Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1922-11-10
Account The kiillsg OF Mr.. Afford
At Waynssboro By Negro
Ben Webster.

| ''"nuhJ dtcTHDOn tine e0JlFe Town
an1 vicinity we're shocked by a most
deplorable tragedy. resulting in the
death of Frank N. Afford, contrac
tor, working with w. e. Mills on
good road projects In this county.
Mr. Afford was shot about l o'clock
by Ben Webster, u negro taxi driver
following an alteration earlier in
The day. Reports of the shooting
IRE very conflicting, but it is under
TODD that the trouble started when
Mr.. Afford met two negroes in his
employ just south of the bridge eros
sing Patton s creek aud engaged
/ hem H. conversation. having the
iuad bic cked with his car for the
moment. A car driven by Webster
and containing Ike Odom, Kearney
Stay and JEFF 3rnner Is alleged 10
have driven up behind Afford and
after blowing rather strenuousIy,
Webster is said To have gotten out
Of his car and walked no to where
Afford was talking aud was inform
ed that the road would be unbocked
in minute. Here some words are
believed to have passed between
them for Webster returned to Way
aesboro with his car and Mr.. Afford
continued to the camp. 1t is be-
ieyed that Webster armed himself
here, his car stopping fow minutes
ia front Of doom s pressing club and
returning toward Winchester met
sne car containing Mr.. Afford and d
Young man named Brother" Heard
Just IN front OF the Shirley residence
when the shooting occurred Mr..
Afford was shot twice, dying about
three hours later. The car contain
aug Webster, now deserted by bis
companions, was driven by him to
Chicora, where he picked up his wife
and continueing his fight, be drove
on passing through Boutwell, ard
Rchton, in an effort TO maze his
way TO Uattiesburg. Austin Odom
town marshal of Richton, had been
notified to be on the lookout for
Webster, and when be passed thru
Richton, Odom started in pursuit of
him, overtaking him about one and
one half miles out of town on the
Hatties5urg road. The negro HAD
been forced to stop TO put water IN
the radiator of his car. Sheriff
Crosby, who had been trailing Web.
ster, was only about an hour behind
him. and had followed MIN TO Both
well, when he was informed that the
negro was headed for Richton. He
came upon Odom and his capt., Q
about the same time that several
cars from Waynesboro arrived. and
fearing possible violence, although
none was offered at that time, he
used q bit OF strategy by phoning
Deputy Sheriff Gray that the negro
was captured and in his custody and
that he would return with him i'm
mediately. Getting Webster In his
car he suddenly turned and left for
Hattiesburg where he placed him ir
Jail. In the meantime Odom. Stay
and Drummer were captured and
placed in Jail here, later being re-
moved to Meridian. DIR. r. N. AL
ford. brother of deceased. OF Mem
phis, arrived in Waynesboro Mon
day morning and accompanied the
BODY to Clarksdale, where interment
will occur. Mr.. Afford had become
quite we'll known in Waynesboro and
by his quiet, uuassumiug manner
had made many friends who greatly
deplore his death. District AttOr-
To, Martin Miller was 10 town Mon
day looking into the legal aspects Of
the case, aud employed A. G. Busby
of the local bar, to assist in the
prosecution. A petition is being
rather literally signed asking that
special term of court be held to try
Webster.
(fhe negro Webster was captured
b. town Marshal Austin Odom OF
tins place. Mr.. Odom received a
phone message from Waynesboro a
short time after the shooting occur
red~and he in company with Mr.. Pat
lanes, also of R.chton. stationed
themselves out on the Hattiesburg
road about one mile from r chtou,
and the negro was arrested as be at
tempted to pass them. Webster was
heOnub hack IN P;ohtcp md lod..ol