The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1915-04-13
ROBBINS SUCCUMBS
TO BULLET WOUND
NEGRO WHO SHOT HIM KILLED
By POSSE.
Late Officer Chased and Caught Many
CrimiRllS-Died in Columbia
Hospital Saturday Evening.

Columbia, April 10-John Catlett
Robbins, State executioner and peni-
tentiary guard, who was slot Friday
near Pinewood, in Clarendon county,
while chasing a negro fugitive, died
at the Columbia hospital of $50 Sat
urday evening. Joel Green, the negro
VINO did the shooting, was himself shot
to death by the deputy sherifs posse
after an all night search in a swamp
near Pinewood, Saturday morning. The
negro wore a steel breast-plate and
carried a shotgun and two pistols.
Guard Robbins was born in All
derson county in 1876. His early life
was spent on his fathers farm near
the city of Anderson. He was among
the first to enlist in the Spanisn-Amer-
lean war. After the war I2e went to
Columbia and secured position as
guard at the State penitentiary. When
TIE act providing for electrocution in
this State was passed Guard Robbins
was named as the official executioner
by Capt D. j. Griffith, superintendent
of the penitentiary.
Mr.. Robbins was the son of the late
iNl j. Robbins, we'll known Anderson
county farmer, who died a year ago.
Mr.. Robbins is survived BY the folio "
ing brothers and sisters: Miss Daisy,
Robbins, Charles NJ. Robbins, Mrs. W.
H. Duckworth, NJ D. Robbins, L. 3.
Robbins, Miss Zadie Robbins and Miss
Rubie Robbins.
Miss Daisy Robbins and Charles NJ.
Robbins arrived in Columbia late las.
night from Anderson and will accom-
pany the body to the Electric City
this morning, leaving at 7:1O o'clock.
The funeral services will be neld this
afternoon at 1 o'clock at Eureka
church, three miles from Anderson.
"Mr. Robbins had been connected
with the State penitentiary,' said
Capt. Griffin last night, for about
eight years. He was a good, kind and
brave officer. He could do more with
the bloodhounds tnan any one else
know. We will miss him.
TIE State government does not pro-
vide for the maintenance Of pack
of bloodhounds. Several years ago
Mr.. Robbins bought several hounds
and began to develop a pack. Mr.
Robbins had chased more criminals
and suspects than any other man IN
the State, it is said, and Llis blood
hounds were in constant demand from
every section to try and run down per
sons thought to have been guilty OF
crimes.
He led the hunt for tie desperate,
Henry Austin, the negro who terrorized
Barnwell and Hampton counties and
who killed several men himself before
being mortally wounded in Georgia
and WHO died while being brought back
to Hampton.
Governor, I was trying to do my
duty" said Mr.. Robbins, as lie was
being rushed to Columbia late Friday
night. Gov. Manning was at Sumter
on his way from Orangeburg to Co
lumbia. The governor found the
wounded officer in the station at Sum-
Ter and accompanied him 70 Colun1-
bia in the baggage car of tae Acianrlc
Coast Line railway train, reaching
Columbia just before II o'clock Fc:-
day night. Gov. Manning remained n
the baggage car until tie train reach
ed the union station and gave every
attention possible to the officer. Yes
terday afternoon Gov. Manning called
to see Mr.. Robbins at the Columbia
hospital. An operation was performed
late Friday night, but little hope was
held out for recovery.