The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1914-03-18
CLINTON MAN PRINCIPAL ACTOR in TRAGEDY
ENACTED IN GREENV|LLE THURSDAY MORNING
Calls Out Young Man Alleged to Have Broken Up His
Home and Empties Five Bullets into His Body Killing
Him Instantly. Admits All Details as to Crime and
Expects AcqulttaI Under "Unwritten Law

the Jacobs Advertising Agency, of Clin-
ton, this morning few minutes after
10 o'clock, shot an instantly killed
K. Emmet Walker, age 20, a promi-
nent young man of this city emptying
five bullets into his body, as he ap-
preached him at the door Of the office
Of the Carolina Mill, where Mr.. Walk
or was employed as paymaster
Mr.. T1dwell engaged public service
automobile at the corner Of Main and
washington streets this morning a few
minutes after nine o'clock and drove
Immediately to the Carolina Mill Office,
and was met in the hall by Mr.. Wal
ker. While shaking hands with Mr..
Walker he began firing from 3S
calibre revolver, held in his left hand,
and the victim fell limp to the floor,
his face at Mr.. Tidwcll's feet.
Maintaining his silence, Tidwcll en-
tered the automobile and drove direct
to the sheriff's Office, approaching
Deputy Sheriff Keller, exclaiming i'm
rassionately "I've killed Walker and
am now ready to surrender"
Sheriff Rector Immediately took
Tidwell into custody and carried him
to the County Jail. There he made
lis statement to a reporter for the
Daily Piedmont:
II killed him because he and Mr..
Woods invaded my home, seduced my
vile and daughter and ruined me for
ever. | have no denial to make and I
only took the course that other fair
minded men would have pursued.
could stand the modification no
longer. | would have resorted to the
White Slave law, and made the young
mci, suffer for their V,ongur.
but simply for the sake Of my wife,
my children and my grandchildren
could not undergo the terrible ex-
posure that would result.
Walker was not alone lr his evil
practice, for he and William G. Woods
even took it upon themselves to go to
my homo In Clinton and wrecked my
home In my absence. These two men
also induced my wife and my daughter
to Greenville and sent them money
with which to come here.
II heard about them being in this
city last Friday night in company
with Walker and Woods, while | was
In Cheraw. | came at once TO Green
vile, arriving here Saturday. And to
my great sorrow | learned they had
been arrested. There were two things
for me to do. To resort to the white
slave law or to demand that Walker
marry my daughter. | chose the lat
ter and when | put the proposition up
to him Sunday afternoon in my room
at the Ottaray hotel, he stated that
such a course would be impossible, as
the girl was out OF his class. While
In my room he appeared Indifferent
and was impudent and insulting.
then told him that this meeting had
been friendly, but the next time it
would be different.
When | first called for Mr. Wal
kcr, he would not come to the hotel
but sent his best friend to see me. I
told the caller that it was not an oc-
casion for middle man, that it was
solely up to Mr.. Walker and that de-
sired to see him and would promise
not to molest him. Walker later camo
to my room.
81 came to Greenville last night, ar
rlying here at 9.4O from Anderson
where had been on business. l stop
ped ct the Ottaray hotel. Having made
up my mind previously to settle the
matter in the manner in which I did,
left this morning to go to the mill
knowing that 1t would mean death for
either him or me. Before leaving the
hotel penned note to my son in
Clinton sealed 1t and addressed it to
Sheriff Rector to be delivered to my
son In the event that l was killed, for
| knew 1t would be found on my per-
SON. Gle withdrew the letter from
his insiGe coat pocket but would not
crmit 1t to be opened.)
Mr.. Tidwell appeared cool and un-
excited when he was approached at
the county jail by reporter. He said
he had no denial to make, but he hoped
the papers would suppress the news
as much as possible because the facts
In the case were SO revolving.
AT Mr.. Tidwell's request, Sheriff
Rector called for Attorney James II.
Price. When Mr.. Price arrived the
two retired to the parlor OF the Jail
and held a private conference. Later
the reporters were admitted and the
defendant and his counsel decided t.
make brief statement but afterwards
changed tteir minds, dcferrlng q state
ment to the public for the present.
An effort will be made Immediately
after the verdict OF the coroners jury
this afternoon to secure bail for tho
defendant. The defendant stated that
he could easily give bail and intimated
that there were at least dozen men
In Grccnville who would probably
gladly go on his bail He said. how
ever, that he had just as soon stay in
Jail as anywhere.
The first Information Mr.. Tidwell's
wife and family received Of the homi-
eide was from Mr.. Tidwell, himself,
who called them up at Clinton this
morning, shortly after the tragedy,
and in quiet way he broke" the