The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-07-03

Winnsboro. June 3O.-The coroner's
inquest was held here today in the
court house over the body of Clyde
lsenhower, who was fatally wounded
on June IA when Sheriff Hood and
his deputies wcrc fred upon by
members of the Eisenhower family
and immediate relatives and friends
while leading the negro prisoner.
Jules Smith, up the stairs of the court
house.
| Dr. Jas s. Beatty physician, was
the first witness. He described the
wounds Of the deceased Eisenhower
There were 13 entrances and exits
made by pistol shots. DR.. Beatty as
serted that he saw Sheriff Hood shoot
once.
w. T. Rains and r. c. Stevenson
were nearly corroborative of each
other In their evidence. Both were
In the sheriff's office when the shoot
ing commenced and heard Clyde Isen-
mower say, II have been shot and
shot to pieces by Sheriff Hood" Rains
said he asked Isenhower, who STUN
bled in the sheriff's office in a dying
condition. what had become of the
negro and Isenhower replied, "He
must be dead"
j. M. Stone, one of the deputies
who was slightly wounded in the af-
fray, swore he saw Clyde Eisenhower
push his pistol between the balusters
or the stairway leading up to the
court house door and fire. Mean.
while Sheriff Hood warned Isen-
hover three or four times to desist.
He paid no attention to the officers
plea. but opened fire, said Stone.
Testimony relative to Ernest Isen-
hower's part in the tragedy was in
troduced when w. l.. Dickey, book
keeper at the Fairfield cotton mills,
testified that he saw Isenhower shoot
his pistol four or five times.
Il. r. Kelley, the second of the
deputies examined, said the fusillade
was opened with the exclamation by
one of the attacking party Pour
1t in them" evidently referring to
the negro, the witness thought, and
Clyde Isenhower began firing. At the
same time Sheriff Hood exclaimed.
NO you won't" Kelly was wound
ed in tn thumb and arm, the latter
hurt rendering his arm useless.
Two mill operatives, p. c.. Burly
and Charles w. Pearson, testified, but
their testimony was only mere state
ment that they saw the shooting.
Pearson and Burly concluded their
testimony with the addition that they
did not know any of the participants
In the shooting. They did not see
Sheriff Hood.
Sensational evidence was brought
out In the examination of Rural Po-
liceman Austin Scott which tended to
show that the affair was partly pre-
meditated. Policeman Scott said that
clyde IsenhOwer, Jesse Morrison
and Ernest Isenhower followed the
sherim's posse across the street to the
court house. Several times, said
Scott, the dead Isenhower attempted
to get in front OF the party but was
pushed back. When Sheriff Hood
and his crowd reached the landing
OF the stairs he tried to force his
way ahead again, but was showed
back once more.
That Clyde Isenhower fired the sec
ond shot Of the tragedy was asserted
on the examination of George Ha-
good, farmer. Mr.. Hagood said
he did not know who fired the OPEN
ing shot but the sheriff returned the
fire from Isenhowers pistol when
was protruding through the balusters
Of the stairway. Judge w. l.. Holley
and Deputy j. c. Joyner testified.
Nothing but n duplication of the story
OF the killing was given by the two
except that Mr.. Joyncr said his fellow
deputy, Beckham saved his own life
with the plea. II am shot; l can't do
any harm"
The inquest adjourned at o'clock.