Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1919-07-08
HENDRIX RECTOR KILLED.
Sheriff of GreenvilIe County Fell Be-
FORE Pistol of Jake Gosnell.

| fore Pistol Of Jake Gosnell.
Hendrix Rector, sheriff Of Greenville
county, was shot and killed shortly art
er IL o'clock Friday afternoon in Bris-
GOES garage on Court street, in Green
vile, by Jake Gosnell, a United States
revenue officer. The killing occurred
within less than 100 yards Of the court
house, three bullets that entered the
sheriff's body causing death in less than
ten minutes. Bad blood which had ex-
listed between the two men for years
was the cause of the killing. The sher-
ifr had a .3S calibre pearl handle
Smith & Wesson revolver in his pocket
at the time he was shot, but there was
no evidence of eye-witnesses that he
attempted to draw the weapon and
was not expecting any trouble. The
body Of the dead officer, who was one
of the most popular and efficient sher-
ifs Greenville ever had, was build
Sunday in Springwood cemetery in
| Greenville. Gosnell, the slayer, was
rushed away from Greenville soon aft
er the shooting in order to avoid possi-
BILE trouble. He Is about As years OF
age and a powerful man physically,
while the dead sheriff is Of slim build,
weighing about 140 pounds. Sheriff
Rector is survived by his widow, his
mother and four brothers.
Mrs. Gosnell was with her husband
at the time Of the shooting and she and
/ w. B. Keller, who was at one time Jail
er and deputy sheriff under Rector's
administration, and Coroner w. H. AL
lison, who had gone to interview the
sheriff on another matter, were said to
| be the only eye-witnesses. Several
meche MICS were working in the garage
at the time, but said their view OF the
h1yo
they only heard the report OF the pls-
tolls. They said they thought four shots
were fired
The sheriff fell to the concrete floor
and was unconscious and scarcely
breathing when put into an ambulance.
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 sheriffs hip pocket as his body
was being lifted into the ambulance.
There were no signs of injury to Cos
nell, it was stated.
Immediately after the shooting Cos
nell with his wife, walked calmly to
the street. A passing automobile was
hailed and Gosneli in custody or Tor
mer Sheriff Keller, accompanied by
Mrs. Gosnell, rode to the county jail.
Gosnell, few minutes later was spir-
tied away in an automobile and in GUS
| tody of United States Marshal Lyons
was carried to the state penitentiary
at Columbia for safe keeping. Govern
| or Cooper, who was at York, was COM
municated with and advised OF the
shooting.
Several thousand people congregated
at one time or another during the att
/ IN n
of the killing was spreading rapidly
to the remotest sections of the county.
No signs of violence had been report
/ ed Briscoe's garage is about 100
yards from the courthouse.
| Coroner Allison, who was at the gar
age at the time Of the shooting, SAID
the inquest would be held saturday,
and that he preferred not to make any
public statement prior to the hearing
Mrs. Gosnell, after her husoands ar
rest. said that he would have no state
ment to make until after he consulted
his attorneys.
| Ex-Deputy Sheriff Keller was quoted
by several officers as saying that rev
words we're exchanged between Sherlf1
Rector and Gosnell. He stated that
Rector, who had been standing In the
garage office waiting for his automo-
bile, walked into the storage room.
Gosnell at the time was kneeling down
looking at some part of his car. Sher,
| iff Rector is quoted saying. GOOD
Morning" to Gosnell, and the latter re-
nIied "I have no good morning for
YOU" to which Sheriff Rector Is quoted
to have replied, Il don't give damn
whether you have or not Gosneii
rose from his position it is alleged and
fired from a .32 calibre revolver Whlch
was later turned over to the corner Tor
evidence.
| Hostile feeling had existed between
the two men for several years, due
largely, it is said, to political diner
| ences. A year or so ago they hau d
fight one night on Main street ana
were tried in recorders court. Ihey
also occasionally indulged IN newspa-
per controversies in which bitterness
was expressed. -
Roth men had been very active In
notifies in the county, though Gosnell
never aspired for public office. AS a
special revenue agent, his activity was
devoted to raiding whisky distillerles.
| Sheriff Rector had a spectacular ca
| reor as an officer and was picturesque
Ito a degree. He was the leadlns
Bleaseite in the county and the PACK
hone Of the Blease- Rector organlzatlon
in the county. He was 81 years OF age
and was born and reared III the Dai
Corner section Of CLASSY Mountain'
Elected magistrate at the age or Il, ne
later came to Greenville and served as
a policeman, earning reputation dc
q fearless officer. He was elected sher-
iff the first time he ran, defeating u;
Gilreath, who had been polltlcai
power, by a majority of 16 votes.
Three years ago he was reelected on
the first ballot over five opponents, and
was an announced candidate for thlrd
term. He was frequently in the Ilme-
light and was known throughout eousf' SOU;
Carolina Sheriff Rector's chief politl-
caI strength was in the mill villages
and the county, though he received a
fiattering vote in the city in the last
i election.
/ predicts CROSSING the Ocean in a
4,Nt;