The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1915-04-15
PENITENTIARY GUARD
KILLED BY NEGRO.
SWIFT VENGEANCE OVERTAKES
LATTER--SHOT TO DEATH
RESISTING ARREST.

LATTER..SHOT TO DEATH
RESISTING ARREST.
Columbia, April 10:-J C Robbins.
penitentiary guard, who was shot
down while chasing negro fugi-
tive, Joel Green, near Pinewood, in
Clarendon county, yesterday after
noon, died at the Columbia Hospital
at $50 o'clock this evening. His
remains will probably be taken to
his former home in Anderson for
burial. His brother is en- route to
Columbia tonight, and until his ar
rival definite arrangement for the
funeral cannot be completed. He is
survived by a brother and two sis
tiers, all of whom live in Anderson.
The negro who shot Mr. Robbins
was killed this morning by a Sher-
iff's posse in a swamp near Pinewood
while resisting arrest.
Mr. Robbins was about 38 years Of
age and unmarried. He had been
connected with the penitentiary for
seven years, Since the installation
of the electric chair he had been the
electrocutioner.
A Sheriff's posse this morning sur
rounded Joel Green, said to have
been a half-witted negro, in swamp
three miles from Pinewood, in Clar-
endon county, and shot him to death
while resisting arrest. The negro
hid himself in a-nsass of dense un-
der brush and swamp growth and
fired into the posse of the Sheriff Of
Clarendon county, which had drawn
a strong Gordon around the swamp.
He fired over seven times at the
pursuers, but the fire Of the posse
soon struck the fatal spot and the
negro died, resisting arrest to the
last. A heavy steel breast-plate
was found on his body, evidencing
his preparedness for desperate deeds.
Mr. ] C Robbins, the penitentiary
guard, and his two bloodhounds
were taken to Pinewood yesterday
morning at the request of Magis-
trate A P Cooner to trail a negro
suspected of robbing three stores at
that place.
The dogs struck the trail without
any delay and soon came within
hailing distance of the fleeing negro,
who was recognized as Joel Green.
The negro turned and fired at MIR
Robbins, who was following the dogs
on horseback, the shot taking effect
in his right hip. The wound was
found to be q serious one and Mr.
Robbins was placed on the first train
coming toward Columbia. When
the train passed Sumter Governor
Manning joined the wounded man
and rode with him in the baggage
car all the way to Columbia. Mr.
Robbins was taken to hospital and
his wounds dressed.
The bloodhounds continued in full
cry behind the negro after he shot
Mr. Robbins from his horse. The
other members of the posse follow
ed the dogs. They got SO close in
behind the fleeing negro that he was
forced to take to q tree and from a
position in the limbs Of the tree he
shot the dogs to death. He then
made his escape.
Early this morning the Sheriff of
Clarendon county collected a posse:
and resumed the hunt for joel
Green. More bloodhounds were Sc
cured and the negro was trailed to
a swamp. There he resisted and was
shot to death by the posse.
Mr. T ] Robbins, the penitentiary
guard, had chased more criminals
and suspects than any other man in
the State, it is said, and his blood
hounds were in constant demand
from every section to try and run
down persons thought to have been
guilty of crimes. s
He led the hunt for the desperado.