The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-10-11
TaatE 1Ele, Fova WOUNDED.
CHARLEY LUQUIRE SHOOTS
THREE OTHERS AND THEN
4 SENDS PULIIET INTO HIS
OWN HEAD.
Milton Townsend, POmp Davis Dead
and Tom McCOnbs May Die from
mjurics-Man Was Cllaingan.
Guard und Had Been Drinking.

| Greenwood. Oct. S.-Using three
bullets from 32 calibre pistol
Charley Luquire. changing guard,
last night killed three men, including
himself, and with two shots
probably fatally wounded fourth.
The tragedy occurred at the county
farm about four miles east of town.
Tho dead are: Milton Townsend,
manager of the county farm and
aims house. Pomp Davis, his father
In law. and Charley Luquire, the
guard who killed these two and then
killed himself. Tom McCombs, cap
tain of the county gangs and broth
er OF Supervisor ]. b., McCombs, was
shot twice through, the right lung and
although still alive this evening. his
condition is regarded as mighty pre-
carious and his chances of recovery
are very slight.
Charley Luquire, the guard who
ran amuck. came to town yesterday
to attend the circus. He was told by
McCombs to be- back at the farm by
o o'clock. Luquire began drinking
when he reached Gown and was in an
ugly mood all the afternoon He
started row In a pool room and
once or twice pulled out his pistol
and threatened to shoot up somel
body. ','T ~ "a
He did not leave town until late,
reaching the farm little after
O'Clock. Tom McCombs was sitting in
bugsy in front OF the residence oc-
cupied by Manaser Townsend. He
was expecting to come to town him.
self and was waiting for Luquire to
return. He says he remarked to Lu-
quire that he was late and was about
to keep the others from going to
tho night performance Of the show.
Without word In reply but with
an oath Luquire pulled his pistol and
hred tiwce at McCombs. both shots
taking effect In the right lung. As
Mccombs crumplcd up on the buggy
seat. Mr.. Davis. Who lives witch
Townsend. his son.in-law, and who
was standing near, remarked, why
char1ey, you have killed Mr.. Tom,
Witls6ut a word Luduire fred at.
J hihas one shot piercing him In. the
: esuisssIs uidE . 5tst - me- fetii, qosvn-
SEND. who was eating supper. rushed
out Of the house and started down
the front path. calling out to know
what was the matter. Luquire fired
once at him so yards away. He too
fell with wound through his body.
Lnquire thcn walked into the house
where Mrs. Townsend and children
were, went into the room he occu-
Pied. remained about a minute and
walked back down the front path.
McCombs saw him returning and is
said to have said to him, ""Well.
Charley. you have killed three of u.s."
Answering that was what he started
out to do. Luquire placed the pistol
against his own temple and fired and
with that fifth bullet ended his own
life. '"f
Townsend. Davis and McCombs
were rushed to the Greenwood hos
pital. Davis and Townsend lived
only two hours. McCombs Is stir
living but his chances are very slight.
McCombs is a brother of Super
visor Jim McCombs. He has wife
and two small children. Townsend
leaves a wife and three small chill
dren. His father-in-law. Mr.. Davis,
had been living with him for the pas,
few years. His wife is dead.
Luquire. who did the shooting.
leaves wife and two children. All
are natives Of this county. Luquire
was reared at Calllson. Townsend
and Davis are from the Cokesbury
soction Of the county and McCombs
has lived near town most Of his life.
1t is believed that Luquire had a
grudge against McCombs, fearing that
he was about to lose his job. 1t was
reported that Luquire had been very
active in behalf OF another candidate
for supervisor against McCombs'
brother and as McCombs was elected
] LuQuire thought he mipbt ! Ioco hi.
Jop. lie was regarded as dangerous
wren drunk and having become
crnzed with whiskey yesterday he
went wild and in the last hours of
the day placed on the county the
greatest tragedy In it's history fBr
which one man can be held account
able.