The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1922-04-12
RILEY HAMMOND, MERCHANT,
SLAIN BY TOM DUNCAN

|
SLAIN BY TOM DUNCAN
Homicide Occurred Thursday at the
Home OF Tom Duncan Near Madden
| Station.
Rlley Hammond, merchant OF the
Laurens Cotton Mill village, was shot
and killed Thursday morning shortly
after o'clock by Tom p. Duncan, a
lyougg farmer living about six miles
from Laurcns near Madden station.
Three shots were fired by duncan from
a single barrel shot gun, two Of them,
taking effect. Hammond lived about
an hour after being shot and so far as
is known made no statement. Duncan,
when seen at the county Jail after the
shooting, said that he killed Hammond
III defense Of his home.
The shooting took place in the yard
OF Duncan's home and was witnessed
j'hy Lucius Burns, Laureps transfer
driver, who was sent to tie Duncan
nome by Hammond earlier that morn
ing with instructions to carry Mrs.
Duncan to the home Of a relative. Ru-
raj Policeman Andy Boyd was on the
scene shortly after the shooting and
brought Duncan to the county jail
from which he was released Friday
afternoon on bond of $1,5O0.
At the inquest held by Coroner R.
r. Owings Friday afternoon I4ucius
Burns, the only witness placed on the
stand, testified as follows:
State Of South Carolina,
Laurens County
Lucius Burns being duly sworn,
says:
On the 9th Of April, 1922, | drove up
in yard, Mr.. Hammond was in yard and
said cut off motor, lady will be ready
In minute; Hammond walked back in
to yard about 20 feet from house. About
two and onc-half or three minutes un-
I'll the 1irst shot. / did not see it, 1
was not looking toward house. I step
ped behind barn after first shot, heard
second shot fired then. Mr. Hammond
called me and asked me to carry him,
to town, that he was shot, so l walked
out from behind barn and told him that
l would carry him to town, but was
afraid to come out in front Of all those
shots. Then / saw Mr.. Hammond walk
about feet around my car; then
saw third shot fired, Mr.. Hammond fell
to ground. He never did make any
statement to me; Then I went for Mr..
Boyd. He was still breathing when
left; was SILL breathing when came
back. When l came back with Mr.
Boyd, he sent me back to his home to
telephone to DR.. Vincent. l came on
back to house and Mr.. Hammond was
still lying on ground; MI Boyd was
leaving out of yard with Mr.. Duncan
Cross examination:
Mr.. Hammond called me UP about a
quarter to seven and said, come down
to store, told ME he wanted me to
come down to Mr.. Tom Duncan's and
carry MI. Duncan's wife to her peo-
pies home l came here to drive his
wife to her peoples house. He said to
carry her to her people at one of the
mills at Laurens. Mr.. Hammond was
here when | came, don't know how
long he had been here MI Hammonds
car was here q suppose it was his) I.
He did not tell me that she had decid-
ed not to go; he said cut motor off
and she would be ready in just min
ute. He left my car and was talking
to negro. I did not watch him and do
not know whether he went to rear
end OF kitchen. Next time I saw him
was after the second shot was fired. I
was standing out against lot fence.
saw pistol in hand when he walked
around car, this was after second shot.
Ie had pistol in hand bent over this
|way-after second shot was fired.
Continued on Page 4, this section>
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