The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-05-21
From The Daily Item. May 10.

From The Daily Item. May 10.
At six o'clock Bob Garrett. who on
Sunday committed the horrible crime
of double murder. shooting to death
John T. Campbell and Aaron Camp
bell, father and son. the latter his
own son-in-law. was captured In the
Mechanicsville mill pond swamp where
he was brought TO bay about nine
o'clock last night by bloodhounds and
surrounded by posse OF eighty men.
gathered together from Sumter and
Lee counties in the hunt for the fu-
gitive. All night long the posse held
Its place. The Gordon had been care
fully drawn around the swamp and
there was no chance of Garrett's y
leaving a live man. Also. the posse
was urged to caution as II was known
that Garrett was desperate man and
would shoot on sight any who ap-
preached him. The posse waited un-
al ths day had broken full and then
Sheriff Muldrow OF Lee County called
for n dozen volunteers. These headed
by the sheriff and ]. c. Robbins. the
owner and driver OF the dogs. entered
the dense swamp and came upon Gar
rett lying beside a stump. He was at
once seized and taken by Sheriff Mul-
drow In his car back to Bishopville.
where he was landed in the county
Jail
The beautiful Sabbath morning on
Col. Thomas Wilson's plantation at
Rose Hill. n country cross roads, with
a store and several houses. passed
quietly for the people OF that section.
but with the coming Of noon the peace
was broken by the appearance OF Gar
rett. shotgun In hand. with murder in
his heart. He approached the home
OF John III. Campbell shortly after
noon. where everybody was resting
quietly. enjoying the warm Sabbath
day. little expecting that which was
soon 90 come upon them. John III.
Campbell was lying on his porch.
dozing .n the warm sunlight. his head
resting on n pillow, his shoes re-
moved from his feet in order to OBJ
tain more comfort from his nap. The
murderer approached. drew his gun
and fired the load OF buck shot into
the bowels OF the sleeping man. In
side the building were Aaron Camp
bell. the son of John III. Campbell.
and his bride OF three days Young
Campbell heard the shot and rushed
20 the door to see what had happen
ed. lie saw his father lying in a pool
OF blood and the murderer standing
on the steps with gun in hand. Rea-
hzing the situation ne rushed back
into the house. grabbed his single
barrel shot gun and started out To
meet In the invader. He never got
farther than the door. AS he reached
u the second load OF buckshot was
fred by Garrett. and Aaron fell, the
top OF his head blown away by the
force OF the load He fell and his wife,
with frightened shrek bent over him
But she was not To remain so long.
Her unnatural father seized her by the
hair and forced her To go with him
into n swamp only few hundred
yards off from the scene Of the shoot
ing.
The news Of the shooting quickly
spread and II was not many minutes
before II had reached Sheriff Mul-
drow at his home at Bishopville. a
posse was formed and started for the
scene Of the crime. other posses
were formed In the neighborhood OF
Rose Hill and "a telephone mcGsagc
reached Magistrate Burkctt at DaI-
cell. the home of Garrett. and a party
of Inanhunters set out from there to
jain Am the search. a message was
sent To the Governor for the blood
hounds from the state penitentiary
and these were brought over on the
first train TO join I'm the chase after
the fugitive.
The direction taken by Garret was