Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1917-06-27
NEGRO KILLING NEAR MADISON.
Dave Martin Makes Statement Re-
garding Mysterious Murder.

DaVe martin, COlOred, was arrested
near Madison by Deputy Sheriff B.
r. Moss last Thursday and was
lodged In jail to await hearing in
criminal court next week on the
charge of murder. An item was
printed by us last week, from the
Westminster Tribune. At that time
nothing was known beyond the ap-
parent fact that an unknown negro's
dead body was found with an axe
nearby, with which it was evident
that be aaa been kIllsd The soreF 81
at the hands Of unknoW VI d part tfess.s ~
Murder Will Out"
however, and confession was made
last week before witnesses by the
self-accused murderer. The follow
ing Is copy Of the confession:
State Of South Carolina,
County Of Oconee.
Statement made by Dave Martin
as to murder OF John Harmon, alias
Barrel Of Trouble, near Williams 5
Camp, June II, 1917:
John Harmon and myself left Ben
nett's camp about o'clock a. M,
going in the direction Of Williams's
camp. Henry Nesbitt joined us just
before we came to second shovel and
we stopped at Williams's camp.
We three went from there to
where dead body was found on
branch. John Harmon dubbed the
cards. told him before we went to
playing I barred the rip, and he said
Damn the rip" He beat me out of
SO on the deal, and Henry Nesbitt
told me to get my money back as
John Harmon started off. Me and
John Harmon got out to the road, and
l said, What are you going to do
about the money, as 7 barred the
rip and you run it in on me?" He
said he was not going to do Cd
d-n thing. had a small stick and
ne had knife open in his hand. He
struck at me with knife and I hit
him across the car with the stick and
knocked him down. l dragged him
near the branch and hit him in the
back Of head with axe and one on
front of head. I hit him all three
licks. Henry Nesbitt searched him
and got two handkerchiefs out of his
pockets. He had eight or nine dol
lars IN his left hand when I hit him.
picked the money up before drag
ged MIN near the branch Henry
NehDltt got some silver money out Of
MS pockets, but do not know how
much Henry Nesbitt taken his shoes
or and looked to see if he had any
money IN them, but he found none.
lhe frst time I saw the axe Henry
NesDitt was leaning against it. That
was before | struck him with stick,
and when I dragged him back to the
nranch Nesbitt handed me the axe
and said, "Here, hit him with this"
| struck him twice with axe, then
Nesbitt threw his jumper Jacket over
his head. ! did not see knife after
| struck him when he was in tho
road. i do not remember who threw
the axe in the branch.
Nesbitt went toward Madison and
went toward Williams's camD, T
stayed at camp until 10 O'Clock and
gambled some more with negroes at
Williams's camp.
The killing happened about 10
O'Clock a. m.
We passed Willie May Sanders and
VIII Allen between Williams's camn
and where the killing taken place
early In the morning. John Harmon,
Henry Nesbitt and myself were to-
gether when we passed the women
near Williams's camp about 0 q, m.
saw Henry Nesbit Monday morn
ing and he said he was going to make
his long getaway. have not saw
him since. ] do not know where
Nesbitt come from.
Plumbers are among the highest