The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-08-12
SHOOTING
AFFRAY IN
GREENVILLE
Three Killed in Gun Fight in
Dark Corner

are dead. the third will die, ac-
cording to physicians, and a lad ten
years of age, the son Of one of the
dead men, is wounded as the result
Of a desperate gun battle at the
base Of CLASSY Rock mountain, the
region of Greenville county known
as the dark corner" this after
noon. The dead are: William
Howard, 80 years of age, near
whose home the shooting occurred;
Thomas Scruggs, 40 years of age,
and a resident of Spartanburg
county; residing between Finger
vile and Chesnee.
The wounded are Alexander Sud
duth, 80 years of age. whose home
is on CLASSY Rock mountain; Dali
las Scruggs, 10 years of age, and
Thomas Scruggs.
The scene of the battle is near
the home Of William Howard, six
miles west of Gowansvi1le and
about nine miles from CampobeIlo,
in the region the United States
government took over in the war
days as an artillery range, and
while it was early in the after
noon, it was towards evening before
even the local authorities were
aware eof the tragedy, and an in
quest was held by Magistrate A. B.
P1unley of Gowansville.
Immediately following the shoot
ing Alexander Sudduth and Dallas
Scruggs, the wounded, were brought
to the General hospital in Spar
tanburg by Suddutf1's brothers.
Sudduth is desperately wounded,
while the boy, it is said, will re-
cover. his wound being in the
shoulder.
At 9 o'clock tonight Sheriff Rec
tor and Coroner Vaughan, of
Greenville. arrived at Gowansville.
There they met Magistrate Plum
ley returning from the scene Of
the shooting carrying in his car the
body of Thomas Scruggs, which was
deposited on the store platform
while the Greenvil1e officers Wen.
over the evidence before the mag
istrate's JURY. 1t was generally
inadequate and it is possible an
other inquiry will be held. While
the testimony does not include the
statement, it was freely stated
that the difficulty started when
William Howard and Early Harrf-
son came upon Sudduth, Scruggs
and the boy at Scrugg's. car left
on the road some distance from
Sudduth's house and proceeded to
look into "a, sack they carried,
which, it was stated, contained
glass jars and four hot water
bottles. The testimony of Early
Har son is to the effect that vii.
liar Howard fred the first shot
an, Alexander Sudduth returned
the fire. Harrison says he ran
away, but returned later to find
the two men dead and the two
wounded. It is understood here
tonight that. Sheriff Rector has or
dered the arrest of Harrison.
Shortly before midnight Sheriff
Rector and Coroner Vaughan came
to Spartanburg and obtained from
Alexander Sudduth statement re-
.garded<as his death bed account of
the affair in which the sheriff
quotes Sudduth as saying: "Suddath
and Scruggs were sitting by the
side of the road. Scruggs had a
sack containing several hot water
bottles and several glass bottles
full of liquor. all in the sack. VIII
Howard and Early Harrison came
up. Early Harrison demanded
them to halt and Will Howard fired
,, a rifle, shooting Sudduth in the
bowels, and shot him several
times. Sudduth while falling re-
turned the fire and killed Will
Howard. Other shots were fired
after Will Howard was shot down
and he thought that Early Harri-
son fred"
This statement was given Sheriff
Rector while Sudduth was under
going a blood TRANSMISSION. 1t is
understood the boy has made a
statement in which he involved
Early Harrison Sheriff Rector
said here tonight deputy officers
had been sent to arrest Harrison.