Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1914-12-16
ALMOST FATALLY STABBED.
julius Marett Has Narrow Esca pc
from Death at Hands of Negro.

'"ii"S A'oiSiN, u" ooh vi A"i' anu
Mrs. e. c. Marett, Of Westminster, |
was stabbed by negro outlaw at |
Fair Play last Thursday afternoon.
The wound inflicted was severe |
one, the weapon used, we are in
formed, being large butcher knife. |
The blade penetrated Mr. Marett's |
body to a considerable depth, COM
pletel.' severing the sixth rib, and !
inflicting a nasty internal wound,
from which for time it was thought
| Mr.. Marett could not recover.
The negro, Oscar Byrd, was being
sought by Sheriff John Wamsley, of
Franklin county, Georgia, and the
sheriff had gotten word Of Byrd's
being at or near Fair Play, in this
county. He went 10 Fair Play, and
in order to be sure to get his negro,
he sent Julius Marett, Magistrate
McClure's constable, to make the
arrest, thinking that he would avoid
warning the negro by his (Wams-
ley's) presence, as the negro knew
that he was being sought by VANS
ley. When Mr. Marett went to the
negro to make the ARE t, it is said,
Byrd, without warning, drew the
butcher knife and stabbed Mr.. Mar
EFT before he had time to even at
tempt to defend himself. AS soon
as the negro saw the effect Of his
thrust he made off, escaping capture
at the time, though a considerable
crowd gathered and went in hot pur-
suit, chasing the negro into a swampy
section, where he was lost to his pur-
suers completely. This reported
losing of all trace of the fugitive in
the swamps gave rise to the report
that he had been Iynched, but there
was no Foundation to the report,
though it is by no means sure what
his fate would have peen had the in
furiated men in pusuit caught the
darkey at the time.
All day long the chase was kept
up, though there was apparently no
tangible clue upon which to work in
locating Byrd. Sheriff Davis, of
Oconee, was on the scene, and it was
he who finally got on the trail that
led to the capture OF Byrd. Mr.
Dayis had gotten over to Lavonia,
Ga, and all were at sea as to where
next to turn, when negro rode into
town at a headlong gait, his mule be-
ing heavily swcated and we'll run
down. Sheriff Davis halted this
negro and demanded that he tell
where he had taken Byrd. 1t was a
random shot, but it took effect. For
moment the negro denied all
knowledge of Byrd, but finally came
out with BOSS clare to goodness
don't know nothing bout dat nigger,
but tell you what does know" He
then related some incidents that
seemed plausible about Byrd having
gone toward Toccoa in company with
several other darkies, all riding in
an OK wagon. Sheriff Davis tele-
graphed his information to Sheriff
Stowe, OF Stephens county, Georgia,
at Toccoa, and the negro was taken
near that place a few hours later.
Byrd remains in the custody Of the
Stephens sheriff, who refused to give
him over to anybody but the sheriff
of Oconee county, this State, and he
has not, and probably will not for
some little time, make delivery Of
his prisoner
Byrd was wanted in Georgia on
the charge of having shot a negro.
1t was reported that he was wanted
for murder, but this was mistake,
growing out of the fact, doubtless,
that he had shot the negro man.
1t is gratifying indeed to the peo-
pie OF Oconee to learn that Mr.. Mar
EFT, the Oconee constable who was
stabbed, Is improving, and it is even
more gratifying that we are able to
report that his chances of ultimate
recovery are said to be improving
steadily. Mr.. Marett is a member
of one Of the most prominent fami-
lies Of Oconee. His parents, Mr.. and
Mrs. E. G. Marett, are with him at
Fair Play, as is also a brother, who
was summoned from Tulane Univer-
sity, New Orleans, Immediately upon
the fact becoming known that Mr..
Marett had been seriously wounded
| -------------a . -,
Clemson Has New Dairy Expert.
H1o,,o,o, Co11ooo Doo Wy