Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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/ >?v VOL XX111. A FOUL ASS MtLVIN WATSON, A MULATTI m. WHITF F ww..j .. ...... . * THE ASSASSIN S' The People of Green Sea a Over the Cowardly Murde Bloodhounds Were Put o Murderer to the Swamp t Made Good His Escape?1 The people here were shocked last Wednesday morning by a telegram received by ihc sheriff stating that white man had been killed by a negro at Green Sea. The telegram gave but very few facts and barely stated that the man had been shot and that blood hounds were then on the trail of the neg ro. Later 'phone messages conveyed the information that the name of iho white man was John Watson and that of the negro who did the shooting was Melvin Watson, a bad character. The sheriff left on the afternoon train for the scene of the killing, and it was heard later in the dav that he was at the head of a posse number iiuf fi'nm t.u/n hnndi'nrl tv\ litm Ihh,J?a^ . ? vy.? v .. w V/V* WW 14 V> 11UI1U1 UU men, and that they were making every effort to catch the fugative. Mr Watson was shot by the negro about nine o'clock in the morning and lingered to between twelve and one o'clock, when he died. The facts and circumstances leading up to this most atrocious crime, shown beyond a doubt that it was murder of the most cold blooded sort. Mr Watson was manager or i overseer on a large farm of Hon j ^ P Derham and the negro Melvin Watson was employed on the same farm, as a laborer. On Wednesday morning, Mr Watson and also the negro were at the barnyard and something was said about sending Melvin oil with a wagon to move a family of hands to Mr Derham's farm that day. Mr Watson said that the negro was troublesome and fussy, and that it would be as well not to send him, but to send some one else. It seems that the negro 4 heard this and was mad about it, and while he used no language at either Mr Watson or Mr Derham yet be did use profane language in talking to some of the children and when Mr Watson heard his language he told him to hush or he might punish him, or words to that effect. After a few minutes the negro told Mr Derham that if he owed him anything he could pay him, and gave l.iw, ? ^ . t~_ 1-1 uiiii tu u IJUCISIIUIIU lillitL no WOU1U quit work. No attention was paid to him at the time. Later Mr Watson geared up and started for Tabor taking Mr Derham's little son witn him. Before he had gone very far f alorg the road the negro jumped up from a fence jam and shot Mr Watson twice without saying anything at all. The young son of Mr Dorham was so near to Watson that he was spattered with some of the blood. Later it was learned that the negro after leaving Mr Derham's place had gone to another negro's house and borrowed a gun saying that he wanted toshoota rabbit with it. Another negro named Pink McQueen saw him before the shooting and ask him what was the matter as he appeared to be very much disturbed about something. A.s soon as he fired the fatal shot he fled to the nearest swamp and the trail was takeu up there with blood hounds as soon as they could be sent for. Coroner II II Burroughs left for oreen Sea later on Wednesday afternoon to hold the inquest and the : a - a t\ 9 uviuuuue i.ukch uown uy mm is as followsTESTIMONY Pink McQueen, sworn sa>s, Mel< vin Watson came along where I was, , I asked him what he was doing with I his gun? he said just knocking about; he walked ahead of me and drank water, then he squatted down by the fence by the road. I didn't see him any more till I saw him straighten up. 1 saw him shoot at John Watson. Melvin had a sack over his gun; he had a single barrel breech loading gun; he shot at about 12-feet range; John Watson ^ reeled and fell in the wagon; neither A said a word as I heard to the other; I was about 20 steps away. John Watson asked mo to go for the doc* tor; Melvin Watson ran across the J field toward the swamp and looked back as he ran; Mr Derham's son Joe was standing in the wagon with Mr Watson about two or three feet apart; young Durham fell in the wagon before Watson did. I wafc plowing for Mr Jim Bryant on tht Sandy UlutT road near Green Sea the shooting was done from acrost j.v i . . m sy,,; ' *? i \ :m ' * % " *J: am ASSIKATION 0 SHOOTS DOWN JOHN WATROM AMBUSH. TILL AT LARGE. re in a State of Excitement r of One of Their Number, n the Trail and Trailed the >ut the Negro Has so Far The Testimony. tho road on Mr Simp Bryant's side. (Signed) his Pink x McQueen, mark Eliza Graham, sworn, says: Melvin Watson weut to my home about six o'clock yesterday morning after my husband's gun; he carried it out