The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1913-10-02
CONSTABLE KING KILLED
SHERIFF DOUGLASS AND DEPUTY
ABBOTT HURT.
Posses Pursuing Wife of jim Davis,
Who Escapes After Husband Meets
Death in Glowing Embers.

McBee, Sept. 2S.-J. NJ. King, a
member of the sheriff's posse, was
shot and instantly Killed and Sheriff
D. P. Douglass and Deputy ]. R.
Abbott were painfully wounded to-
day in trying to capture James Davis,
negro deperado, who fought to
the last and is believed to have per-
ished in the ruins of the burning
house near Middenorf, this county,
where he had been besieged since
early morning. Davis wife, who aid
ed him in his defense and subse-
quently escaped, is being sought by a
posse. The end came after battle
with the negro in which many shots
were fired.
Summoned by Lester Burr, ginners'
report man for this county, who had
been fired on by the negro yesterday,
and other prominent men, the sheriff
and his deputy went to Middendorf
early to-day. Arrived there, they
found the object of their search, and
| the deputy at once demanded his
surrender.
The First Fight.
AS the officer approached the negro
whipped out his pistol and opened
fire. In the fusillade which followed
10th officers were wounded-Sheriff
Douglass in the right leg-and Dep
uty Abbott in the left hand-and the
negro, the sheriff thinks, was also
| hit.
Davis fed into his cabin nearby
and there barricaded himself. AS
sisted by his wife, he prepared for
defense. Davis house was we'll pre-
pared for a seige. The negro was
heavily armed and had quantity of
ammunition. With his wife, who had
assisted him in the first fight with
the officers, he was able to put up
desperate resistance.
Sheriff Douglass, though wounded,
remained in charge of the situation,
and went to McBee ior reinforce
ments, leaving a small party on
guard to see that the negro did not
escape.
Returned to Front.
At McBee the wounded sheriff rails
ed a posse and soon returned to the
scene ready to take the house by
storm if necessary. There were no
signs of life, and the posse began
search for the negro.
Mr.. King stopped down to look
under the house and was greeted by
shot from the negro's weapon. The
bullet took effect almost squarely be-
tween the eyes and the brave con-
stable fell dead.
Undaunted by the sudden fire, the
officers continued their efforts to
take the desperado. The house was
surroundered and then was fired, the
object being to force the negro into
the open.
The heat and smoke proved more
than Davis could stand and he dash
ed from the burning house, only to
be met by a volley of lead. Seem
ingly hard hit, he turned back and
sought shelter beneath the blazing
structure.
Covers Meath Blazing Beams.
There, hiding from the bullets OF
tie posses, the negro covered, while
the flames ate their way through the
frail building.
The roof and floor fell in; the ne
gro had not appeared. He was burn
ed to death beneath the house which
had given him refuge, while he pour
ed forth his fire at the officers is al
most certain.
Davis wife had escaped, while the
sheriff was gone, it is supposed, as
there was no trace of her when the
posse returned. A posse is now
searching for her.
]. ". King, the dead man, has been
living here for several months. He
was magistrates constable for this
district. He was married and leaves
wife and eight children.
Davis is said to have been very
bad character. 1t is believed that
he was wanted in North Carolina for
crimes committed there.