The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1913-02-07
AGED MANS FACE HLoWN OFF WITH GUN
LOADED WITH sLUGs
Mr.. Robt. D. Coleman, Ote of Union County's Oldest
and Best Citizens, WasaA ssassaated at His Home
Near Jonesville Last Friday Evening While
Quietly Reading Newspaper = His Son,
Harry Coleman, Charged with Crime
Verdict of CSfoper's Inquest.

IN jail his shoes were taken from
him and fitted to the tracks supposed
to have been made by the assassin.
They fit the tracks, even to the break
made by a tfrayed place on the side of
the left sole. 1t is understood that the
prisoner refuses to talk, but save to
deny his guilt. The remaining facts
IN the story of the tragedy are
brought out by the article of Mr.. w.
NJ. y Harris, longtime friend of
ME Coleman's, and the testimony a.
the Coroner's inquest, both of which
sAre published in full below:
Mr.. Harris writes:
Story as Told by Mr.. Harris.
Jonesville,, February 4th.-Three
miles north of Jonesville on the side
of public road in the fork of two
bright ripping little branches, there is
q home unique in all its surroundings
and situation. 1t was home of
peace and plenty. Like most homes
IN the land, sorrow had entered it
and took the wife and mother, some
four years since and one son had been
gone and not heard from for more
than four years, which had all weigh
ed heavy on the husband and father,
but like all good faithful, obedient,
submissive, humble servants of God,
he retained his integrity and did not
complain of the hard things that
came his way. This was the home
of Robert D. Coleman. After the
death of his good wife, he secured
the service of his neice, Lizzie Cole
man, to keep house for him. Lizzie
eSd her little daughter, Mr.. Coleman
- Als son, Harry, made up the
y, M circle. He has good Farm
~ bf66ghf % them q bodntifuI
living and there was no cause for un-
rest. Mr.. Coleman owed no debts
and had snug little banl account.
He was &C years of age, Was a Cen
federate Veteran and member of
Camp Boyd u. C. VS. He was a con-
sistent member of the Baptist church
for the last twenty-five years and a
Mason for forty years, a good truth
ful,honest, kind, peaceable citizen all
his long life and there was not an en-
emy of his known to exist on earth.
Last Friday Mr.. Coleman's son,
Harry, came up to Jonesville as he
often did and did not return up to
night fall. Mr.. Coleman had been to
Jonesville and returned late in the
evening. After supper Lizzie Cole
man and her daughter, went over to
Mrs. Adelaid Cooks, who lives on the
place, about three hundred yards
away, to sit till bed time, leaving Mr..
Coleman at home alone.
About 7:30 they all at Mrs. Cooks
heard a gun fire, and Lizzie Coleman
went to the door and looked out to-
ward their home, but saw and heard
nothing unusual and went back.
About thirty minutes afterwards
Harry Coleman came to Mrs. Cooks,
where they all sat and talked for
about an hour, then Mrs. Cooks
grown son and grown daughter and
a small daughter went with the Cole
mans to their home to spend the
night, and when they arrived at Mr..
Coleman's house the two small girls
were in front and when they opened
the front door they found the house
quite dark and they held their lam
tern up in front at the door, and
there, rather to the right and front
of the fire place the awful and heart
rending sight met their eyes, for Mr..
Coleman lay on the floor in a pool
of blood in a dying condition. The
young people were of course appalled,
at such a sight and ran back, and
Lizzie Coleman tainted. After she
revived Mr.. Cook suggested that they
go after Messrs. E. A. and ]. E. Ma
brey, who live nearly a mile away.
Mr.. Cook, being frightened, was not
willing to go without gun, and the
two went to Mr.. Coleman's shop,
about 100 yards distant, and got Mr..
Coleman's shot gun that he had left
there after doing some repairs to
it some two weeks since. They went
to Mrs. Cooks and Mr.. Cook got his
own gun and went for the Messrs.
Mabrey, and they came as early as
possible. They were the first ones
to enter Mr.. Coleman's home, and
they found him lying on the floor, his
left foot resting upon the chair and
his head upon stick of fire wood
that evidently had been put there for
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