The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-10-11
Three BsAa, Fova WOUNDED.
CHARLEY LUQUIRE SHOOTS
THREE OTHERS AND THEN
SENDS BULLET INTO HIS
OWN HEAD.
Milton Townsend, Pomp Davis Dead
and Tom McCOmbs May Die from
mjurics-Man Was Chaingan.
Guard nnd Had Been Drinking.

NV ""A 'uu nccn Drinking.
greenwood Oct. S.-Using three
bullets from 32 calibre pistol
Charley LuqtIire. changing guard.
last night killed three men, including
himself, ard with two shots
probably fatally wounded fourth.
The tragedy occurred at the county
farm about four miles east of town.
| The dead Gre: Milton Townsend.
manager Of she 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 comfy gangs and roth
er Of Supervisor j. 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 Lu0uire. 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'clock. Luquire began drinking
when he reached town and was In an.
ugly mood all the afternoon. He
started a row In pool room and
once or twice pulled out his pistol
and threatened to shoot up some4
body. f'' -
He did not leave town until late.
reaching the farm little after z
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. IIe 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 81 word in reply but with,
an oath Luquire pulled his pistol and
fired tiwce at McCombs. both shots
taking effsct in the right lung. AS
Mecombs crnmpled up on the buggy
seat Mr.. Davis. who lives witch
Townsend. his son.im-law. and who
was standing near. remarked. "why
Charaey. you have killed Mr. Tom
Without word Luduife fired OF
HIN one shot piercing him IN the
oeniesisI... = = =, 80 srssss-
send. who was eating supper. rushed
out OF the holse and started down
the front path. calling out to know
what was the matter. Luuuire fired
once at him SO yards away. He too
fell with a wound through his body.
Luquire thon 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.
McCombs saw him returning and is
said to have said to him, '"weil.
Charley. you hive killed three of u.s."
Answering thai. was what he started
out to do. Luquire placed the pistol
against his own temple and fired and
with that fifth bullet ended &! own
life.
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 brother of Super
visor Jim McCombs. He has wife
and two small, children. Townsend
leaves q wife and three small chill.
dren. His fatner-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
srudge against McCombs, fearing, that
he was about to lose his job. 1t was
reported that Luquire had been very
active I'm behalf OF another candidate
Tor supervisor against McCombs'
brother and as McCombs was elected
Luquire thought he might lose his
job. He was regarded as dangerous
when drunk and having become
crazed with whiskey yesterday nc
went wild and in the last hours of