Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1917-01-03

Oconee mourns the loss of two OF
the most efficient officers who had
ever served our people.
Sheriff John w. Davis and Super
visor William G. Foster lost their
lives last Wednesday night at Eliza
beth, New Jersey, where they had
gone in official capacity to take into
their custody John Walker, colored,
wanted to answer to the charge of
murder in Oconee, and William Carr,
also colored, material witness
against Walker. Walker shot and
almost instantly killed Walter Dodd,
colored, at the construction camp Of
Willard & Boggs, near Madison, this
county, on August Sth, last year, and
succeeded In making good his escape.
Sheriff Davis had been active in get
ting information in the case, with de-
scription OF the negro, into the hands
Of sheriffs and police officials all over
the country, with the result that
notice was received about two
weeks ago to the effect that Walker
was held at Elizabeth, N. j., and
would be turned over to Oconee Off
cials upon presentation of the proper
Papers for his return to South Caro-
Ina. Acting with his usual prompt
ness, SheriN Davis soon had the nee
essary requisition papers for both
Walker and Carr, and on Christmas
afternoon he, accompanied by Super
visor Foster, left Walhalla on the way
to New Jersey.
Death Overtal1es Both Officials.
Mr.. Davis and Mr.. Foster reached
Elizabeth Wednesday evening, going
at once to police headquarters, where
they conferred with officials regard
ing their mission, but Chief Of Police
Mulcahy was not III his office at the
time Of their visit.
Mr.. Davis and Mr.. Foster, how
ever, were cordially received by off,
cials at the Elizabeth police head
Quarters, and seem to have made a
number Of friends among the head
quarters men, who showed them
>ourtesies in trips over the city and
to ~ 'wark auto. The party re-
turned to Elizabeth late. according to
accounts given in the Elizabeth Jour
nal, and 1t was about midnight when,
tired out from their long trip to New
Jersey and their later pleasure tours,
Messrs. Davis and Foster retired at
the Mansion House. The story as
told by the proprietor of the hotel
states that Mr.. Davis and Mr.. Foster
were in high spirits at the time he
lett them at their room door. This
was the last seen of the two men
alive.
The Elizabeth Journal, along witt,
the police authorities, at first sus-
pecttd that Mr.. Davis or Mr.. Foster
had blown out the gas, thus leaving
t9e Gas to flow. This theory has
been abandoned, however, on an in.
vestiyation Of the room, where it was
found-as was generally supposed
here---that the gas fixtures in the
ho'el room were Of such an antiquat-
ed style and SO badly worn as to have
made just such an accident as occur
red liable to take place at any time.
With the condition prevailing, rs re-.
ported from an Investigation, the
wonder is that 1t had not occurred
before the horrible tragedy OF last
Wednesday night
The theory OF foul play has been
pretty we'll abandoned In the minds
OF those who have thought deeply of
the case, though there are those who
wonder. and with reason, why the
door Of the room was left unlocked.
This act, If the door was capable Of
being locked, showed a throwing
away Of the ordinary precautions
taken by travellers, though neither
Mr.. Davis nor Mr. Foster was a stick
Ter for taking over-careful thought of
personal safety. Whatever element
OF suspicion Of foul play still re-
mains seems to rest upon the theory
that some negro employee OF the