The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-10-01
DEPUTY DEAD; NEGRO BURNED

j. vi. KING SHOT TO DEATH AT
MIDDENDORF IN EFFORT
TO ARREST DESPERATE.
Posses Pursue Wife of James Davis.
Who Escapes After Husband
Meets Death i'm Glowing Embers Of
His Home.
McBee, Sept 28.-J. NJ King, a
member of the sheriff's posse, was
shot and instantly killed and Sheriff
ID. p. Douglas and Deputy j. r.
Abbott were painfully wounded to-
day in trying to capture James Davis
negro desperate, who fought to
the last and is believed to have per-
ished in the ruins of the burning
house near MiddendOrf, Chesterfield
county, where he had been besieged
since early morning Davis wife, who
quently escaped, is being sought by Il
posse. The end came after a 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 today. Arrived there, they
found the object of their search, and
the deputy at once demanded his
surrender.
AS the officer approached the negro
whipped out his pistol and opened
fire. In the fusillade which followed
both officers were wounded-Sheriff
Douglas i'm the right leg and Deputy
Abbott in the left hand-and the ne
gro. the sheriff thinks, was also hit.
Davis fled into his cabin nearby
and there barricaded himself AS
sisted by his wife, he prepared for
defense. Davis house was well pre-
pared for a siege. The negro was
heavily armed and had n quantity of
ammunition. With his wife, who had
assisted him i'm the first fight with
the officers, he was able to put up u
desperate resistance.
Sheriff Douglas, though wounded,
remained in charge of the situation,
and went to McBee for reinforce.
ments, leaving small party on
guard to see that the negro did not
escape.
At McBee the wounded sheriff rails
ed 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 negros 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
surrounded 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.
There, hiding from the bullets of
the posse, the negro covered, while
the flames ate their way through the
fraii building.
The roof and floor fell in; the ne
gro had not appeared. That he 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
j. M. King, the dead man, had been
living here for seevral months He
was magistrates constable for this
district. He was married and leaves
u wife and eight children.