The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1913-12-11
THE FAREWELL TRAGEDY.
Story of Killing as Brought Out at
the Inquest.

?. Best came to his death from gun
shot wounds in the hands of Scott
Madison, and that Mitchell Stroy and
Gilbert Miller were accessories before
and after the fact" was the verdict
of the coroner's jury of inquest, which
was held here this morning to lnves-
tigate last nights murder. Fearing
that the prisoners would be lynched
if allowed to remain in the county
iaiI. Sheriff ]. B. Morris and deputy
took the accused men to Columbia,
having left Barnwen about noon IN
automobile. There was a proposed
lynching bee, and hearing of this the
Governor instructed the captain OF
the local militia to assemble his men
and do what is necessary to pre-
serve the peace of Barnwell.
From the testimony brought out
at the inquest the murder of Mr..
Best is one of the most cold-blooded
that has ever darkened the pages OF
criminal history of Barnwell county.
There was absolutely no provocat!on,
il seems, other than that Mr.. Best had
pushed one of the negroes out OF his
way as he was leaving the restaurant
where he had been for supper. This
negro, Gilbert Miller. it was testi-
fed threw an empty bottle at, Mr..
Best and then ran. Mr.. Best turned
around to Scott Madison, who was
standing in front Of the restaurant
and asked what he meant by hitting
him. Madison replied that he did
not hit him-that the man that threw
the bottle had run off. Mr.. Best re-
piled that he was not hurt and, turn
ing around. started off up the street
in the direction of his store He had
gone only a few steps and was in the
full glare of an electric light, when
two shots were fired. One took effect
in his back near the heart. and passed
entirely through the body. The other
shot went wild. Mr. Best staggered
to the open door of kearses pool
room and fell, dying in the arms of
Mr.. Arthur Harden.
The excitement last night was in
tense and there is no doubt but that
the negroes would have been lynched
had they been caught shortly after
the killing.
The arrest of the accused men, all
of whom are negroes employed by the
Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Com
pany as section hands and who are
strangers in the county, followed an
all night investigation and a very
pretty piece of detective work on the
part of the sheriff and his assistants.
When it seemed that the search
would prove fruitless, a few clues
were gathered and working on these
the negroes were routed out from
their shanty cars during the night.
A rigid examination indicated that
one or more of them were involved
in the deplorable affair and at day.
light this morning they were lodged
in the county Jail along with a score
of other negroes who had been arrest
ed as suspects shortly after the muir
der and who are now being held as
witnesses. There is apparently no
doubt as to the guilt Of Madison.
Four of his companions who were
eye-witnesses to the shooting testi-
fed as to his guilt, although in some
minor details their stories were con-
flicting.
knowing the intense feeling against
M accused it was decided at meet
&of the Bar this morning to request
if& eediate trial, Court now being in
session. The grand jury will be sum-
moned to meet here Monday and as
H. A Simms, Esq, who. with Thomas
NJ Boulware. Esq. has been appoint
ed to defend the negroes, stated this
afternoon that the usual three days
would be waived, it is very probable
that the case will be called immedi-
ately after the finding of the grand
jury. 1t is hoped that by this prompt
action the ends of justice will be
satisfied and the blot of a lynching
kept from the records of the county
WOMAN LAWYER DEAD.
Miss Cousins Dies in Poverty at Age