The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-04-09
Two BOYS KILLED BY POLICE,
GREk.NvILLE YOUTHS ENGAGE
IN PIsTOD RATTLE WITH PO-
LICE AND ARE SHOT
TO DEATH.
Rowley Martaln and Leonard Smith
Enter Store Where Omcers were
Concealed to Catch burglars who
had Been Plying Their Trade-One
Policeman Woundeti--'The Inquest.


the basement OF a fashionable dry
goods store shortly after 3 O'Clock
Sunday morning, Leonard Smith, IT
years old, son OF q prominent and
wealthy family. and his 20-year-o
companion. Rowley Martin. engaged
In n pistol battle with three police
men who had concealed themselves
In the store In anticipation of a bur-
glary with the result that the young
men were shot to destN and one OF
the policemen wounded.
With five bullets I'm his body and a
wound through his heart young Smith
ran up flight OF stairs to the second
hoor. where two employees ct the firm
had stationed themselves In waiting.
He was met at the top step oy one
OF the Jerks who shouted 20 him
not - fire again. and Passing on by,
tearing a mask from nis face with one
hand aud grippirs his pistol with the
other. sank to the floor and expired.
Martin ran TO the rear OF the base
ment with bullet hole through his
head and another in his hand and
concealed himself In a closet A police
man followed closely upon him and
pulled him out, at the same time
tearing a mask from the lads face.
Martin was placed In the police am
bulence and rushed to the city hos
pitai. wherc ne expired two hours
later. Policeman Mayfield was shot
I'm the hand.
News OF the terrible tragedy spread
quickly even et that hour OF the night,
and has created a profound sensation
throughout the city. At noon in the
county court house In the presence
OF a thousand OF more citizen of all
ranks. the coroner conducted a dual
inquest into the killing.
The two juries returned verdicts
that Leonard Smith and Rowley Mar
tin came to their death from pistol
shot wounds at The hands of Police
men III. c. Alexander. A. NJ. Blair
and J. A. Mayfield. The chief of
police. j. f. Holcombe. was then
deputized to take the officers into
custody until Monday. when their
commitments will be issued by the
coroner. AT the same time applica-
ton for bail for the three policemen
Will be made before Judge s. w. q.
shipp. who convenes the spring term
OF the court OF common pleas for
Greenville county Monday morning.
The inquest was the most dramatic
ever held in this county. The father
OF young Smith overwhelmed with
grief and dumfounded at the tragic
occurrence. appeared at the inquest
and conducted the examination of the
various witnesses.
The city solicitor. II. f. Martin,
questioned the witnesses on the part
OF the city. The testimony did not
develop any mysteries but was plain
and 20 the point. The policemen tes-
titled that members OF the firm of
Hobbs Il Henderson notified them a
week ago that their store was being
GCbbed. Young Smith was employed
by the flrm until short while ago,
and the witnesses stated. suspicion
pointed To him. For Ave nights one
OF tho policemen concealed himself
In the basement OF the store. he said,
and each night observed "a party or
parties como to- the rear windows OF
the basement and flash a pocket Ian.
tern. Saturday night. ne testified
three policemen were stationed i'm the
basement shortly before midnight.
IL had been planned to have two
members Of the firm stationed on the
second floor OF the store. in charge OF
the switch governing the electric light
Ing system. The three policemen con-
cealed themselves behind counter
In the basement ard waited.
At minutes after o'clock. the
testimony ran, the policemen observed
the pocket lantern being flashed on
the outside OF the rear basement win
dOws. They waited and presently an
arm was slipped through broken
glass. set In front OF the barred win
dow sash and the paddock holding
down the sash unlocked. There was
a slight cOmmotion az the boys slip
ped through the window. and into the
basement. As soon as they had en-
tered. the witnesses testified, the boys
placed masks over their faces. took
out their pistols and held them In
shooting position. and flashed their
pocket lanters." advanced toward the
staircase. leading to the second floor.
~ they drew opposite the counter
behind which the policemen were
concealed. Policeman Mayfeld arose