 1t to see If he could
gather some evidence from the size
Of the footprints of the criminal, but
the ground was so hard nothing
could be seen.