without asking for it; 1 told him to lot the gun alone; ho said he was going to shoot a rabbit. (Signed) her Eliza x Graham, mark Ida McQueen sworn savs: I saw Melviti Watson shoot John Watson; 1 was about 25 or 20 yards from them; I beard Mr John Watson sav hello Melvin, in that time the gun fired; didn't hear Melvin say a word; this was about 7 o'clock yestersday morning, (Signed) her Ida x McQueen mark Recalled:?I talked with him, Melvin White, about 25 minutes before the sbootiug; he seemed to be in a great deal of trouble, in some way was sweating and worried, I know ho was in trouble in some way, but he said he wasu't; he cried some while I talked to him; he asked me if a wagon had passed, I told him no; this was in the road that Mr Watson's wagon was due to come. (Signed) her Ida x McQueen, mark Joe Derham sworn says: I was on the wagon with John Watson; Melvin Watson rose up in the field with a gun in his hand; he pointed the gun at Mr Watson and fired W i t ^1 All f i o lr I n r * r\ ! . T - 3 it ituuuv uui\ uj^ auu j JUIII1 blOppi^U the team and sent me for the doctor; some of Mr Watson's blood spattered on me; I was standing in one or two feet of him. (Signed) Joe Dorham. Pressley McQueen sworn says: 1 first saw Melviti standing in the road; later I saw him sitting on the fence, then ho got down inside the field I was in; he picked up a piece of sack and wrapped up his gun, at Mr Watson came along on his wagon ' T saw Melvin rise up and unwrap his gun and shoot at Mr Watson; 1 was GO steps away from the shooting Mr Watson hollowed O Lord help ine and asked Mr Domain's little boy to go for the doctor. Melvin run across out of the field the near est way to the swamp; Mr Watson was about 10 or 15 feet from Melvin when he was shot. (Signed) his Pressley x McQueen, mark John P. Derham, Jr,, sworn says I saw Melvin Watson stand up cocL ing a gun, when he got it cocked 1 < held it out and fired at Mr Johr Watson; I was in another wagon close behind the wagon Mr Watsor wa9 in; while at the barn at Mi Derham's, before the shooting, heard some words between Mtlvii and John Watbon, in which Join TT* - * * - watson threatened to stomp Melvir in the dirt if he repeated certaii words which I did not hear; Melvii then told nae he would knock off ant would pay papa what he owed bin when he came back home; this thus have been about C o'clock in th< morning before the shooting was a seven. (Signed) John P, Derham, Tr. Dr A. D. Lewis, sworn says: found John Watson on his right sidt i in the wagon; 1 round his pulse verj weak: he befcged me to do something for him; I gave him a hear tablet; I found he was conscious anc asked me to cake him to Mr Car . Bryant's; then I gave hiin a hypo dermic to quiet him; T found his lef ' arm broken and the flesh shot ofT; I found, also, a gunshot wound in hi: i side about opposite elbow of wound ed arm; just after reaching Mr Bry i ant's he became very thristy, h< drank water and afterwards begat i vomiting blood with ^ater; com i plained of severe pain in his side ant of being very cold; we applied ho ! water bottles and wrapped him ii t hot blankets; his death was due ti i shock and internal hemorrhage. ; (Signed) i A. D. Lewis, M. D lion' CONWAY, S. C., THUS State of South Carolina, County of Horry An inquisition indented, taken at ( Green Sea, in Horry County, the !>rd day of Juno, 1901) before IT, Jl. Burroughs, Coroner for said County, upon the view of the body John Watson, Creen Sea, Horry County, S. C., then and there bein# dead by the oaths of B. H. ButTkin, M K. | Graham, R. F, Siiolly, G. A. Proctor, B. P. Harrelson, G. W. Grainier, Frank u rainier, F. T. Bane, W. II. Currie, T. J, oraharn, o. W. Hill* l*c*l son. W A Orinnn P. It , .. - - v.. ( Graham, being a lawful jury of inquest, who being charged and sworn . to inquire, for the State of South i Carolina, where and by what \ means "the said John Watson ( came to his death, upon their oaths , do say that ''.John Watson came to 1 his death at Green Sea, Horry Coun- ( tv, S. C., June 2nd, 1909, from gunshot wounds inflicted by the hand of j Melvin Watson, colored, June 2nd, ( 1909 " And so the jurors aforesaid upon \ their oaths aforesaid, do say the aforesaid Mel vie. Watson, colored, , in manner and form aforesaid, then and there feloniously did kill against the peace and dignity of the sarno | State aforesaid. In witness whereof, T, H. II. Bur- ( roughs, Coroner aforesaid, and the jurors aforesaid to this inquisition have interchangeably put our hands and seals the day and year above II. If. Burroughs, [L. S. ] Coroner for Horry County, B. II. ButTkin, (L. S.) Foreman