Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1920-12-29
YOUNG BOY BEATEN TO DEATH.
Marion Simpson Victim OF Thugs, Ev-
idently Bent to Robbery.
(Anderson Mail, Dec. 27.)

| near Pendleton, was found this morn
| Ing by the train crew Of the Blue
Ridge passenger train, lying beside
| the railroad track between the sta
| tions Of Sandy Springs and Denver.
| Life was almost extinct when the
body was discovered, but the boy was
| partially revived by the train crew,
and when the train reached Anderson
! he was still alive. but UNCONSCIOUS.
The spot where the body was found
| by the train crew is seven and three
quarter miles from Anderson. The
tragedy was enacted near the tracks
OF the railroad, about eight feet on
the southern side of the track and
just at the end Of cut. The boys
body was found there almost stiff
and cold. and was brought on to An
derson on the train. His clothing was
soaking wet, his uniform being mud
spattered and torn. His face and
hands were bloody, and all Of the but
tons Of his uniform pockets were un-
buttoned, denoting that the pockets
had been rifed. His pocket book was
found in his pocket, but no money
was contained therein.
Mystery About tho Murder.
Complete mystery surrounds the
murder Of this young soldier. His
hat shows two holes through the
crown, which appeared to be bullet
holes, but the examination Of the
doctors cause them to make the state
ment that they do not think it likely
that the wounds upon the head were
caused by bullets. That the young
man was most foully attacked, beaten
into Inconsistencies, and then left
| lying in the down-pouring rain is the
most plausible conjecture The death
was most likely caused by exposure
to the cold and rain Of last evening.
Signs Of Struggle.
Pat II. Hobson, the agent at Sandy
Springs, made a trip to the scene Of
the tragedy. He made a thorough
examination of the surrounding terri
tory. The place Is described as being
located in comparatively open coun-
try, the track at this place being up
on about two-foot fill. The sides Of
the right-of-way were muddy, but the
track itself. ballasted and with Gin
ders showing no mud ,and made trail
ing impossible.
Numerous eo7tnriuts. made before
lha rani % last night ccased, show
thnt grrrBH'o had taken place. The
fn0tprint@ darotc tha' $50 persons
attacked the young soiiCr, for the
prints wore clearly not all made by
the same person, differing completely
in size. From the marks it Is de-
Quoted that the struggle was vio-
lent one. and that the young soldier
was struck over the head from be-
hind his back, and that this blow
failed to stun him. After struggling
with his antagonists for some time
he was again struck over the head.
this time being rendered unconscious
and at the mercy Of his enemies.
That the struggle was a terrific and
a violent one while 1t lasted Is shown
by the fact that the ground Is torn
up. Blood marks are shown upon the
root Of a small pine tree near where
Simpson fell.
Marion Simpson, It is said, was ab-
sent without leave from the army
about two months ago, and was ar
rested at Pendleton by officer Whit
lock and taken to Atlanta. Since
that time he has been seen back at
Pendleton. E. P. Werner, a young
white man. stated that he saw Simp-
son in Pendleton two weeks ago. Mr..
Hobson says that mon at Sandy
Springs this morning state positively
that they saw Simpson in Pendleton
yesterday.
Marion Simpson was 1S years Of
i age, and was a son Of Mr.. and Mrs.
William Simpson, who lives about 3
miles out from Pendleton. He has
two brothers, Floyd and James Simp-
son, who live at Anderson mill in
this city. He also has two sisters
who survive him.
While he was lying unconscious at
the hospital this morning. according
to nurses and physicians attending
him, he seemed to try to say some
Thing but q pumbI wae all tho I
could be heard.
Call Meeting American Legion.