The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-12-31
Shooting Spree
at Allendale
Lewis Davis Shoots Earl
Frampton and Then Takes
Poison

Allendale, Dec 27.-Earl Tramp
ton, a prominent farmer and a pop
ular young man OF this section. was
shot and probably fatally wounded
about two miles from here this af-
ternoon by his cousin, Lewis Davis.
Davis Immediately after the shoot
ing took about Is grains Of poison
and lies III q desperate condition at
a hotel here tonight with doctor
in attendance. There is a possibil
ity OF his recovery, doctors said to-
night, as the period Of greatest
Danger has passed. His recovery
is considered remarkable as the
dose taken was unusually large
Frampton, the wounded man,
was taken 10 a sanitariurn in Char
lesion this afternoon. The general
opinion was that the wound would
prove fatal, he being shot through
the abdomen, the ball entering near
the left side in the rear Of the body
and coming out in the front on the
right side. The weapon used was
.3S automatic
The details Of the motive OF the
crime are very scant. 1t appears
that Frampton, who is q first cous-
in of Davis, lived in the home OF
Davis together with his father and
20 sisters. Davis only statement
aster the shooting was that il was
due to family troubles. Members
Of the family of the wounded man
were SO excited that no coherent
statement could be gained at the
home where the shooting occurred.
It was some time after the shooting
before the news reached AllenGale,
although the place where 1t oc-
Cured is only TWO miles from here.
4 resident of Allendale happened
to pass the home after the shoot
ing occurred and coming on into
Allendale reported the news to
Sheriff Bennett, who Immediately
went TO the scene OF the crime to-
gether with several deputies and a
doctor.
Immediate attention was given
to Frampton and he was taken TO
Charleston by AlIendale physicians
this afternoon on the Charleston &
Western Carolina train.
Davis, who did the shooting,
was found upstairs in his home
with an empty bottle that contained
poison by his side. He stated that
he had taken the entire bottle and
requested to be allowed to stay in
the room few minutes as he be-
lieved he would be dead at the end
OF that time. He was taken in
charge by Sheriff Bennett, however,
and brought to Allendale. He was
having convulsions when he reach
ed here but after attention by a
physician he appeared 10 have
slightly recovered and is resting
fairly well tonight.
At the request Of physicians he is
being allowed TO remain here to-
night instead of being removed to
the Parnwell Jail where the Allen
dale county prisoners are being
kept. He will be removed there
early tomorrow if his condition
warrants the removal.
No news from Frampton has
been heard since his removal to
Charleston this afternoon. The
father of Frampton made a state
ment after the shooting that Davis
had made odd threats and appear
ed in other ways TO be mentally un-
balanced during the past six
months, but that he knew Of no dl-
rect motive for the alleged crime.
Both Of the parties in the difficulty
are prominent in this section and
Davis is reported to be very
wealthy, having just completed
large and expensive home.