The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1918-04-18
KILLED At ASHLEY JUNCTION.
w. B. Kennedy, Of Govan, Shot to
Death Near Charleston.

W. B. Kennedy, a young white man
of Govan, this county, was shot and
fatally wounded last Wednesday at
Ashley Junction, where he was en-
ployed as a telegraph operator, by
J. w. Turner. Mr.. Kennedy died a
few hours later at a hospital in Char
lesion.
The remains were brought to Bam-
berg Thursday night, and carried
from here to Govan, where interment
occurred at Georges Creek church,
the funeral services being conducted
by Rev. P. A. Bolen, of Orangeburg,
pastor of the church.
Mr.. Kennedy was about 26 years
of age, and he is survived by a large
number of relatives in this county.
For several years he has been en-
ployed near Charleston as a tele-
graph operator He was young man
of excellent character, and his sad
ending brought sorrow to many
friends in the county. He was
brother of Mrs. E. F. Free, of this
city.
The Charleston News and Courier
contained the following account of the
inquest, which was held in Charleston
last Friday.
"The men said only a few words
and it all happened before l could
realize what it was about. Mr.. Tur-
ner fired two shots, but the shots
were not more than thirty seconds
apart" Mr.. F. L. Peoples said at the
inquest into the death of Mr.. W. B.
Kennedy.
The verdict of the coroner's jury
was death from wounds inflicted by
the pistol of j. w. Turner, who
though being held at the United
States Navy Yard, will be turned over
to the civil authorities for trial in
the general sessions court.
Mr.. Peoples was the only eyewit-
ness of the fight except Mr.. Turner'S
who was not present at the inquest.
He was placed on the stand and told
what occurred between the two men
in their short argument. Peoples
was on the witness stand more than
half the time of the inquest.
Mr.. Peoples told how he was pass
ing by the tower at Ashley Junction
about o'clock and had hollered to
Turner, who was in the tower and in
jovial way asked him if he was not
making a little extra change in hold
ing down two positions. Peoples said
Turner answered in the same spirit,
but he did not remember what ne
said.
However, Kennedy seemed to have
been in bad humor and had "seem-
ed to be mad from the first time 1
saw him that day." Mr.. Peoples said.
The train was ready to leave for the
city at this time and Peoples and
Kennedy we're going to get on when
he had yelled to Turner in passing.
Kennedy, at this time, said Turner
was the cause of his having to come
to the city that day to work and Pee
pies said Kennedy cursed Turner,
Turner is alleged to have cursed
back, using the same language. Ken
nedy then turned for the tower and
there were a few more words of in
suit passed between the men when
Kennedy pulled out his knife.
Turner had started down the steps
with his pistol in his hands. He fired,
but missed Kennedy. Peoples said ne
turned his back on Kennedy and
started to Turner to take the knife
at this stage of the fight. Turner
then came down a few more steps and
fired again. kennedy is described as
falling in his tracks, and the open
knife was picked up by his side:
Turner, who is enlisted in the Unit
ed States navy, realized what had oc-
Cured and told Mr.. Peoples to tele-
phone the city and tell what he had
done. He put the pistol up and left
for the Navy Yard, where he is being
held.
The other two witnesses did not see
the shooting. One said he heard the
first shot and looked just in time for
the second and saw Kennedy fall, but
he did not hear any words between
the men. The other man said he
heard the shots and asked Turner
what it was all about when he saw
Turner leaving, but. Turner did not
answer him.