The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1915-05-19
MYSTERIOUS MURDER
IN GREENWOOD
Old Negro Miiled in his Home Situat-
ed In Midst OF ThiclMy Populated
White Residence Section.

White Residence Section.
Greenwood, May lS.-Joe Townsend,
a respected and widely known negro,
aged about 60, died early this morning
from (he effects OF pistol and knife
wounds inflicted some time between
II and 3 o'clock in his little home
near Bailey Circle, in one Of the most
tnlckiy settled residence districts OF
Greenwood. According to dying
statement by the negro to Dr.. }. 9.
Harper before he expired at the
Greenwood Hospital the foul murder
was committed by two white men,
who wore derby hats and white
moustache."
A short time after Joe was taken
to the hospital, at o'clock this
morning, DR.. Harper, who had been
called earlier by Mr.. S. II. McGhee,
the first person who discovered that
Joe had been attacked, told the ne
gro that he had no chance to live
and asked him if he cared to make a
statement or to leave a message.
Townsend, Dr.. Harper stated at
the inquest this morning, said that
some time after midnight, he was
aroused by some one at his window
who asked is Sam in thcre?" Joe
replied that he did not know who
was meant by Sam and then three
shots from 32 calibre pistol were
fired in rapid succession, two shots
entering just below the heart and one
proving to be only flesh wound
came in his door and one of them
held him while the other cut his
throat, almost entirely sevcring his
windpipe. Joe was positive that his
slayers were white men because he
sad his light was burning and he
could easily see them, although he
knew neither.
At 10 minutes to 3 o'clock, per-
haps over an hour after the old ne
gro had been wounded, he crawlcd
10 the back steps of Mr. S. II. Nc
Ghee, whose residence is only a short
distance from the negro's cabin, and
aroused Mr.. McGhee by groaning
and gasping. Mr.. McGhee's first
thought was that Joe had been taken
i'll suddenly and had come to him to
summon a physician. Without go
ing out to the negro Mr.. McGhce
hurried to the telephone and called
M.
lG. Black in order to have assistance
in taking Joe back to his house.
When he reached the back steps
again Mr.. McGhce was surprised 10
liLd that the negro's throat had been
at. He Immediately called for an
oliccr and Mr. Still soon arrived, but
while Mr. McGhce was telephOning the
second time the negro crawled back
to his house and met DR.. Harper. Be
tween gasps he made the statement
to Dr. Harper, Mr.. McGhee and the
oilicer that two white men had attack
ed him and he did not vary from this
story after DR.. Harper told him that
he could not live.
No clue whatever has been found,
but officers of the city as well as the
county will do everything in their
power to unearth this, the second
mysterious murder that has been
committed in Greenwood in less than
stS months. No motive whatever
can be ascribed. About eight dollars
and his watch were found on his body.
The corOncr's jury this morning rem
dcrcd verdict to the effect that the
negro came to his death at the hands
OF unknown parties.
Joe Townsend was one Of the best
known and bcst-liked negroes Of
Greenwood. For many years he was
the servant of the late Mr. w. II.
Bailey and was held in such high re-
gard that Mr.. Bailey remembered
him in his will. The expenses of his
burial will be borne by Mr.. NJ. S.
Bailey, of Clinton.