The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1920-12-11
DEATH FROM AN
UNKNOWN CAUSE
COroner's Jury Renders Indefi-
mite Verdict After Holding
Inquest Over Body of l.. w. ,
McLemOre

The verdict of the coroner's jury,
after the completion OF the inquest
held Monday afternoon over the dead
body of I.dcian W. McLemore was:
That l.. w. McLemore died in the
city OF Sumter, December 6, from
causes unknown TO this jury.
The two witnesses, j. II. Clifton and
Al keels, VIII" were absent from the
nearing on yesterday were heard. AL
keels stated that when he came up
to MIR. Calk's office, Mr.. Clifton and
Mr. Calk were in the Office talking. lie
said that he had brought along with
him two bottles containing small
amount of rye whiskey, one bottle.
however, was not touched in the
room. He said that Clifton, Calk and
he were thinking OF breaking up and
going home when McLemore entered
the office; that McLemore was in the
best Of spirits. laughing. joking and
kidding him just as he had always
done McLemore, to his belief, was
not drinking and he was certain that
ne did not take drink while in the
room. Said McLemore finally got out
OF his chair and laid down on the
hoor. but was still talking to him as
he laid thore. Soon McLemore was
asleep on the floor and was heard
snoring. Keels states that MIR. Cliff
ton had asked McLemore severa,!
times to come on and go home, Calk
having already left the Office and gone
nome. So at about eleven o'clock
Clifton and Keels left the office. Cliff
ton said To Keels, according to the
testimony given by Keels Just leave
him there and he will soon get all
right" keels seemed to know MOTH
ing about the extra overcoat which
was found covering McLemore's dead
BODY. keels stated that he was in
formed OF the death of McLemore by
one of the police yesterday morn
ing and that he was never more sur
prised. Keels states that to his best
knowledge McLemore had not taken
drink and that he was not intoxicat-
ed.
Mr.. j. II. Clifton who was next
called as witness said that he had
started to go to his home at about 6
o'clock Sunday afternoon and was at
the transfer stand at the corner of
Main ana Liberty streets when he saw
Calk standing at a window in his Of
hce Said that he went up just to
talk to Calk and that he had talked
with him for possibly two or three
hours. Said that AL Keels then came
up and that the three had talked
Al had brought small quantity of
whiskey along. Said that they were
on the verge OF breaking up and GO
ing home when McLemore came into
the room. This was the first time
Mr. Clifton had seen McLemore in
about a month to talk to him. Cliff
ton stated that McLemore seemed in
an unusually good frame of mind and
absolutely sober. One bottle of whis.
Key that Keels had brought along
was unopened in the room. Clifton
says that he is positive that McLe-
more did not take drink while i'm
The room. After a time McLemore
got out of his chair and laid down on
the 'oor, still talking as n laid on
the hoor. Mr.. Chiffon stated To the
jury that die Fad scon McLernore lay
down on the floor e. un-lbcr of Times
before "a NJ did on Sunday night.
SAID he thought IL nothing unusual.
McLcmorc did not complain of feel
Ing badly. He was laughing and
Joking ,he whole time. Said that he
tried To get McIemore to get up and
come home several times. McLe-
more had refused. Mr.. Clifton does;
not remember about the extra over-
coat he remembered that Mr.. Nc
Lemore had on his own overcoat, but
does not remember thing about the
extra overcoat. Mr.. Clifton said that
he and Keels left for home some time
after ii o'clock on Sunday night,
leaving McIAemore in the office. He
was mover more surprised when told
OF McLemore's death at about IL
O'Clock Monday morning.
There being no other evidence OBJ
tainable the jury returned the verdict.
as above stated.