The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1915-05-12
shot BY DESPERADO|
SEARCH FOR NEGRO BURGLAR
ENDS DISASTROUSLY |
Waited FOR SURRENDER
Thinking That Negro is Cnarmed
Watcher Lets Him Approach in
Safety-When Three Feet Away
Load Of Shot Tears Through
Breast, Causing Instant Death.

Marion is in tourmoil Of excite
ment as a result Of the bloody trail
left ty {: Eegro desperate, who is
running a1.t hiding in the swamps
near that city. aEG who has already
shot and slightly wounded Sheriff ].
NJ. Dozier and killed H. Elwell Cook,
a well known contractor, both OF
whom were trailing the negro.
Early Saturday news reached Ma
rion that some one had broken into
the store of the Davis Supply COM
pany of Eulonia, ten miles south Of
Marion, and Sheriff Dozier, accom-
panied by Rural Policeman G. A.
Davis, started by auto for the scene
of the robbery.
Just as the officers were leaving
the corporate limits of the city they
met a negro, who carried number
of packages and a shotgun. The
sheriff stopped the machine and ask
ed the negro if he was the man who
committed the burglary at Eulonia.
1t is not known what the negro
said, as the sheriff at this time is in
charge OF the large posse in pursuit
of the desperado, but as result of the
questions asked by the officer the
negro is said to have dropped his
packages, leyelled the single barrel
led shot gun in his possession, and
fired point blank at the officer, the
load narrowly missing his face, which
was badly powder-burned.
The negro then jumped a fence at
the roadside, and. while the officers
fred at him several times ran
through an open field and disappear
ed in Smiths swamp. Word was sent
to the city for assistance, and within
a short time a large posse was in pSr-
suit. Mr.. H. Elwell Cook was among
the number who responded to the
call, and on reaching the home OF Mr..
B. B. Baker, he crossed the open
country between that place and Cat
fish creek and stationed himself on
the bank of ditch just in the edge
Of the thick swamp. Other men were
located nearby.
At about II a. N. the negro ap-
peared in the open field near Mr..
Cook and, gun in hand, approached
him. After getting within few feet
of him the negro fired at him, the
entire load taking effect in the left
breast, just above the heart. Mr..
Cook expired almost instantly.
Mr.. Armitage Brooks, a farmer,
who standing at a point not far dis
tant, hearing the shot, started TO-
wards the scene of trouble, when he
saw the negro fleeing toward the
swamp. MIR. Brooks fred twice at
the man, who fell and scrambled
around in the bushes. Mr.. Brooks
thinking that he had wounded or kill
ed the negro, ran over to Mr. Cook,
who died just as he arrived.
On going back to where the negro
fell it was found that there was no
trace of blood, but that the desperate
had left his cap and gun at that point.
Hundreds of men are securing the
swamps. and it is feared lynching
may follow if the man is found.
Bloodhounds are en- route from Chad
bourne, n. c., and will be placed on
the trail. The negro is unknown in
this section, and the only clue to his
identity is some scraps of paper
found in his coat pocket, which he
lost in the woods. These papers in
dicate that he is from Georgetown.
It is thought that the reason MI.
Cook allowed the negro to approach
him so closely was due to the fact
that it was known that the negro was
endeavoring to sell the gun and eight
shells early Saturday morning prior
to the trouble with Sheriff Dozier.
Remembering that one shot had
been fired at the sheriff and that
seven shells were found in the coat,
Mr.. Conk evidently thought the man
was coming up to surrender to him.
Mr.. Cook was popular citizen and a
member of several secret orders. Mrs.
Cook tainted when told that her hus-
band had been killed.
Good order prevails despite the
great excitement. Sheriff Dozier
seems to bear a charmed life, for, al
though he has been fred at twice re-
Gently, he has not suffered wound.
Only a few months ago a negro at
Pee Dee, Marion county, shot at the
sheriff with a pistol at close range,
the bullet passing through the breast
of the officers coat.