The dispatch-news. [volume] (Lexington, S.C.) 1919-2001, 1921-08-10
AUGUSTA ROAD
WAS SCENE EI.,, g C,
BRUTAL CRIME
Young Columbia Transfer Driver Cut
to- death at Dead of Night---At-
tempt to Lynch Suspects.

William Brazell, 10 years old, a
taxi driver of Columbia. was foully
murdered some time early Monday
morning on Sthe Augusta highway and
his BODY thrown in the woods at a
point about 200 yards from the home
81 OF Mr.hc. E. Risinger, not far from
{ Leesville. Fred Kinard and Pinck-
ney Swygert, two Leesville boys,
members of q searching party, were
the first to discover the body. Brazell
was dubbed over the head with a
blackjack and stabbed to death with
4 a. knife, there being three stab
: wounds, one in the right lung produc-
ing death. The details of the crime
reyeal 1T as one Of the most brutal
(which has occurred in South Capolina
ssin long time.
~ F. j.. Kirby, c. o. Fox and Jesse
Gappinst three white men Of Colum-
bia, are being held in custody, charg
ed with the crime. They were ar
rested near Waynesboro, Ga, when
Ethe Cadillac car, stolen from young
Brazell, baked by reason of tire
trouble. All of the men are said to
be married, but not living with their
n families. They are all Columbians.
~ According to confession said to
y have been made to the police in. AL
gusta by Kirby, the three men en-
ployed Brazell, ostensibly; to bring
81.
some "girls." Somewhere near Lees
vile they sstrtleF, Brazett- on TIRE 7fesfei
; with ai.blackjack and, although the
boy begged for his life, Offering to al
+ punity, his life was taken, the knife
which was the instrument of his
+ death, being twisted in his body when
z the murderer plunged the steel into
him. After putting Brazell out of the
4 way. the men took possession of the
car and had proceeded beyond Au-
gusta when tire trouble was encoun-
tered. The others insisted that Kirby
wire to Columbia for money, but in
stead he called officers of the law and
the trio were placed in Jail in Augusta
and the Richland and Lexington au-
sthorities notified. Sheriff Roof of
Lexington and Sheriff Heise OF Rich
Land repaired to Augusta and brought
Kirby back to the scene of the crime
in order that he might locate the
body, but it was found by the search
sing party before Kirby had located
the place. Kirby was brought to
Lexington and placed in Jail, but late
Tuesday afternoon he was removed
by Rural Policemen Asbill and Lown
ato the state penitentiary for safe
keeping. The other two men are
being still held in Augusta to prevent
a possible lynching.
Threat Of Lynching
AS the news of the murder spread
feeling in Columbia ran very high
and numbers OF automobiles loaded
with men passed through Lexington
Tuesday with the intention of inter-
cepting Sheriff Roof, who had gone
to.Gugus:a intending to bring the men
son warned the sheriff after reaching
Augusta CT the threat of lynchine and
the latter decided to allow the men
TO remain in Augusta On the way
back he was intercepted by Il crowd
of about 200 men. who when they
were satisfied that the prisoners were
not present, quietly returned to Co
lEinbia. nuring Tuesday night
party also came to the Jail in search
of Kirby, but when they learned that
he was already in the pententiary
they returned to Columbia, 1t is
generally believed that had the shcr-
iff attempted to bring the prisoners
from Augusta Tuesday there would
have been a lynching, as practically
all avenues of entrance into Colum-
bia were being watched.
The Inquest. i
Coroner Weed went to Leesville
Tuesday and empannelled the follow
ing jury to serve at the inquest: NJ.
3. Derrick, foreman; N. S. Geiger,
w. a. Rose. 1B. G. White, J. 3.
Watkins, II. S. Bolt; Jr.. j. b..