The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1916-10-11
THREE MEN. q:
KILLED, FOURTH
MAY sUCCUMB
Charley Luquire Fires
Fatal Shots Into b.
dies of Three Men. I
Kills Milton Townsend and Pomp
Davis and Wounds Tom McCombs,
Before Taking His Own Life
McCombs Will Probably Die.

McCombs Will Probably Die.
Greenwood, Oct. S.--Using three
bullets from a 80 calibre pistol,
Charley Luquire, a chaingang guard,
last night killed three men, including
himself, and with two shots prob
ably fatally wounded a fourth. The
tragedy occurred at the county farm
about four miles east of town.
The 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;a broth
er Of the Supervisor J. B. McCombs,
was shot twice through the right lung
and although still alive this evening,
his condition is regarded as highly
precarious and his chances Of recov-
|ery are very slight. .
Charley Luquire, the guard who
ran amuck, came to town yesterday
Ito attend the circus. He was told by
|McCombs to be back at the farm by
Is o'clock. Luquire began drinking
when he reached town and was in an
|ualy mood all the afternoon. He
|started a row in q pool room and
ESns 80 OF twice pulled ont his pistol
and threatened to ls shseet mp" somez y
body. ,a ss-E.l..&sska =,
He did not ieave town until late,
reaching the farm a little after 7
O'Clock. Tom McCombs was sitting in
Ia buggy in front of the residence oc-
|cupied by Manager Townsend. He
was expecting to come to town him
self and was waiting for Luquire to
return. He says he remarked to Lu-
|auire that he was late and was about
to keep the others from going to
! the night performance of the show.
Without a word in reply but with
Ian oath Luquire pulled his pistol and
fired twice at McCombs, both shots
taking effect in the right lung. AS
Mc Combs crumpled up on the buggy
seat, Mr.. Davis, who lives with
Townsend, his son-in-law, and who
was standing near, remarked, "Why
Charley, you have killed Mr.. Tom"
Without word Luquire fired at
him, one shot piercing him in the
abdomen. Just as he fell, Town
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 80 yards away. He too
fell with a wound through his body.
Luquire then walked into the house
where Mrs. Townsend and children
were, went into the room he occu-
pied, remained about minute and
walked back down the front path.
Nc Combs saw him returning and is
said to have said to him, well,
Charley, you have killed three of US"
Answering that was what he started
but to do, Luquire placed the pistol
against his own temple and fired and
With that fifth bullet ended his own
life.
McCombs is brother. of Super
Hisor Jim McCombs. He has a wife
Ind two small children. Townsend
caves a wife and three small child
Ten. His father-in-law, Mr.. Davis,
lad been living with him for the past
ew years. His wife is dead.
Luquire, who did the shooting,
caves a wife and two children. All
Ire natives of this county. Luquire
vas reared at Callison. Townsend
ind Davis are from the Cokesbury
ection OF the county and McCombs
Las lived near town most of his life.
It Is believed that Luquire had a
rudge against McCombs, fearing
hat he was about to lose his job. II
ras reported that Luquire had been
cry active in behalf of another can.
kidate for supervisor against Nc.
,ombs' brother and as McCombs was
lected Luquire thought he might lose
is job. He was regarded as dan.
,erous when drunk and having be-
ONE crazed with whiskey yesterday
e went wild and in the last hours OF
he day placed on the county the
reatest tragedy in its history TO,
khich one man can be held account.
BE. .