The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1921-03-17

to Bamberg that the man acted very
uspiciously on the way to Branch
vile, and at one time got out Of the
car on some pretence, and acted in
such manner that Breeland also got
out for fear that the man meant to
do him harm. However, they both
finally reached Branchville about 5
O'Clock and were Immediately taken
in charge by a policeman who in
formed the sheriff.
On searching the mans effects, it
was found that he possessed a suit
case. In this case was found among
other things a pair of trousers which
were wet around the legs. He was
also found in possession of twenty
one dollars in paper and silver, in
cluding fourteen one-dollar bills. He
had already paid Breeland $3.50 for
the trip.
The negro staunchily denied any
connection with the crime, but ad-
mitted that he had been in Bamberg
Monday. On arrival in town Monday
night he was taken to the guard
house, where the body of the dead
man had been placed, and confronted
with the corpse. He denied that he
had killed him, or that he had ever
seen him before. Throughout the en-
tire proceedings he acted in a sullen
and insolent manner, proclaiming
that he had committed no crime.
1t so happened, however, that
responsible gentlemen including J. G.
Hewitt, J. W. Hill, and Probe HERS,
saw the two men enter the swamp
early in the afternoon. The dead
negro and the man in jail we're both
positively identified as being the
same negroes. It also happened that
some parties saw the accused man
coming out of the swamp short
time afterward alone, and they have
identified him as being that man.
The two men were also identified as
being the parties in Bamberg earlier
in the day, and it is said that they
were overhead to be quarreling over
some money while in Bamberg.
Perhaps the most discriminating
circumstance in regard to the whole
matter was the statement Of Bam-
berg merchant, Milton Shapiro. Mr..
Shapiro says that about one o'clock,
or shortly thereafter, negro came
into his store and bought pair OF
pants, leggins and shirt, giving him
in payment a twnty-dollar bill. Mr..
Shapiro noticed that the bill was wet,
but the negro gave no explanation
other than that it got wet in his
pocket. For. change the merchant
gave the negro fifteen one-dollar bills
and some silver. It is said that the
accused negro admits it was he who
visited Mr.. Shapiro's store.
1t was ascertained that early III
the afternoon the accused negro had
changed his clothing in Bamberg. 1t
is believed that the circumstances
point directly to him as the perpetra-
tor Of the crime, and the fact that
as soon as the crime became known
he made hasty preparations to leave
town, without due regard to his des-
tination, lends support to the evil
dence. It will be borne in mind that
it was unnecessary for him to go to
Branchville by automobile to take
any train out of that place, as the
7 O'Clock train arrives in Branchville
before the departure of any of the
evening trains.
Up to Tuesday morning the identity
of the dead negro was not ascertain
ed. and he was consequently buried
by the county in the potter's field.
The inquest was held Monday az
ternoon, at which time verdict was
rendered that an unknown negro had
been killed oy unknown parties.
Tuesday, after the arrest Of the negro
at Branchville, the inquest was re-
opened, when the verdict was amend
ed, and the negro who gave his name
as John Evans, alias Parlor Evans,
was charged with the killing. The
identity Of the dead man has not been
learned, though it is said that both
he and Evans came from Harleyville,
Dorchester county. One of the wit
nesses at the Tuesday session of the
inquest testified that he heard some
one holler as if in distress, and few
minutes afterwards he saw Evans
come out of the swamp near where
the sound was heard.