Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1921-03-16
THE KILLING OF HoLcoMBE.
Easiey Chief was Fine Ofiiccr--A
Few Facts in tho Case.
(Easley Progress.


In the most sensational pistol bat
tie in the history Of Pickens county
Chief Of Police Walter G. Holcombe,
Of Easley, was instantly killed, and
Wade Ballew, an alleged hobo, re-
ceived wounds which are expected
to prove fatal. Others participating
in the battle were Rural Policeman
Il. y. Chapman, Deputy Sheriff John
Robert Wilson, a partner Of Ballew.
AS Chief Holcombe was about to ar
rest Ballew the latter shot the chief
in tho head without warning, killing
him instantly. This shot Immediate
ly precipitated a battle between
Chapman and Lesley on one side
and Ballew and Wilson on the other,
thirty shots being fired within few
seconds at close range, while pistols
were shot empty and reloaded dur
ing the battle. Chief Holcombe and
Wade Ballew were the only ones in
jured.
The shooting occurred on the Hig-
gins creek, near the co1ored ceme-
terry, in Easley, about 1.20 o'clock
Monday afternoon. Officers Chapman
and Lesley succeeded in arresting
Ballcw and Wilson about 800 yards
down the creek in Higgins pasture,
and lodged them in the county jail
almost before the people Of the town
| knew Of the occurrence. Late Tues
| day evening the prisoners were re-
| moved from the pickens jail and car
ricd to the State penitnetiary.
story Of tho Battle.
Officers llolcOmbe, Chapman and
| Lesley had been called to arrest two
| strangers who had alighted from
freight train near the Alice Cotton
Mill and who were believed TO be
| hoboes. The officers were accompan-
led by Geo. Cooper, local citenz
who, however, took no part in the
| shooting. Coming upon the strang-
ers the ocffiers found them preparing
| to bathe in the creek. Mr.. Lesley
| took hold of the arm of the man who
| afterwards proved to be Wilson and
| told him he was under arrest Will
son made efforts to shake the officer
off when Policeman Chapman took
hold Of Wilson's other arm. Chief
Holcombe passed on by and behind
the other officers to take charge Of
the man who afterwards proved to
be Ballew, and who was sitting down
| washing his feet. Just before Mr..
| Holcombe got to Ballcw It Is said,
the latter drew HIS pistol from be-
meath his clothing, and called out,
| Hold up your hands, every one of
| you!" When Ballew said this Police
man Chapman looked around just in
| time to see the stranger put his pis-
tol in Chief Holcombe's face and
fire. Mr.. Holcombe falling instantly.
AS the shot was fred Champan and
| Lesley released their holds on Will
son in order to get their guns. I'M
| mediately after the first shot Ballew
shot twice at Mr.. Cooper, neither
| shot taking effect. In the m eantime
Wilson had protected himself by ly-
ing down in a gulley just at hand,
Policeman Chapman leaned back be-
hind a slight projection of the creek
bank and Mr.. Lesley gained the bank
| Of the creek. All this happened al
| most in an. instant, and the fight was
on. Before Ballew had time to move
to place of safety he was shot
down by Mr.. Chapman. Rising to his
knees Ballew renewed his shooting
and emptied his gun at the police
man, while the policeman in return
emptied his gun at Ballew While
| this was going on Lesley and Will
son were emptying their guns at
! each other, and the smoke from the
rapid fire of tho four pistols at close
| range settled on the battlefield be-
| tween the creek banks like q heavy
fog. and the combatants could see
each other with difficulty. While
the officers were reloading to renew
the battle, Mr.. Lesley, who was on
top Of the creek bank, discovered
that the strangers had retreated
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