Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1921-05-16
BILL SCARBOROUGH IS
MURDERED IN HIS STORE,

whether this man was white or
negro.
Fullbright was probably the last
person who saw Scarborough alive.
He saw him about dark Saturday af-
aernoon. Two tall white men who
said they were from Webster county,
were in Scarborough's store a day
or two ago and pawned him a VIM
chester rife and other weapons for
two barrels of syrup, Fullbright said,
the men being of suspicious appear
ance. Just before concluding his
testimony Fullbright said he saw a
car with three lights burning turn
out of the road near Scarborough's
store about the same time the five
shots already told about were fired.
Lucille Brown, a negro woman ten
ant of Scarborough testified she last
saw him Friday afternoon. She
heard some shooting about $3.50
O'Clock Saturday night but did not
count the shots. 1t seemed like three
shots were fired, she said She also
saw light in the field road back of
Scarborough's store about the same
time, bat did not hear any automo-
bile there She swore she did not
see any man in her yard her testi-
mony in this respect differing from
/ that given by Fullbright.
The only other witnesses examined
by the jury were DR.. Chambliss, who
told of Scarborough's wounds, and
Deputy Sheriff Summers, who de-
scribed his investigation into the
murder, as already told about in this
article.
Jury Takes Recess
The Jury then adjourned until
/ Thursday afternoon to permit further
investigation into the murder. An
other session will be held on that date
at o'clock in the office of Sheriff
Harvey.
Bryan who is a gunsmith employed
at Jack T.nsley's shop on East La
mar street, was seen Monday MORN
ing by a Times-Recorde reporter, in
company with Chief of Police Bragg.
Bryan telephoned the first call to
Chief Bragg Sunday afternoon, but
was told Scarborough's store was
outside of the chiefs jurisdiction and
referred to Sheriff Harvey or Deputy
Summers.
II was out there Sunday afternoon
to get some plums," said he, when l.
saw some footprints leading across
the field toward Mr. Scarborough
store, and signs of a man crawling
back 1t looked suspicious, so on
my way back | walked up toward the
store. passed the negro woman
who lives on the place and asked her
/ if Mr. Scarborough was up at the
| store She said he was not but that
the front door was open, knew
this was unusual and went on up
there and found the door open, as she
had said.
81 called two or three times Mr.,
| Scarborough's name, then kicked on
the door There was no answer. |
told Mr.. Fullbright that l bet the
old man was in there dead He said
if felt that way about it | had bet
! ter call an officer, so | went down
| to a telephone nearby and called
Chief. Bragg. He referred me to the
sheriff and soon got in touch with
Deputy Sheriff Summers who came
on out He and |, accompanied by
| Mr. Fullbright, went inside, Mr.. Sum-
mers leading the way. Mr. Summers
held a light and soon he called out,
Here he. IS, and | looked and saw
him lying there dead in one of the
aisles."
FulIbright Had Gun
Questioned as to whether any sts-
picious persons had been seen about
! the place, he said Mr. Fullbright told
him that Saturday night he saw a
man sneaking across the, field to-
ward the store and back, and that he
ran and got his gun, but then the
thought occurred to him that some
body was hiding some whisky in the
bushes and he put his gun away.
Mr.. Scarborough was eccentric and
one of the most picturesque charac-
ters of the community. For about
8 years he had lived alone in his store
at the top of the first hill outside Of
Americus on the Plains road, where
he keot a general store. cluttered VI
with goods of almost all kinds, mixeC
with curiosities, relics, and such be
longings as are commonly referred tt
as sunk" He also loaned money, i
is said He was reputed to be YER,
wealthy and to keep his money hid
den in fruit lars, tin cans, tobacc,
boxes, hooks and crannies every
where about the store. reputation
which was borne out by nearly al
persons who in course of business Ia,
occasion to &c to his store to collec
anv considerable amount of money.
I His visits up town were compare
/ lively infrequent, but he was on han
| nearly every sherif's sale at tn
$ court house with cash ready to bi
I in any piece of nroperty that appear
! ed to be particularly inviting ban
S gain. IN these purchases he eXhib
e tied skill as a sharp trader and bar
e gain hunter As a result of his con
a stant alertness for bargains he ha'
e amassed considerable holding il
t reality in this vicinity, from cheal
d negro property to farm lands.
~ J \