Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1917-01-03
Ex-sHERIF'F Is. Il. MOSS REPORTS.
round Evidences Only OF Accidental
Deatil-PrisOners in Pcnitentiary.

Former Sheriff 3. II. Moss aud J.
B. Gillespie. who accompanied him to
Elizabeth, n. j., for the purpose of
bringing back John Walker and VIM.
carr Doth col0red, prisoner and ma
ter'al witness III murder case in
thlS county, returned to Walhalla last
night. having landed their two
charges in the South Carolina peni-
tcntiary.
Mr.. Moss and his companion left
Saturday afternoon on Southern train
NO: 3S, which left Seneca at $50
O'Clock, about one hour late, and
reached Elizabeth, n. j., at s. 80 Mon
day morning. The two special Off
GERS went direct to the Mansion
House, the scene Of the death Of She
rif Davis and Supervisor Foster, and
round the proprietor, Mrs. Campbell
On asking for breakfast it was found
that the Mansion House is a roomine
place only, no meals being served.
On this information being given them
Messrs. Moss and Gillespie stated
who they we're, their mission to New
Jersey, and asked to be shown the
room that had been occupied by
Messrs. Davis and Foster. Their re-
quest was complied with readily.
they were showed to a front room
on the third floor of the Mansion
House, and they found the room nice
ly furnished with clean, comfortable
bed. dresser, wash stand and bureau,
table and chairs. The room is venti-
lated and lighted by triple bay
window The gas fixture was found
to be two-light affair, suspended
from the center Of the room. one
arm OF the fixture extending partially
over the bed. 1t was ascertained that
Mr.. Davis died on the left side Of the
bed. next to the wall. while Mr.. Fos-
tcr's body was found lying on the
noor, the head directly under one OF
the sections Of the bay window, the
feet toward the bed, as though he had
fallen exhausted as he endeavored to
reach the window to get air. The gas
Jet farthest from the entrance to the
room was pointed out as the one
which had been lighted by Mr.. Camp
beil, a son Of the proprietor, when he
nad shown the two officers to their
room. On the call being sent from
police headquarters for MesSrs. Davis
and Foster when they were noted as
hc:n" late in meeting their appoint
mcnt. 1t was found that this was the
Jet from which the gas was escaping
After making this personal invcsti-
CATION OF the premises, Mcssrs. Moss
and Gillespie went over to police
headquarters, returning to the Man.
sion House little later with Chief
OF Police Mulcahy and the chief of
rural police. These gentlemen point
cd out in detail where the sherlm's
and supervisors bodies were found.
They stated that the clothes or the
two officers were found neatly folded
ard lying on chairs, their pistols and
watches ON the table. The money
carried by each man was found in
the trousers pockets, Mr.. Davis hav-
ing III his pocket $l22.J0 and Mr. |
Foster about $32. These Aothes and
articles showed that th4 had not
been moved or molested iRany way
when the officers were called to in
restigate.
They explained that the gas let !
nearest the head Of the bed was the |
'Ae found oren when they were called |
in. This is the jet which Mr.. Camp
bell stated that he lighted when he |
showed Messrs. Davis and Foster
their room. The police theory is that
Mr.. Foster, being the one nearest the
jet and retiring on the side OF the
bed nearest the center of the room,
It must have been he who turned off
the gas. The jet is about 61a tect
rom the floor, extending a little over
he bed and nearer the foot Of the
bed than the head The thumb
screw under the jet was found to be
badly worn and very loose, turning
with scarcely any pressure at all, and
t is the police theory, after expert
nents made in the investigat ton, that
he one who turned off the gas must
nave accidentally struck the stop
:ock at the bottom with one Of the
ingcrs. thus forcing it back into open
POSITION as the hand was taken away.
every theory has been looked into
hat might indicate foul play, and
very finding has pointed to the acct
iental death Of the two men.
Mcssrs. Moss and Gillespie saw and
alked with the doctor who came in
'csponse to the ambulance call on
he Emergency Hospital, and he stat
"a that FOR an hour and half every
'lort was made to restore respiration
~ the use OF pulmotors. But all ef-
orts were frnitleSs. Mr.. Moss look
'd up the laws OF the State Of New
ersey. finding that those regarding
uSpicious deaths are very strict, and
lso ascertaining that all the prccau-
ions possible were taken TO bring
MT any indication OF fonl play. Moth
nS indicating such condition was
Ound.
The special officers found that there
Nistcd in the city the deepest and
'ldcsprcad regret over the sad trag-
dy, and they were given assurance
I deep sympathy for our county i'm
~ n | I
olicc officials were also ready 10 give
very assistance and were at the dis
oSal OF the special officers in every
;av.
AS regards the lingering suSuicion