Lexington dispatch-news. [volume] (Lexington, S.C.) 1917-1919, 1918-05-15
CLUB STEWARD
FOULLY SLAIN
James MCLAUGHLIN, Steward
of Eagles Club in Colum-
bia, Murdered While
Asleep.
COLUMBIA RECORD,


lin, manager of the Eagles home, en-
tered the building from the rear. 1t
is believed that the skull of the dead
man was crushed with hatchet
which was kept in the kitchen of
the home. The hatchet is now miss
ing. The porter said that he saw
the implement in it's accustomed place
Friday afternoon.
Entrance to the rear of the build
ing was effected through door that
was priced open with a crowbar which
is now in the possession Of the chief
of police. The iron bar was found
near the door and there was unmis-
taxable signs that the door had been
priced open, the casing being dented
where the iron had been placed a.
gainst the wooden work.
The body of Mr.. Mclaughlin was
removed at about noon to the Van
Meter undertaking establishment.
The coroner, J. Blakely Scott, announ
ced that the inquest will be held Sun
day afternoon.
The police are working on several
clues in connection with two or more
theories as to the motives for the rob
berry.
What circumstances indicate to
have been a foul murder was COM
mitted in Columbia during the night.
James Mclaughlin, steward of the
Eagles home, being the victim. His
body was found beside his bed in the
front room of the home which is sit
uated at 1880 Main street.
The officers made an examination
when they reached the scene and it
was said that death was due to blow
back of the left ear. The skull was
crushed in, it was stated, and the
man died doubtless without a strug-
gle.
The entire tragic affair is shroud-
ed in mistery and the police authori-
ties, the coroner, the sheriff and all
the forces of the law are engaged in
an endeavor to ascertain the details.
The outstanding facts in the muir
der are few. The body was found at
about $50 o'clock Saturday morning
by Joe Nigel, a member of the Eag-
les, who failed to get response when
he raped on the hall door of the
reading room. He said that even at
first he felt that something was wrong
because Mr.. Mclaughlin was usually
so prompt in opening the home in the
mornings. Soon after arriving at
the outer door and while he was en-
deavoring to receive response to ms
alarm Mr.. Nigel was joined by the
colored porter of the home, who de-
clared that he had been unable to
arouse anyone on the inside.
Mr.. Niggei climbed upon the ledge
or the Main street side Of the build
ing and making his way along the
narrow coping he reached the first
window north Of the short portlco.
jPeeping in the open window Mr.. Mig
gel was mortified to discover the
bloody body of man lying on the
floor beside a bed. The bed clothing
and upper part of the mans body
were covered with blood. Mr.. Mig
gel entered the window and upon ap-
preaching the body saw that the dead
man was Mr.. Mclaughlin, the we'll
liked manager and caretaker of the
home.
Mr.. Nigel gave the alarm from
the window and then rushed upon the
street. In several minutes PATROL
man Mccullough, who was on tie
beat, was upon the scene and IN an
other brief period Chief Richardson
and Officer Tanning had come from
headquarters. In the meantime Cap
tain Irby of the local department had
rushed to the home and the officers
took charge. E. J. Bremen, worthy
president of the Eagles, H. T. Martin,
one of the trustees, and other men,
bers aided in making an inspection
of the cash register and safe to ascer
tan ii robbery had been committed.
The result Of their examination was
that they felt satisfied that nothing
had been removed by the person who
committed the crime.
The clothing on the dead man were
found on q chair near the foot of the
bed. Coroner Scott and Mr.. Bren-
nen searched the pockets of both the
ooo+ and The trO11SerS and thew found