The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1914-11-04
DEPLORABLE SHOOTING
" THURSDAY MORNING
EIonaaent Young Man Shot While In
w ~ -
the Yard of Leading Citizen.

tHe lard OI Leading Citizen.
A very deplorable affair occurred
during the early morning hours Of
Thursday, about o'clock a. m, when
John Watts, age %, son OF Associate
Justice r. G. Watts, was shot in the
lower part of the abdomen on the right
side by Mr.. Eugene II. Wilkes while
the former was apparently seeking to
make an entrance to the second story
OF MIR. Wilkes residence from a small
Ch1na berry tree on the west side Of
the house. From all appearances
young Watts was under the influence
of whiskey at the time and was not re-
snonsible for his actions.
Mr.. Wilkes came to his regular
'rlace OF business Monday morning
where he talked unreservedly about
Tic affair, stating that it was his de-
"'re that the public be acquainted
with the full details SO that they might
see that he was not at fault in shoot
Ing. He expressed himself as being
very sorry that the incident occurred
but that lie felt himself entirely justi-
fed.
According to the account OF the af-
fair by Mr.. Wilkes, he and Mrs. Wilkes
were first awakened abou three-thirt
In the morning by the barking of the
neighbor's dogs at man walking
heavily on Main street from the di-
rection Of the public square. The
sounds died away as the man reached
the neighborhood Of the Wilkes resi-
dence when it Is presumed that he
turned up the unpaved street running
along the west side Of the house. This
opinion was confirmed shortly after
wards when sounds were heard as II
someone was climbing the high
blind" fence on the side Of the house.
Mr.. Wilkes thought possibly some one
was trying to steal coal and It being
very cold night he did not attempt
to prevent it, preferring to lose the
coal than to have trouble. A few min
utes later, however, some misgivings
were felt as to the intent Of the in
truder when he was heard walking
around the yard. Thereupon Mr..
Wilkes arose and looked out OF the
window to see who 1t was, while Mrs.
Wilkes went to the back door where
she remembered a step-ladder rested
against the house, leading to the roof
Meeting no response from repeated
calls and not seeing anyone, they re-
turned to bed and were relieved short
ly after to hear the intruder climb the
fence again as to go away. This was
not the last Of the affair, however, for
very soon Mr.. and Mrs. Wilkes were
soon, startled to hear sounds in the
side yard, which is unfenced. Both
arose and with pistol in hand Mr..
Wilkes opened the blinds and survey
ed the yard. Amid the branches OF a
China berry tree about ten steps away
from his window and very close to the
piazza, he espied the form Of a man in
an overcoat with his hand stretched
out to the edge Of the piazza roof as
If preparing to swing himself up. Mr.
Wilkes hailed him once, then again
and again. After the third call and
aware Of his own danger from attack
Mr.. Wilkes states that he aimed at the
leg Of the man and shot with the hope
Of disabling rather than killing him.
The man alternately slid and fell to
the ground and stood facing Mr.. Wilkes,
Harry Wilkes, the young son Of Mr..
Wilkes, who roomed just overhead, al
SO called to the stranger severa! times
and neither receiving any reply, Mr..
Wilkes shot again. The man there
upon made burst for the sidewalk,
whore he halted again and Mr.. Wilkes
shot again, this being the third time.
The figure rapidly ran into the street
toward the west and In q few minutes
was found in the piazza of Mr.. b. T..
Clardy. Mr.. Wilkes thinks the first
shot took effect.
AS soon as he could reach the tele-
phone Mr. Wilkes states that he called
for the police station and officer Dod-
son answered. Mr.. Wilkes told him to
come to his house where he had shot
at an intruder, whom he thought he
had hit once. Omcers Dodson and
Davenport rushed to the scene while
Mr.. Wilkes hurriedly dressed and
emerged in time to meet the police
men at the sidewalk in front OF the