The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1914-06-19
The Body of VIM. Thomas
Found in Lagoon on Ty-
ger River Weighted with
ROck-FOur White Men
and a Negro are Held
Charged With Crime.

The body of William Thomas was
found in a lagoon on Tiger river
Monday. A rock as large as a peck
measure was placed in the marts
clothing to act as weight: The wa
ter was shallow, and barely covered
the dead body. About eleven o'clock
Monday the negro was ploughing in
the field near the river. Five pistol
shots were heard. A man was heard
to cry out several times, it is report
ed. The mule that the negro was
ploughing came up to the house. A
search was begun and the sheriff not
flied. A search bv the sheriff and ru-
raj police resulted in the discovery of
tracks where a scuffle had been en-
gagged in. Several empty shells from
a 3S calibre pistol were found near
by. Tracks leading to the water were
discovered. Blood could be seen upon
the ground. 1t seemed from the tracks
made that more, than one person had
carried some heavy body. Tracks al
so led from the edge of the lagoon to
a nearby hillside where the large rock
had been evidently lifted and carried
to the water edge. Will all these
pointers it was not difficult to find the
body. Not more than two or three
hours did the body remain in the wa
ter. Where the plough stock was left
there were found three or four heavy
switches the size of a mans thumb.
Tie evidence points to foul murder.
The body showed gunshot wounds in
the back of the head and in the hip,
showing that he was shot in the back,
perhaps as he began running.
Four Men Arrested.
Ben, Wallace, Fincher and Deadly
Lawson, sons of Mr.. w. S. Lawson,
were arrested Wednesday afternoon
upon a warrant charging them with
the murder of William Thomas, the
negro whose body. was found in "A,
lagoon near Tiger river Monday.
Julian Dawkins, a negro, was ar
rested the day before and held as
suspect and possible witness. All en-
cept the first named are married.
They deny having had any part in
the killing of Thomas, and also affirm
that they do not know who killed him.
They were lodged in Jail Wednesday
upon the charge of murder.
Evidence Taken at Inquest.
The following is the testimony at the
inquest:
DR.. D. H. Montgomery being duly
sworn, says: 81 found two gun shot
wounds, 38 calibre, probably, one en-
tered right hip bone and lodged in the
upper and back part of back bone;
other bullet entered behind right ear
about l 1-2 inch from the ear, and
passed through the head. The wound
in head killed him. found man in
water of river"
(Signed) D. H. Montgomery.
Jake Gregory, sworn, says: az have
been hoeing cotton today. I was just
a little ways from where William
Thomas was ploughing. heard shoot
ing. | did not see any one. I heard
some one following. I think 1 hearl
five shots. / was close enough to see
but bushes were in the way. I did not
see any one else; did not hear any
talking"
(Signed) Jacob Gregory.
'Bennie Blake, sworn, says: 81 have
been at home, was hoeing cotton in
new ground. Pa was ploughing in
new ground. I was hoeing cotton
right at Pa. Mr.. Ben Lawson come
in field where Pa was I heard Pa
and Mr.. Lawson talking. He asked
Pa to come and hoe some cotton. He
said he had work to do himself. M.
Lawson told Pa not to talk his big
talk to him. Pa told him he did not
say "No, sir" and Eyes, sir" over
and was not going to say it over here.
Mr.. Lawson told Pa to wait till he
came back, he would fix him. Pa did
not say anything. Mr.. Lawson went
on home. Pa did not plough long af-
ter that; Pa went over next to river
to plough. l saw three men looked
like the Lawsons. was on top of
hill; they were coming on up road
when l saw them; one of them looked
like Ben Lawson. They were going
towards where Pa was ploughing. 1t
was good while before heard the
shooting. Don't know how many
times: did not hear anybody hol-
ler. 1 went to where Pa was plough
ing; mule was not hitched to blow. I
did not see or hear anybody. / never
saw anybody going that way or com
ing back. I saw some men in the
road; they were talking; they were
walking. 1 did not hear any talking
at river"
(Signed) Bennie Blake.
John Thomas. sworn, sayss: "I was
in new ground hoeing cotton with
Mary and Jim. Pa was ploughiny
down below us. Mr.. Ben Lawson
come to see Pa to get us to hoe cot
ton for him. Pa told him he had lots
of work to do now. Ben Lawson told
Pa not to commence to talk his big
talk over there. Mr.. Lawson said,
keep on talking your big talk, he
would fix him when he como ha IL