The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1916-10-10
THREE MEN KILLED,
FOURTH MAY SUCCUMB
Charley Laquire Fires Fatal Shots
Into Bodies of Two Men and
Wounds Tom McCOmbs Before
Taking Own Life.


bullets from a 32 calibre pistol
Charley Laquire, a chaingang guard,
last night killed three men, including
himself, and with two shots probably
fatally wounded a fourth. The TRACE
dy occurred at the county farm about
four miles east of town.
The dead are: Milton Townsend,
manager of the county farm and
aims house, Pamp Davis, his father
in-law, and Charley UuQu1re, the
guard who killed these tw'o men and
then killed himself. Tom McCombs,
captain Of the county gangs and a.
= brother of Supervisor j. B. McComos,
was shot twice through the right lung
and although still alive this evening
his condition is regarded as mighty
precarious and his chances Of recoT-
cry are very slight.
Charley Inquire, the guard who
ran amuck, came to town yesterday
to attend the circus. He was told by
McConbs to be back at the farm ~
O'Clock. Luquire began drinH-~.
when he reached town and was in an
ugly. mood all the Afternoon. He
started a row in a pool room and
once or twice pulled out his pistol
and threatened to "shoot up" some
body.
He did not leave town until late,
reaching the farm little after
O'Clock. Tom McCombs was sitting in
a 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 re remarked to Lu-
ouire 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
an oath Luquire pulled his pistol ana
fired twice at McCombs, both shots
taking effect in the right lung. AS
McCombs crumpled up on the buggy
seat, Mr.. Davis, VINO lives with
Townsend, his son-in-law, and VINO
was standing near, remarked, "Wny
Charley. you have killed MIR. Tom.
Without a word Luquire fired at
him. one shot piercing him in the
abdomen. Just as he fell, TOWN.
send. VINO was eating supper, rushed
out Of the huose and started down
the front path, calling out to know
what was the matter. Luquire hreo
once at MIN 80 yards away. He 100
fell with a wound through his Dooy.
Luouire then walked in the house
where Mrs. Townsend and children
were went into the room he oecu-
MED. remained about a minute ana
walked back down the front pain
McCombs saw him returning and Is
said to have said to him. Well
Charley, you have killed three or US.
Answering that was what he, started
OH to do, Luquire placed the pistol
AGAINST his own temple and fred and
with that fifth bullet ended his own
life.
Townsend, Davis and McCom0s
were rushed to the Greenwood hos
nita1 Davis and Townsend lived
only two hours. McCombs is still
living but his chances are very slight
McCombs is brother OF super
visor Jim McCombs. He has "lls
and two small children. Townsend
leaves a wife and three small child
rem. His father-in-law, Mr.. DAVIS
mas been living with him for the past
few wears. His wife is dead.
INQUIRE, who did the shooting
leaves a vile anu l"o SAA1o1 en'
are natives of this county Luquire
was reared at Callison; Townsend
and Davis are from the Cokesbury
section of the county and McComos
has lived near town most of his life.
It is believed that Luquire mad a
grudge against Mccombs, fearing that
70 was about to lose his job. 1t was
reported that Luquire had been very
active in behalf of another candidate
for supervisor against MoComps
brother and as McCombs was elected
Luquire thought he might lose MS
sob. He was regarded as dangerous
when drunk and having become
crazed with whiskey yesterday he
hoJIrc