The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1922-02-24
Bolts KILLS NEGRO
AND BUR|ES BODY
cuEVE KILLINGsWORTH SHOT
IN BACK OF HEAD MONDAY
AFTERNOON AND HIS BODY
DISCOVERED IN A GULLY
THURSDAY

uayA HUI ling "iSA Noi
white man about 35 years old,
walked up to Sheriff Foster Nc
Lane and said he wanted to sur
render for the killing of Cleve
Killingsworth, negro man. Mr..
Bolts told the sheriff that he shot
the negro and buried his body in a
gully on his farm eight miles from
Abbeville. Bolts was lodged in jail
while the sheriff and Coroner j. c.
Cox went to the spot indicated to
confirm the story.
The sheriff said that he found the
negro's body in gully about a
half a mile from the Bolts home. 1t
was lying face up, the head wrap
ped in an old pair of overalls,
pointing down the gully. About two
feet of dirt and two large logs con-
cealed the body from view. DR.. j.
r. Power made an examination
and testified at the inquest that an
entire load of shot had penetrated
the negro's head, entering near the
base of the skull, the shot appar-
emily having been fired from the
rear at close range.
In his confession Sheriff McLane
said that Bolts had told him in ef-
feet that he shot in self defense.
He said that Killingsworth came to
him on Sunday, February 1S, and
asked to borrow $40, and that he
told the negro he would let him
have the money on the approval OF
his brother, Jesse Bolts, for whom
Killingsworth worked. The negro
did not get the money Sunday. The
following day Mr.. Bolts said Kill
lingsworth worked with him, cut
ting wood, deciding shortly after
noon that he would not work any
more that day. Killingsworth then
left, Mr.. Bolts said, only to return
a short time later with shot gun
and two other negroes whom he did
not know. Mr.. Bolts said the negro
renewed his request for the $40
loan.
"Mr. Bolts, what about that
money 1 asked you for?" Mr.. Bolts
said the negro asked.
II asked him what money!"
"Cleve said that S2O.'
81 told him did not have il"
'Cleve said you are going to
give it to me now or I am going to
kill YOU
"My brothers gun, which I took
to the field with me, was few
feet from where I was. My coat was
lying on the gun. 1 told Cleve
you'd look in my coat pocket, that
l might have the money IN there.
picked up my gun and killed him."
Sheriff McLane said he asked
what he did with Cleveland.
81 put him in a gully" Mr.. Bolts
replied, covered him up with dirt
and then covered him with logs"
Mr.. Bolts said he came in and
surrendered as soon as "they" be-
gan to suspect that his brother
Jesse Bolts, had killed Killings
worth. Henry Killingsworth, the
dead negro's father, reported to
Sheriff McLane yesterday morning
that Cleve was missing and wanted
the sheriff to help him locate the
boy. 1t was only a short time after,
wards that Mr.. Bolts came in and
surrendered. He said his brother
had nothing to do with the shooting
but the latter has been bound over
to court as a material witness.
The verdict of the coroner's jury
was that "Cleveland ,Killingsworth
came to his death from the effect OF
gun shot wound in the head, said
gun being in the hands of Thomas
Bolts. Composing the jury were T.
%. FAINT, E. NJ. FAINT. w. T. Straw
horn, M. L. Wright, Lewis Buggs
and George Strother. In the search
ing party with Sheriff McLane and
Coroner Cox were Dr.. ]. R. Power,