The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-08-16
THE KILLING OF
FRITZ BEHRE
Story of Homicide AS Told BY
Behre Himself and An
Eye Witness

From Daily Item, Aug. Ia.
The inquest over the body of Fritz
Behre, who died at the Tuomey Hos
pital Wednesday morning as the re-
suit of pistol shot wounds inflicted
Saturday night by Joe Wells, was held
Wednesday afternoon by Coroner w.
J. Scale The following transcript
of the more important parts Of the
testimony gives the story of the KILL
ing.
Dr.. .Chas. J. Lennon stated, Fritz
Behre's death was due to gunshot
wounds in the abdomen. One bullet
entered in the mid-ine about two
inches above the naval, penetrating
the stomach, liver, and passing
out of the body, ranging slightly up
ward and to the right of the mid-line,
lodging in the clothes. The other bull
let entered in the right loin, or the
small Of the back, penetrating the ao-
domen and perforating caecum. No
wound of exit Death was due to
the injuries resulting from these two
shots"
Sheriff C. Nj. Hurst stated that Wells
told him (Hurst) several times that
he had shot Behre. Behre had made
certain statements when he did not
expect to die. Later, when Behre
said he expected to die that he al
| firmed his former statement.
Statement by Fritz Behre at Toun1-
ney Hospital at 2:45 a. m. August -.
1919: ION the night of the 9th inst,
I was on my way home from the NOV
| ing picture show. On Ralvin street
| we were stopped by Joe Wells. He
said he had note that he wished me
to pay and handed me paper, he
fired once. AS I attempted to run, he
fred second time. ! was entirely
| urarmed. Had no pistol or gun of any
description I have been shown a
magazine pistol and was told that Joe
Wells had claimed that I dropped Ii
when he fired, but I never saw that
pistol until it was shown to me in the
Tourmney Hospital.
81 realize that my condition is des-
perate and that there is no chance for
my recovery. This statement IS true.
made in: the full consciousness that |
am about to die.
The above statement was reafflrmed
at S:45 a. m, August 13. 1919.
J. P. Maurer stated that he was
driving from Main street on Caldwell
street when he saw two men and one
woman standing on the corner. he
drove about 100 yards when he heard
a report which he took to blowout.
In five or six seconds a second re-
port was heard He stopped his car
when he heard some one scream. He
saw man lying on piazza. He
saw that the man had been shot and
he asked his name. The man replied
Fritz Rehre. and when asked who did
the shooting the man replied Joe
Wells Drs Mood and Lemon were
called and Behre carried to the hosp1-
tai.
Mrs. Ida May Cole stated that she
was with Behre at the time of the
shooting. Wells spoke to Behre and
shook hands. When Behre started
off Wells told him that he CWells)
wanted to talk to him. Behre replied
that he had not time ,as he was taking
Mrs Cole home, and would see hin
later. Joe Wells commenced talking
and said somebody had a paper on
horse that Fritz's mother had an(
wanted him (Welis) to pay for it.
saw the paper and there was NOTHING
on it. Wells took the paper and push
: ed it up in front Of Fritz's eyes ane
/, then took the pistol and put 1t OF
: Fritz and fired the first shot into ms
stomach. Fritz ran and hol!ored.
Help, Murder. and ran into MI La"
!; rnnce's ward Joe Wells stayed where
D he was and stormed al me- o"i'
G know what he said. Wells fIrea 'h'
|. second shot 1t struck Fritz III tn
back
e Mrs. Cole stated that Behre had NJ
n pistol at the time of the shooting an'
that Charlie Wells begged Behre t
Y 90 TO Wells Meat Market to tall
h about the horse. If Behre had drop