The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1921-12-21
POLICEMAN MARTIN
SLAIN ON HIGHWAY
Helping County Officers
Capture Liquor Runners
CLINTON MEN
HELD FOR CRIME

HtuhSoNul NAShb w HUI
Luther TimmOns and MunrOc Will
lard are Intercepted on Alleged
Whisky Trip.
Luther Timmons and Monroe Will
lard, two young white men OF Clinton,
We're taken in charge early Thursday
morning by Sheriff Reid following the
fatal shooting the night before of Po-
liceman Hosea Martin, of this CITY,
which onccurrcd in the public road
near tho Wright place in the Lisbon
community between Boyd's cross road
and Clinton. The same afternoon the
two men were carried to the state
pcnitentiary for safe keeping.
Fne killing, which has aroused pub
lie sentiment in the county as few 9TH
or crilnos have done, was the result Of
the attempt Of county rural police and
Gaurens city police to intercept Luther
~Timmons On his return to Clinton
Tropl the mountains with load of
whiskey. Ohicers did not know be-
fore the killing that Willard was also
18th Timmons
According to the testimony at the
Inquest, Rural Policeman Abrams,
whose territory is below Clinton, en-
listed tho aid Of Rural Policeman Ow-
ems and City Policemen Crews. Wham
and Martin They set traps to inter-
ccpt Timmons Wednesday, night about
9 o'clock between here and Grccnvilie,
but he evaded the officers by taking
, roundabout tour through the Trinity
community on to Boyd's cross road
by the Hill place and thence through
the Iisbon community to Clinton. Ru-
ral Policeman Owens and City Police
man Wllam, stationed at Barksdale,
saw Timmons pass about nine O'clock
with another man later found to be
Willard. They were unable to catch
UP with them, so after making an at
tempt to head him off at this end of
the line, the entire posse went around
by Clinton to meet him coming in the
opposite direction.
The officers, riding in two cars, one
in front with Officers Abrams, Crews
aud Martin and followed by the other
with officers Owens and Wham, met
the liquor car near Lisbon about II
O'Clock. AS tho Timmons car sudden
,ly hove into sight the front car OF Of
ficers turned out to the right Of the
road and slackened their car to stop.
Just as the Timmons car was about
to pass, Chief Crews jumped out of his
Gar an" attempted 20 cut off 'be Tim
mons car from behind. Policeman
Martn. who. was sitting on the back
seat, got cut from Tic rear and. at
tempted to stop the Timmons car,
from in front. AS he was within
few feet OF the Timmons car, near the
left fender, two shots were fired from
the Timmon3 car, according to the
testimony Of the officers, and Martin
fell to the ground. The Timmons car
did not stop, but turned to the left
into a field between the fallen man and
Officers Abrams andSWham, who had
just arrived. AS they made their cs-
capo, Officer Martin shot from his fall
len position and Chief Crews also op-
cncd fire in an attempt to stop them,
but they got away .One OF the shots
FROM the pistol Of Chief Crews hit
the car about pli, inch from the top Of
the rear seat.SfssgNt5
Oniccrs Owens and Wham gave pur-
suit while. the Messrs. Crews and
Abrams took care Of Policeman Mar
tin. The two men made good their
escape into Clinton, however but the
two officers picked up ten-gallon keg
Of whiskey which it was thought the
fleeing men drorDed in their flight,
and also an automobile casing which
had run off OF the left rear wheel. Ar
irving in Clinton, the officers found
the car at q. filling station, but the
men had departed. Later in the night
they surrendered to Sheriff Reid, who
! had been notified Of the homicide and
{ who had gone to Clinton2to assist in
1 their capture.
y Policeman Martin was hurried to
( the Clinton hospital, but was in q dy-
& ing condition whom he arrived there,
He only lived a few minutes aftcr
B reaching the hospital.
Testifying at the. inquest. Chief
Continued on Page 5)
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