The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1921-09-26
NEGRO MAN KILLED
BY J.R. M 'ALL|S1ER
OVER COTTON
SEED MONEY RESULTS IN
DEATH FOR oNE-MeALIsTER
ADMITS SHOOTING AND
CLAIMS SELF DEFENSE.


from the sale of cotton seed, j. R.
McAister of Iva, Anderson county,
Saturday about 2 o'clock, shot and
killed John Hall, a negro about 60
year old. The shooting took place on
the Burt farm near Lowndesvile
which is rented by McAlister, and
sub-rented to the negro, Hall. Mr..
McAIister came to Abbeville imme-
diately after the shooting and sur
rendered. He was released today ur-
der habeas corpus proceedings be-
fore Chief Justice Gary.
According to testimony at the
hearing today Mr.. McAlister had
spent Friday night in a room at
Halls house. Saturday afternoon
McAlister and Hall were In the lot
near the house. Hall had returned
from Lowndesville where he had sold
a load of cotton seed. Hall had pick
ed the cotton from crop which had
been deserted by Luther Dobbs, an
other share-cropper on the same
hand. Luther Dobbs owed Mr.. Nc
Alister money and the latter asked
Hall to make out the bill for picking
the cotton and he would pay him
from the seed money. Hall said
Dobbs had told him to bring the
money to him and that he would do
it. 3
During this discussion the two
were squatted on the ground. Mr.
lMcAlister told Hall that he could
not take the money to Dobbs as
Dobbs owed him. Then the negro
rose and struck at Mr.. McAlister,
the latter warding off the blow with
his hands. He ran back to his auto
mobile and grabbed his gun. Hall
started toward him, thrusting his
right hand in the side pocket Of his
trousers.
Mr.. McAlister says Hall was
known to carry a Al Calibre Der
ringer pistol, and in fear for his own
life he shot Hall.
Bond was fixed by Judge Gary at
81 900 and he was released this morn
ing.
Hall, the dead negro, is said to
have very bad reputation in his
community. He shot and wounded
one man several years ago, and es-
capped to Florida. He is also said to
have shot man in Florida.
At the inquest held Sunday the fol-
lowing testimony was heard by Cor
oner Cox:
DR.. D. S. Knox testified as to the
nature Of the wound which caused
Halls death. He said the bullet en-
tered the neck about two inches be-
low the juncture of the chin and neck
and ranged slightly downward, COM
ing out just inside of right shoulder
blade.
Miss Annie Waters, an eyewitness,
said:
II live in Abbeville County where
this homicide took place. Yesterday
Saturday. about l o'clock, John
Hall, who lives here, and ]. R. Nc
Allister came. They were disputing
about cotton seed. The first thing 1
saw was John Hall ran to MIR. Nc
Allister and said he did not like it
a dam bit. Then Mr.. McAllister struck
at Hall with his fist. Hall ran back
and then Mr.. Allister jumped on the
running board of his (McAllister's)
automobile and grabbed his gun. At
this time Hall was advancing on Mr..
McAllister with his right hand in his
right pocket. When within ten to
fifteen feet of McAllister, McAlliter
fired. It was Winchester rifle. Hall
was hit in front. He ran little piece
and fell. Hall never spoke. saw one
of Halls daughters 60 to the body
of Hall and take two pocketbooks,
some papers and a pistol from Halls
pocket after Hall fell. Hall sub-rents
from McAllister. When Mr.. McAll-
ister was down here he lived upstairs
in the same house with Hail."
The verdict of the coroner's jury