The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1920-04-09
NEGRO SHOOTS NEGRO
MAN DIES LATER
All About a Woman-Werts Has
Been Arrested And is in Jail
Awaiting Trial.

fire in west Main street on Monday
night, between 10 and II o'clock,
commotion was created off Harring-
ton street in rear of the lot adjoining
the residence lot of Mr.. J. L. Boozer
and white families Of the immediate
vicinity were disturbed by the row.
For instance, quickly after the shoot
ing, Mr.. Thomas P. Johnson was
/ called to his door by excited shouts,
when upon opening the door the
wounded man fell on the porch and
woman with him asked that help be
summoned, Efforts were at once
made to hurry physician to the
scene and phone messages despatched
! to sheriff and police headquarters.
DR.. Ellesor arrived promptly and Off
GERS of the law got there so quickly
it seemed they had hardly had time
to get the message.
J In the meantime Mr.. Johnson had
told the negroes to take the wounded
man to a nearby. negro house so that
he could receive proper attention. The
man was carried to the home of Clint
Rivers, the irst house on the lot, op-
posite Mr.. Johnson's. The shooting
occurred in a house back of that, the
home of Lila Werts, the separated
| wife of Archie Werts. And there
by hangs the tale. Archie Werts, who
| it seems was still in the habit of visit
ing there, paid another visit that
| night and found Simon Robertson in
the room with Lila and two other
women, one of whom, however, was
his own wife. Werts did not wish to
have Simon paying attention to his
| woman and resented the intrusion by
Immediately opening fire.
Robertson received his death
wound, dying Tuesday night at his
home on the Brooklyn side of New
/ berry, whence he had been taken, the
end coming at about 10 o'clock. Dr..
Ellesor pronounced the wound fatal
as soon as he saw it. Other particu-
! lars follow wleh the inquest findings.
Losing no time after their arrival
the officers got busy ON the case.
Werts had left abruptly following the
committal of his bloody deed. Deputy
Taylor and Policeman Tobias staid in
one end of the Werts house the bal
ance of the night, thinking their man
would probably return for his cloth
ing, etc. But the wanted criminal
had fled to parts unknown. Early
the following morning the waiting
officials found Werts' gun under the
house where he had thrown it as he
was making his hurried flight. 1t was
80 U. S. 6-inch barrel with one
shell missing.
Returning to headquarters prepara-
tions for leaving no stone unturned in
the efforts to capture the fugitive
were at once put into execution.
Sheriff Blease wrote full descriptions
of the missing man and despatched
Deputy Taylor to the union depot re-
questing Agent Letter to hand them
to all conductors of passing trains.
The sheriff got in telephone COM
munication with other sheriffs in the
state, and Deputy Sheriff McCarley
was promptly put on the man hunt.
That officer seem to know how to
get on the ira between and
8 o'clock the an corning near
Vaughnville, he h, arrested Werts,
who is now in Ja.. to await his trial
in the sessions court.
Coroner Lindsay held the inquest
on Wednesday morning before the
; following jury: G. B. Summer, fore
man; w. j. Swittenberg, H. Pet
Baker, Leo Hamilton, ". E. Wallace
and c. II. Williams After reviewing
! the evidence the jury returned Ner-
dict that the said Simon Robertson
came to his death by pistol shot
! wound at the hands of Archie Werts.
the attending physician having fur
nished the following certificate:
"This certifes that Simon Robert
son died on the night of April 8,
1920, from a pistol shot wound in his
right side"
(Signed) P. G. Ellesor, M. D.
The ball went through the aeshy
part of Robertson's right arm, PEN
etrating his side and ranged down
into the abdomen.
There were only three eye wit
,oreoc +o Tho offair They were sworn