Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1914-04-23
The TOWN SQUIRE

4 thought to myself as l walked up
TO the front door OF another house
and pressed the bell button. / had
canvassed more than half Of this
small town, and had made but three
sales. Presently / heard footsteps
ON the hall floor within and deter
mined 70 do my best to make sale
!ss:se. here. = llasse lssee knob was grasped, the
door partly opened, woman's face
appeared. The instant she. caught
sight Of me she threw up her hands
and exclaimed, ooh, my goodness,
and fell to the floor in a swoon.
Horrifed by the sight, did not
have the presence of mind to act
instantly, but stood there gazing at
the helpless woman. The next in
slant some one sprang up on the
porch behind me and struck me
blow on the head, which sent me
realipg over the railing to the pave
ment below.
Murder! Murder" my assailant
was yelling. "He has murdered this
woman. Hold him! Call the con-
stable! Run for the Doctor" he cried.
Two men ran up, pounced upon me
and pinned me to the ground. Soon
two constables appeared. haudcuffed
me and raised me to my feet.
r All this had taken place so quickly
that was unable to comprehend
what it really meant, but now | un-
derstood my situation. They were
holding me for jhe condition of that
woman, and | knew | must prove nv
innocence.
"Ofiicer," said, 81 have done
nothing; there must be some mis-
take"
That's enough of that" said the
officer. stopping me off abruptly.
"That game won't work with me-
You have struck that woman. and
mark my word, you'll suffer for it."
could say no more. but had to
make the best of my predicament.
The crowd which had now gathered
sent up cry Of Lynch him. and
can tell you my thoughts in the
midst Of this angry and merciless
crowd were far from placid.
The officer now came out of the
house. did he kill her? Is she
dead yet? Was her skull fractured ~
were the cries / heard az the crowd
rushed to him for information.
''She is coming around all right. :"
said the officer, ''but he must have
hit her an awful blow, for that cash
on her head is dandy" | could
scarcely keep from answering this
charge, but knew that pleading to
these men would mean nothing. so
remained silent.
"March him off to the SQUIRE
Bill" he continued. addressing the
officer in charge of me- 81 will he
there presently" He took tighter
hold on my arm, gave me jerk that
almost threw me from my feet, and
roughly said, "Come along here.
you"
could make no resistance, and
marched by his side TO the squire's
office, with the crowd at our heels
The sight of the old squire decidedly
lowered my courage. He was one OF
those curious-looking old country
folk, rough in appearance, tall.
lanky, slightly stopped in form, with
a long white beard, partly discolored
with tobacco juice, and a pair of
spectacles poised on his nose, over
which he looked at me with a pair
Of sharp eyes.
The other constable, who had ne
mained behind, now arrived, and the
first witness was called.
he testified thus: 'sWhile I was
walking up Main street today I saw
a man on the porch of Mrs. Harri1
house. but took no particular notice
to him Presently 1 heard an awful
cry, turned around and saw Mrs.
Harris fall backward into the hall.
knew this fellow" pointing to me.
was the cause of it, and before he
could run | sprang over the porch
railing, knocked him down and went
to Mrs. Harris assistance. She was
just barely breathing, had blood
trickling from an ugly wound in her
forehead, and beside her was q stout
stick with which he must hsre
stunned her"