Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1913-12-10
BARNwELL MERCHANT IS SHOT.
e. Peyton Best Killed on Streets Ny
Uaknown Party.

Barnwell, Dec. Be. p. Best.
prominent merchantlof this city, was
shot and almost instantly killed to-
night as he was walking down Wall
street. The tragedy occurred within
few feet of the court house at 9.15
O'Clock. 1t is not known who did the
shooting. The officers suspect that
1t was the work of negroes, and be-
fore midnight at least fifteen were
rounded up on suspicion.
Mr.. Best had been in a restaurant
eating and had just walked out on
the street. Two shots were fired,
but only one of them took effect. The
ball entered the back, passing
through the body. The wounded
would have fallen, but was caught by
Vince Dunbar and Arthur Harden,
two young white men, who happened
to be standing in the door of a pool
room at the time Of the shooting.
These young men took Mr.. Best in
and laid him down. He gasped that
he had been shot, and died.
The coroner was summoned, jury
empanelled, the body viewed and the
inquest adjourned until tomorrow
morning. In the meantime the re-
mains were removed to the home of
the deceased. Bloodhounds were Sc
cured, but up to tonight they were
unable to pick up trail.
Mr.. Best was a married man, about
SO years of age. He leaves wife
and five children.
Wholesale LyDching Threatened.
Columbia, Dec. 4.-Angered at
1,n Ii inp Nf ~ ID
inent merchant Of Barnwell, a mob
Of determined white men formed this
morning bent on lynching some 40
negroes who had been arrested
charged with the killing, according
to long distance telephone message
from Senator Paterson, of Barnwell
to Governor Blease. A mob, with
set faces and heavily armed, we're
making ominous preparations, ac-
cording to the report.
Governor Blease ordered the mill
tary company at Barnwell under
arms. 10 it's captain, Umile Harley,
he wired: Assemble your company
and do what is necessary to preserve
peace"
The situation is tense.
| Rush Negroes to Pen.
/ IL,
| arrested this morning for the alleg |
murder of e. p. Best, and Mitchell
Stroy and Gilbert Miller, held as ac-
cessories before and after the fact,
are being taken by automobile to the
State penitentiary at Columbia. Feel
ing against the negroes has been
running high, but it was not neces-
sary to call out the militia to pre-
vent lynching, as was enormously
| reported earlier in the day
There was a corOner's inquest held
this morning over the body of Best,
and 1t was brought out that Madison
| did the killing, with the two being
accessories before and after the fact.
According to the evidence, Mr.. Best
was leaving his store when negro
got in his way. AS he pushed him
out OF the WAY a sodawater bottle
was thrown at Mr.. Bests head. He
thought Madison did it and asked
him about It, "No; that niger 60
ing down the street threw at you,"
said Madison. Mr.. Best started af-
ter the negro going down the street
and when he got few feet from
Madison the latter fired one shot
striking him in the back. The bullet
penetrated the heart and Mr.. Best
died almost instantly. Only one shot
was fired.
AS soon as Best fell Madison and
the other negroes scattered and II
was not until daybreak this morning
that they were caught.
1t is very probable that the grand
jury will be summoned and tria
held Immediately, as it is thought
this is the only way lynching can be
| prevented