The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1922-05-11
Halle Kills Carolina
Professor andHin1seE


death NJ. Goode Homes, professor OF
engineering, and then blew out his
own brains. There had been a long
standing controversy between Prof.
Homes and Mr.. Halle relative TO
Prof. Homes's participation in the
awarding of contracts for certain
minor repairs to buildings at the uni
versity. About six months ago GER
tain anonymous letters were receiv-
ed by members of the board of trus-
tees, impugning the integrity of Prof.
Homes in the awarding of building
contracts. These letters were in
vestigated and found to be trivial.
The matter was brought to the at
ention of the board of trustees of the
university and the boards sub-com-
mittee found Prof. Homes not at
fault at all.
It appears that Mr.. Halle was in
structed by the president of the uni
versity to investigate the authentic
ity of these anonymous letters, which
he did. A feeling of animosity arose
between Prof. Homes and Mr.. Halle
relative to- these charges, it seems.
The board of trustees through it's
subcommittee investigated the
charges and found Prof. Homes
blameless and came to the conclu-
sion that Mr.. Halle, through instruc-
tions as he thought from the presi-
dent of the univedsity, had himself
probed into the charges against Prof.
Homes-and as the subcommittee
thought-believed that Prof. Homes
was guilty Of "petty graft" Prof.
Homes was of the opinion that Mr..
Halle had personal grievance
against him. Mr.. Halle likewise
thought that Prof Homes was {.
tempting to persscute him, it ap-
pears.
Both men were under the delusion
that each was prosecuting the other.
This, according to w. ]. Cormack,
member of the board of trustees OF
the University of South Carolina, who
in conjunction with D. NJ. Winter, OF
Columbia, and B. A. Hagood, of Char
lesion, Investigated the charges which
Mr.. Cormack believed were the cause
of today's tragedy.
1t appears in the testimony OF DR..
Currell and Dean L. T. Baker that
several shots were fired before cog
nizance was taken of the tragedy.
George H. Higgins, treasurer Of the
university at the time of the killing,
was using a telephone and Miss Saw
yer, assistant bookkeeper, was in the
Office.
Mr.. Halle, according to Miss Saw
yer, asked her to leave the Office as
he came in to get his weekly pay roll.
Prof. Homes was already in the office,
inspecting certain repairs made to the
office. That is all that is definitely
known as to the killing.
Shots were fired in the Office. DR..
Currell went to the Office and was
threatened by Mr. Halle, who pointed
a pistol at his head and ordered the
president to get away, according to
President Currell's testimony. Short
ly afterwards (the elapse Of a few
seconds) Dean Baker went to the
door of the marshal's Office and Mr..
Halle directed him to leave and per-
emptorily fired at him, but not to hit,
as Mr.. Halle was an expert shot, and
the ball went over Dean Bakers head.
A few minutes later another shot was
heard by DR.. Currell and others, and
when the peace officers appeared they
found Prof. Homes dead in an ante
room to the treasurer's office and the
body of Marshal Halle lying near the
southeastern end of the treasurer's
Office with revolver lying near his
feet.
Five exploded shells were scatter
ed on the floor near him and two
empty chambers were in the revolver.
The supposition is that Mr.. Halle
killed Prof. Homes and then to have
privacy drove all away from his Office
and wrote letter However, the ac-
curacy of expression and the COM
posed manner in which the letter was
apparently written, leads to the belief
that the letter was composed before
Mr.. Halle went to the Office. The
letter purported to be signed by Mr..
Halle was identified by Christie
Benet, to whom the envelope contain
ing it was addressed.
The letter referred to Mr.. Homes
as trying to save himself and also
y, -