The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1916-09-14
Belk Dies of Injuries;
Assailant Gets Awav

On last Saturday afternoon excite
ment in Chesterfield and Cheraw and
all the country between was running
high. Word had flashed over the
whole of this territory with incred-
ible swiftness that a negro had at
tempted to kill Mr.. William Belk, of
near Cheraw, that a two by four
scantling had been used with ter
rible effect and the white man had
small chance to recover.
The details of the affair were at
first megre, but it was known that
large posse was looking for the as
sailant and that blood hounds from
Columbia were to be put on his trail.
Many went down from Chesterfield
to aid in the hunt and to see the
hounds work.
Mr.. William Belk was a road over
seer and it it said that he had for
some time tried to get Elwood Grace,
who is also known as Gradon and
Fuller, to do his bit of work on the
road. Grace is said to have disputed
the claim of Mr.. Belk on his services,
on the plea that he was only nineteen
years of age and that he had not
been in the territory long enough
even if he were of the proper age.
According to the best information
securable, Mr.. Belk, while driving in
buggy last Saturday afternoon, at
about 80 met the negro, who was
in another buggy with a white man.
A dispute arose between Mr.. Belk
and the negro and it is said that
strong language was used. Mr..
Belk, it is said, left his buggy and
attempted to pull Grace from his
seat. The latter got out on the
opposite side and took to his heels
across an open field, with Mr.. Belk
III pursuit. In his attempt to stop
Mr.. Belk from following him further
Grace first threw clod of dirt in
the white mans face and this failing
to have any effect, he hurled a brick
bat with such force as to shatter
the unfortunate mans jaw. Then
picking up two-by-four scantling,
the negro dealt Mr.. Belk several Sc
we're blows about the head and face,
fracturing his skull across the fore
head.
Mr.. Belk was hurried to the Ham,
let hospital in a critical condition,
where he lived until 80 Monday
morning.
The pursuit and assault were said
to have been witnessed by several
men, both white and colored, but no
effort seems to have been made to in
tervene, nor to apprehend the assail-
ant.
Though the whole territory was
secured by hundreds of citizens and
blood hounds from Columbia were
put on the trail, Grace made good
his escape. He was traced approx
imately eight miles into Marlboro
county, where the track was lost.
Grace, or Fuller, bears rather
dubious reputation as a fighter. 1t
will be recalled by Chesterfield people
that a few months ago there was
some excitement in town over the
story that white man had been bad
ly cut on the Spencer place near
town, and the story turned out to be
] greatly exaggerated as it was a col
ored boy who was cut in fight with
one of his own people. Grace was
the recipient of the wound in that
case and bears two large scars on
his face as result that will probably
aid in his identification.
The funeral services were conduct.
ed in Cheraw and the burial occurred
at the Cheraw cemetery.
| . BIRTHS "
Mr.. and Mrs. r. E. Rivers, jr., an
nounce the birth of fine boy or
last Monday night.
Mr.. and Mrs. j. L. Eddins an
nounce the birth of fine girl las
\ Tuesday evening. !