The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1921-10-26
RESISTING ARREST
NEGRO is KILLED
James Waller, Spartanburg County
Negro, Meets Death at Hands Of
Rural Policeman Owens.

The said James Waller came to his
death from gunshot wound received
while resisting arrest and scuffling
With Ofllcer Owens over officer Ow-
ems pistol" read the verdict of the
coroner's jury empanelled to hold the
inquest over the body Of James Waller,
colored, who died Friday from the ef-
fects OF q wound received from the pis-
tol of Rural Policeman Columbus l..
Owens the afternoon before.
The story Of the killing, as told by
the officer himself at the inquest Fri
day afternoon, was that of. a. gruelling
hand-to-hand struggle for, supremacy
in the control OF the policemans pis-
tol After two shots had gone wild and
the men had fallen to the ground and
grappled with each other time after
time, the conflict was ended when a
third shot ploughed its way through
the stomach Of Waller and took all the
fight out Of him. "I'll 60" he said, and
the rural policeman placed him in his
own car and brought him to a doctor
in town.
The shooting occurred about three
miles from the city on the Enoree road.
Mr. Owens had gone in that direction
on other business and came upon
James Waller by accident. The first
time that the policeman passed the
negro, the latter asked to be allowed
to ride, but Mr.. Owens passed on with
out stopping. The business Of the Of
ficer caused him to ride up and down
came upon the negro again at the rail
road crossing near the three mile rock.
Hailing the negro from his car, Mr..
owens put some questions to him as
to his home and destination, as he said
it is customary for him to do when he
meets strangers whom he suspects
might be criminally bent. In the
course Of the conversation, the negro
came down from the railorad and the
policeman got out Of his car. AS they
approached each other, said the officer,
he saw the negro unbutton his overalls
and commence to work his hands into
his trousers pocket underneath Con-
tinued the officer, II asked him what
he was doing in his pocket. He said he
was getting a potato. looked farther
around and saw the handle Of pistol
in his hand. / said, You had better
give ME that potato,' and reached over
with loft hand tnnl hiv off
and took the pistol out of his pocket
AS soon as | got his pistol out of his
pocket, he made a quick movement and
grabbed his pistol and mine too. In the
tussle, he jerked my pistol and it fired
into the ground. The next shot went
out toward the right. Some little time
interviewed before the next shot was
fired. We tussled a good bit, falling to
the ground several times. | got his
pistol away from him. Then he grab
bed me around the neck, both still be-
ing on the ground. pulled him part
| ly up, he still graphing for my pistol.
AS we came up, he had pulled the pis-
tol around until 1t was between us. AS
we both gripped It, 1t went off. The ne
gro then relaxed his grip and gave up.
When brought to the city and given
medical attention, 1t was evident that
death was only a matter Of time and
Friday morning he passed away
! Appearing before Judge r. c. Watts
Saturday morning, Mr.. Owens was re-
leased on $500 bond to appear for trial
at the next term Of court