The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-07-08
White MAN KILLS NEGRO,
CHARLEY WELLS SHOOTS CHAR.
LEY REMBEItT ON LIBERTY
STREET.
Negro EndcavOrs to Get Away After
First Shot Is Fired, but Wells Fol
lows Him up Shooting Him Twice
MOrc-Scntimcnt Against Wells.
From The Daily Item, July 4.

From The Daily Item, July 4.
A great deal Of excitement was
caused yesterday afternoon u few
minutes before o'clock by the shoot
ing Of Charley Rcmbert by Charley
Wells. The shooting occurred on
Liberty street in front of the Citizens
Meat Market and seems to have been
entirely uncalled for. Sentiment has
been stirred up against Wells because
of the shooting and the testimony at
the inquest this morning seems to
warrant the feeling of condemnation.
Charley Rembert was one of the
drivers of the city carts and has been
driving "Old Billy" the cx-flre horse,
for some time. He is reported to be
of a peaceable disposition and an in
dustrious negro. Wells is Of a family
who have lived here many years
and has his home on Broad street.
He Is we'll known in town. where he
sells poultry, eggs. and fruits and
vegetables. He was arrested imme.
diately after the shooting, even while
he was endeavoring to fire his pistol
at the body of the PROSTATE negro, by
Policeman A. d. Owens, who was on
that beat and who heard the shots
fired. He Is reported to be half
crazy.
From the testimony at the inquest
this morning it seems that Wells had
his wagon at the side Of the street in
front Of the fountain at which ami
mails drink. The wagon was so placed
that other animals coming from Main
street could not drink at the fountain.
The negro drove up and asked Wells
to move on, IL his horse had finished
drinking, SO that his. the negro's
horse could drink. Wells at first did
not pay any attention to the negro,
but later told him to let his horse
drink out Of the trough. i The negro
drove around Wells wagon and got
out Of his cart. taking the rein Of
Wells horse so as to hold it's head
aside while the other horse drank
Wells said something about the me
gro would be sorry for it, and upon
the negro replying, ~ don't want to
have no fuss with YOU" nc reached
around and secured his pistol. either
from his pocket or under the seat of
the wagon, the witnesses did not
know which, and fired at the negro
from his wagon. The negro was stand
ing between the two horses and did
not attempt to move until after
Wells had snapped his pistol and
fired at the third attempt, when nc
started across the street. Wells
jumped out of his wagon and fired at
the negro as he ran around behind
his horse. Both shots took effect, the
first on one side of the breast and
the second on the other side of the
breast. The negro then started up to-
wards Main street, when Wells follow
ed and shot him a third time in the
side. The negro fell and Wells snap
ped his pistol once or twice more be-
fore Policeman Owens reached the
scene and arrested him.
Mr.. Claude M. Melton Of Spartan
burg, a drummer, was standing on the
sidewalk and overheard the convcrsa-
ton between the negro and Wells and
saw the whole of the affair. When
Wells pulled his pistol Mr.. Melton
called to him not to shoot, but Wells
did not pay any attention to him.
When the horses jumped at the first
shot. Mr.. Melton caught Wells horse
just as Wells jumped out of the wag-
on. Wells brother ran out The mar
ket then and started toward his
brother, telling Melton to hold the
horse. He ran up behind Charley.
but did not attempt to take the pistol
away from him.
Wells claimed that the negro had
cursed him. when he first came up and
that he had pulled him from his wag-
on and struck him with the butt of
MS whip, but witnesses denied this
s'atemeht and an examination Of
wells by officers revealed no signs of
any violence save II small scratch ON
mis- cheek which Wells said the ne
gro had done with his finger nail
The jury after hcarng.scvcral Wit
nesses returned n verdict that Rom
bert had come to his death from gun-
shot wounds received at the hands Of
Charcy Wells on Friday afternoon ON
Liberty street