Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1919-07-09
Shots Claim Life of Sheriff
Rector.

killed by Jake GosneL IN 1he door OF
Briscoe's garage on West Court
Street at 1905 o'clock today. Sheriff
Rector was shot in three places, once
in the head, once in the shoulde,t and
the third time in the side. all en- the
right side of the body. He died be-
fore reaching the city hospital.
Mrs. Gosnell was with her husband
at the time of the shooting and she
and W. B. Keller, \who was at one
time jailer and deputy sheriff under
Rector's administration, and Coroner
W. H. Allison, who had gone to inter-
view the sheriff on another matter,
were said to be the only eye witness
es. Several mechanics were working
in the garage at the time but said
their view Of the men was obscured
by automobiles and they only heard
the report of the pistols. They said
they thought four shots were fired.
The sheriff fell to the concrete
floor and was unconscious and scarce
ly breathing when put into an ambu-
lance. The only weapon in evidence
after Jake Gosnell had been carried
to Jail and Sheriff Rector was being
placed on his death cot was the pearl
handled revolver which apparently
dropped out of the sheriff's hip pock-
ct as his body was being lifted into
the ambulance. There were no signs
of injury to Gosnell, it was stated.
Gosnell Locked Up.
Immediately after the shooting
Gosnell, with his wife, walked calmly
to the street. A passing automobile
was hailed and Gosnell, in custody of
Former Sheriff Keller, accompanied
by Mrs. Gosnell, rode to the county
Jail. Gosnell, few minutes later was
spirited away in an automobile and
in custody of United States Marshal,
Lyons, was carried to the State pen
itentiary at Columbia for safe keep
ing. Governor Cooper, who was at
York to-day was communicated with
and advised of the shooting.
Several thousand people congre-
gated at one time or another during
the afternoon, going to and fro as the
news of the killing was spreading
rapidly to the remotest sections OF
the county. No signs of violence had
been heported. Briscoe's garage is
about 100 yards from the court
house.
Coroner Allison, who was at the
garage at the time Of the shooting,
said the inquest will be held Satur-'
day, and that he preferred not to
make any statement prior to the
hearing. Mrs. Gosnell, after her hus-
bands arrest said that he would have
no statement to make until after he
consulted his attorneys.
Ex-Deputy Sheriff Keller was
quoted by several officers as saying
that few words were exchanged be-
tween Sheriff Rector and Gosnell. He
stated that Rector, who had been
standing in the garage Office waiting
for his automobile, walked into the
storage room. Gosnell at the time
was kneeling down looking at some
part of his car. Sheriff Rector is
quoted as saying, "Good morning"
to Gosnell, and the latter replied, 81
have no good morning for you," to
which Sheriff Rector is quoted to
have replied, 81 don't give damn
whether you have or not" Gosnell
rose from his position, it is alleged,
and fired from a 80 calibre revolver
which was later turned over to the
coroner for evidence.
Hostile feeling had existed between
the two men for several years, due
largely, it is said, to political differ
ences. A year or so ago they had
fight one night on Main Street; and
were tried in recorders court. They
also occasionally indulged in news
paper controversies in which bitter
ness was expressed.
Both men had been very active in
politics in the county, though Gosnell
never aspired for public Office. AS
special revenue agent, his activity
was devoted to raiding whiskey dis
tilleries.
Rector's Political Career.
Sheriff Rector had spectacular
career as an officer and was pictur-
esaue to a degree. He was the leading