The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1918-12-05
NEGRO KILLED AT DENMARK.
Caught Running Liquor Still.-Tried
to Get Away.

Alex Stevens, a negro man, was
shot near Denmark last Saturday
afternoon, and died some time later
as the result of the wounds. Stevens
was caught in the act of operating
a whiskey still, and offered resistance
to the officers when a raid was made
on his premises, resulting in a volley
of shots being fired, several of which
struck the negro as he was attempt
ing to make a get away.
1t is said the negro has been sus-
pected for some time of operating an
Illicit distillery. Deputy Robinson, a
State constable located at Denmark,
has had his eye upon the negro for
some time. Last Saturday, Deputy
Robinson, in company with three
other State constables, ]. G. Tanning,
P. J. Caldwell, and c. A. Rector,
made a raid upon S%tevens's
house, located in the suburbs
of Denmark. When they en-
tered the house, they found Stevens
operating the still. Stevens flew into
a rage Immediately and told the off,
GERS that he would die before he was
arrested, and began to put up a fight.
In the scufle, the negro fell out of
the window, and was making prog
ress toward an escape from the Off
GERS when he, vas fired upon. 1t is
said that another negro man was in
the house at the time, but that he
escaped.
The still and some whiskey was
confscated. Sunday an inquest was
held over the body of the negro. Fol
lowing is the testimony of the in
quest:
DR.. Robt. Black, who performed
the autopsy, gave the following state
ment of the wounds found in the
body: ."This is to certify that l ex-
amined the body of Alex Stevens, and
found what 1 would judge to be a IA
pistol bullet wound four inches above
and four inches to right of upper
part of hip bone. Bullet entered from
side going downward and causing
shock and internal hemorrhage,
which was sufficient to produce death.
l also found pistol bullet wound in
middle of left arm, going through
arm, entering from inside. A pistol.
bullet wound one inch above left hip
bone at the side going downward; a
pistol bullet wound at about the same
place on right side going downward
and backward. There was also a
CASH three inches above right ear"
Elite Stevens, wife of Alex Stevens,
was the only eye witness sworn. She
said: when they came up, I walked
in. l met Alex at the middle door.
When I>got to next door l met one
of the other men. He came on in.
That time they went to tussling. l
reached down and got the baby. They
fell out of the window. l spoke to
them before they went out window
and told him to give up. That time
I heard a pistol shot. In about a
minute l heard two or three shots.
l peeped out window and saw him
lying on other side of automobile. |
said can 1 go out and see where he is
hit or will you 80 see? They said
go if you want to. l said, help me
to put him in the bed, please. Make
him a d. bed on the ground, for he
is dying. He said you can go fix bed
for him, 1 will help you. He said,
there amt no. need, for he is dead.
MI. Robinson, you heard him say he
would kill me so 1 had to kill him.
This is all l know"
The verdict of the jury was that
Stevens came to his death at the
hands of parties unknown to the
jury.