The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1919-10-08
THOUSANDS SEARCH
FOR NEGRO SLAYER
Man Who Killed Greenville Officers
Still at Large. Raid on Gran Gimme

a discharged negro soldier, who shot
and killed a. NJ. Blair and j. l.. Kitch-
in, plain clothes officers Of the Green
Vile police department, following
raid cary this morning on a gambling
game in negro settlement in the
northwestern section of the city
known as "Bucknertown." Feverish
excitement prevailed everywhere and
opinion was expressed that the negro,
il captured, will be taken dead, al
action or violence.
Quiet prevails in the negro settle
ments and no reports had reached po-
lice headquarters Of any tendency on
the part Of members of the negro race
to invite trouble, other than in one
minor disturbance downtown which
was quickly quelled.
Officers Kitchin and Blair, together
with Sergeant Cooley of the police
force. acting upon information, went
to raid game Of craps in house in
"Bucknertown". Sergeant Cooley
went to a window, while Kftchin and
Blair entered the house, where they
found game in progress, participated
in by seven or eight negroes. Accord
ing to the sergeant, shooting by the
negro, Turner. began as soon as the
falling mor!ally wounded. The negro
then ran out Of & back door, closely
pursued by Mr.. R;air. 1t was reported
that the negro wheeled and shot the
officer down, death hcing instantan-
eous. Mr.. Kitchin was rushed to the
city hospital, but died within few
minutes after reaching there.
DR.. w. C. Blake who performed the
autopsy, said that one bullet took eff
feet in Mr.. Blairs body and that this
entered his back and passed directly
through his body. If Mr.. Blair was
shot by the negro officials can not ac-
count for the bullet entering Mr..
Blair's back Two shots took effect in
Mr.. Nitchin's body, one entering at
point in his stomach and another en-
tering near the back Of his left shoul-
de-, ranged upward and came out on
the left side of his neck. The exam
ination accounts for three shots, while
it was reported that four shots in all
were fired and none of the officers
fire single shot. The belief was eX-
pressed that the negro used a AS cal
ibre automatic pistol or .3S calibre
weapon Mr.. Blair's billet, which was
taken from his hip pocket, was mashed
in at the handle by bullet.
Both Mr.. Kitchin and Mr.. Blair were
regarded as fearless and efficient Of
ficers and had been in several close
calls. Both were about 43 years Of
age and leave good sized families. The
funeral services will be held tomor-
row.
A report Of the killing of the police
men was received at headquarters
about o'clock and as soon as verified
a general alarm was sounded, which
was responded to by federal, county
and city officers. AS the night wore
on the posse increased in numbers and
searching parties rclcntlcssly followed
every clue to its end.
While many reports were current
the most direct clue established by
circumstances and interviews with
persons who claim the ysaw a negro
answering Turner's description indi-
Gated that the negro boarded a Pied
mont & Northern electric car bound
for Spartanburg about 8 o'clock this
morning and paid the conductor for a
ticket to .Spartanburg. Hc is said to
have asked whether he could make
connection with northbound train No.
36 at Spartaiburg, and when Informed
he could not the conductor said he OBJ
served that the negro began to grow
restless. The negro then asked to be
| let off a flag station between Chick
Springs and Greer, and just before
alighting he was observed to look up
manner. He was seen to walk across
a distance Of about 100 yards to the
Southern railway track and appar-
emily walked up this track a short dis
tance and then went down high en-
bankmcnt into creek. Footprints
here proved valuable to the two blood
hounds which were brought down from
a chaingang camp in the upper section
-. = I,
about noon. The dogs did fairly we'll