The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1922-05-11
FATAL SHOOTING
AT UNIVERSITY
PROF. HOLMES KILLED BY BEN
JAMIN HALLE WHO TURNS
PISTOL ON SELF.


University of South Carolina was
shot and killed last Saturday by Ben
jamin Halle, superintendent of
grounds of the university, who few
minutes later killed himself by fir
ing a shoe into his brain. The double
tragedy occurred in the treasurer's
office of the university shortly after
10 o'clock.
There were no eye-witnesscs but
DR.. William S. Crrrell, president and
DR.. Leonard T. Boxer, dean, saw the
superintendent brandishing a revolver
and both were ordered from the Of
fee by Halle shot fired over the
head of Dean Baker and the weapon
being pointed at President Currell, al
though he vas not fired upon. The
ection against the two officers Of the
university was taken after Prof.
Il mes had been Stained and it is
believed Halle killed himself few
minutes after warning President Cur
rell not to enter the room.
Prof. Holmes was in the treasur-
er's office when Marshal Halle en-
tered the room to get pay roll check.
He sent the young woman bookkeep-
er, the only occupant Of the room
with Prof. Holmes to the presidents
office telling her that Dr. Currell
wished to see her.
Dean Baker, who was in class
room on another floor Of the build
ing, heard shots and started to enter
the Presidents office, when ordered
by Halle to keep from the superin-
tendent then firing the shot over his
head. The dean did not see Prof.
Holmes, believed now to have already
been slain in an adoiningj room to
the main office of the treasurer.
Dean Baker withdrew and as he did
so President Curren came from his
office to investis ate. Dean Baker
warned the president not to enter the
room, telling him that Halle was in
there in a crazed condition.
"You are responsible for this"
The president left the room.
In the meantime police had been
summoned and investigation revealed
the body of Holrres in one room and
th:t of Halle in the other.
Holmes was shot five times, one
tullet penetrating the heart, while
Halle was shot only once, the bullet
entering the brain.
An official statement issued by
President Currell said there had been
bitter feeling between the two men
for some time, growing out of a con-
fiict of duties at the university.
Prof. Holmes was born in 1888 in
Boydton, Va, and was educated at
the University of Virginia and the
United States Military Academy at
West Point. He has held many i'm
portant engineering assignments and
stood high in his profession. He is
survived by a wife and four small
children. He has been member Of
the University Of South Carolina
faculty since 1909.
Superintendent Halle came to the
university in 1902 from Camden,
where he was chief of police. He was
first marshal and then superintendent
Ct grounds. He was about forty
four years of age and is survived by
his wife and a son and daughter.
An inquest over the two bodies was
held by the coroner of Richland coun-
ty.
At the inquest the. jury found that
Prof. NJ. Goode Holmes was slain by
Benjamin Halle, that the latter was
temporarily insane and that Halle
then died by his own hands.
A letter found in pocket Of Haile's
coat was read, written by Halle,
showing that the cause Of the tragedy
was the differences between the two
men growing out of building opera
tions at the University. 1t was not
clear whether this letter was writ
ten before or after Halle shot Holmes.
The complete statement issued by
President Currell, outlining the facts
preceding the tragedy and subsequent
events, is as follows:
A tragedy occurred at the Uni
versity of South Carolin" about ten
minutes after 10 this morning in
the treasurer's office and the adjoin-
ing room attached to the treasurers
office. The president was sitting in
his office doing the routine business
fer the day, when he heard several
sharp reports, which he thought at
first was hammering, as some repair
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