Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1913-12-10
sOUrn CAROLINA. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER TO- 1913
ATTY. GENERAL KILLS NEGRO.
Accidentally Shot Man at Elks' Club
While Showing Pistol to Friend.

Columbia, Dec. 6.-Robert Mar
shall, cOlored, was killed tonight by
Attorney General Thos II. Peoples
at the Elks' Club in this city, where
the negro was employed as chef. Ac-
cording to those at the club the
shooting was entirely accidental, and
Mr.. Peoples is sorry beyond express
sion at the happening.
1t was a pistol shot, the ball
piercing the brain of the negro. The
occurrence was about 10 O'Clock to-
night MIR. Peoples rested tonight
at the Governors Mansion, where he
went just after the shooting took
place.
Governor Blease was out Of the
city, being at his home in Newberry.
He made an effort, according to
friends, to come here late tonight,
but could not reach the city.
News Of the shooting spread about
the city, although every effort was
made to keep it quiet. Many friends
thought it best not to publish any
thing about the affair, but as it was
an accidental killing, according to
those at the club, others deemed it
best that the facts be known.
Sheriff Mccain was on hand per-
Sonally at the club soon after the
shooting and on the suggestion that
Mr.. Peoples get a good nights rest
at the Mansion he sent deputy
with him.
j. f. Weaver, attendant at the
club, is quoted as saying that Mr..
Peoples was passing a gun over. the
counter to him when it exploded, the
bullet piercing the brain of the ne
gro, who was instantly killed. The
gun is said to have been .44-cali-
bre. The ball entered at the center
OF the right temple and came out of
the left temple.
A brother Of the dead negro was
present at the shooting. He after
wards stated that he mad heard no
words pass between his brother and
Mr.. Peoples, and the first thing he
knew was the report of the pistol.
Inc brother is an employee Of the
club also.
Killing Was Accident.
Columbia, Dec. THAT Robert
Marshall, the negro cook at the Elks'
Club, came to his death last night
from the accidehtal discharge OF At
pistol in the hands Of Attorney Gene,
raj Thos. Fl. Peoples was the verdict
of the coroner's jury that investigat-
GU Ille SlOOIlHS Tonight.
This means that the Attorney Cen
eral will be brought to trial at the
next term Of court for accidental
homicide. The court convenes DIR
ing the first week Of January. The
formal bond will be arranged to-mor-
row before Coroner Scott The At
torney General was released tonight
on his own recogniZance. The trial
in January is regarded as a mere for
mality. but is necessary under the
laws Of the State.
All the testimony brought out at
the inquest tended to show that the
shooting was an accident. Attorney
General Peoples himself made a
statement to the jury in which he ex-
planned the discharge of the pistol
his reason for having it and all the
matters leading up to the unfortu-
nate occurrence.
In effect Mr.. Peoples stated that he
had placed the pistol in his automo-
bile yesterday when his mother went
with her brother to Lexington. The
return trip was made by Mrs. Pee
pies with strange chauffeur and he
desired that she should have the pis-
tol for protection. When he went to
the Elks' Club at 10 O'Clock last
night he took the pistol out Of the
car and carried it upstairs to the
club rooms with the intention of
leaving it there.
81 do not carry pistol" said Mr..
Peoples, "and wanted to leave the
weapon at the club" He said that
as he walked behind the buffet to
place the weapon near the cash reg
ister Capt. j. II. Weaver, who was
CT ho1 81
him to let him see the pistol. He
stated that he was handing it over
when the pistol discharged, killing
the negro cook, who was standing in
front of the buffet at the moment.