The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1920-11-13
McLaurin Found
g.. in Charlotte

| COlumDla, Nov. 9--The weight of fl
| nancial obligations is believed to have
! Jeen the cause of the disappearance
of Thomas Breedin McLaurin, Ben
nettsville bank president, who yester.
day afternoon left q note with his
| clothes on the bank OF the Pee Dee
river. Bank Examiner w. w. Brad
ley is leaving during the afternoon
Tor Bennettsvilie. to make an investi.
CATION of the situation. Pending Mr.
Bradley's investigation the bank has
been ordered by the State bank ex-
aminer's Office TO remain closed.
Though 1t is stated the bank Is in good
condition, that Mr.. McLaurin's indebt-
edness TO the bank, of which he was
president The y Mutual Savings, was
only normal and well protected. It is
stated that Mr., McLaurin also owed
some money to, other banks and in
dividuals. ,r. III r....
Columbia; Nov. 9.-Thomas B. Nc
Laurin, ,Bennettsvile banker who dis
appeared Monday afternoon, was to-
| day found in Charlotte, according, 10
advices received here today. He
bought new shoes and hat at Rock
ingham and left his old ones on the
| Pee Dee river bank. with note stating
that He thought it best to do this.
Gastonia, n. c., Nov. S.-After a
| night and day of investigation and
search, officers late tonight were ap-
parently nowhere near solution OF
the mysterious tragedy enacted three
miles from here last night when John
Ford, a we'll connected young man
OF Lincolnton, N. c., was shot to
death and young woman of Gas
while on an automobile ride with
Ransom Killian OF Lincolnton and
another young woman Of Gastonia
No arrests have been made.
Officers returned tonight from
Blacksburg, S. c., where they went
today TO investigate report that
two negroes had beer arrested there
on suspicion OF Implication in the
crime. The reporl proved unfound-
ed and the officers returned without
new information. They were accom-
panied by Ransom Killan, who was
taken along to identify the negroes
reported held there.
Excitement which was high last
night, greatly subsidized today and in
terest ccntered in the account Of the
alleged hoidup and killing as given
by young Killian. at the coroner's
inquest. He said that while tho four
were riding out toward Bessemer
City. they stopped and Ford and one
young woman got out of the car and
walked out Of sight, while the wit
ness apd the other remained in the
automobile. After few minutes, a
negro Approached from the, wood
held him up at the point Of pistol
and robbed him Of few dollars
firing his revolver threo times, one
of the bullets striking the young wo-
man. About the same time other
shots were heard in the direction
Ford and the other girl had gone
and second negro approached and
said he had shot the other man down
yondcr." At this point Killian's tes-
timony was interrupted by the Off
GERS who took him to Blacksburg.
The shooting is saiG to have oc-
Cured about 1880 p. M. but it was
not reported until nearly 10 o'clock
when Killian and the girls brought
the body of Ford to the city.
City council in session tonight Of
fercd a reward of $500 for the arrest
Of the guilty parties or evidence
leading to conviction.
Coroner w. n. Davis jury adjourn
ed late tonight, after an all day
hearing, without having completed it's
investigation. The inNncst will be re-
sumcd Tuesday.