jury of Inquest. W. A. Prince, (I,. S.) ","""7! g W. Grainger, (E. S.) W. II. Currie, (L S.) R. E. Shelly, (L. S.) g. W. Barrel son, (L. S.) C. B. oraham, (L. S ) M. E. Graham, (L. S.) B. P. Harrelson, (L. S.) F. Grainger, (L S.) W. E. araharn, (L. S.) T. J tiraham, (L. S.) h\ T. Lane, (I.. S.) u. A. Proctor, (L. S ) | State of South Carolina, } By H. H. Burroughs, Coroner for Horry County: To 13. .i Sessions, SherifT of [lorry County: Whereas, bv inquisition by me held, on June 2nd, 1909, at oreen Sea, Horry County, S. C., it was found that John Watson came to his death at oreen Sea, Horry County, S. C., June 2nd, 1909, from gunshot wounds inflicted by the hand of Melvin Watson, colored, June 2nd, 1909. These are, therefore, to command you forthwith to apprehend the said "Melvin Watson and bring him before mo to be delt with according to law. oiven under my hand and sea) this 2nd day of June A. I). 1909 H. H. Burroughs, Coroner Horry County. The SherifT arrived at the place on Wednesday just after a man had arrived with a blood hound, and the , SherifT joined his elTorts to the . others in trying to locate the negro. , The SherifT spent all of Wednesday night and the following day in fruit, less elTorts to find some trace of , him. but he returned to Conway on [ Friday without any results. The f dog followed the trail in Mitchell's > Swamp until dark on Wednesday, j After spending the night in the t neighborhood they tried to take up . the trail at the same point, but they i were delayed by some persons com, ing down from Fair Bluff saying that the negro had been seen going toward their town. The dog was taken in that direction and took tho track along the puolie road and finally located a negro, but he was . not the proper one. There was a story about the negro being seen ; somo where near Tabor, N. C., and \ this was traced down and found toi be false alio. All the relatives of \ the negro were arrested, and guards r placed at their houses to intercept j the criminal should he visit them. ^ Every precaution was taken, but at 1 last accounts he was still at large. 3 Joppa. 3 Editor Herald:?Please allow me 3 space for a few words. Health of this community is gen1 orally good at this writing. Crops are looking fairly well ex3 cept tobacco. 1 There has been much rain in this section lately. W, E. oraham, of Loris, was in I this section Saturday and Sunday - visiting his parents, Mr and Mrs f Daniel oraham. Several from here attended serb vices at oethsemane Baptist church 1 Sunday, where the Rev Mr Wilson, ' of Fair Bluff, N. C., preached a * very interesting sermon. b James Bell, of Bayboro, was here I Saturday on business, s Rev juncy Jones will preach at " Antioch Baptist church on the Brd " Sunday, June 20th, at 11 o'clock, a. 0 m. Rev H. B. Roberts will preach 1 at 6 o'clock p. m, 80 1 Wo are sending out statements t to cur subscribers who happen to i be in arrears. This we find to be 3 necessary and those who receive statements will do us a great favor by sending or bringing us the . amount that is due. our-* jr i\t 1SDAY, JUNE 10, 1909. Woman's Monument Fund. D. A. Spivey, at the Dank of Conway, will receive any amounts mrties desire to contribute to the Voman's Monument Fund. While >ther counties are raising their several hundred?some probably a .housaiul ? Horry should at least outribnte her $100, Monuments lave been erected to tho Confederate soldier, and to the groat leaders if this eonilict, but as yet nothing mo r)/t n o i?\ l- 1w \ nr / i ii t* n n iuo utcii uwtio uv/ ouun win iijijii i:im din of the sacrifices aud devotions >f our noble South Carolina women. At the last session of the legislature in appropriation was made of 7,M)0 for the erection of a suitable monument to her memory. This conditioned on the collection of an equal amount from the citizens of the St ate. So far Horry has subjribod and paid but #50 and this was done by throe men alone. Is it possible that the other thousands of patriotic citizens of our Republic ire to take no part in this laudable cause? Every son of a veteran and many of the veterans themselves should consider it an honor to contribute #1 to the fund. What say vou men of Horry. Mr Spivey has kindly ^consented to accept and remit any amount left with him. Call and leave your subscription or remit him by mail. New Store! New Gondii! I have opened up a first class stock of dry goods, clothing, notions and shoes in the Herald building, and will be glad for the purchasing public to call and examine my stock. The best goods for the least money. W H Cook. Appointment CliamrocJ T find that I cannot bo in the office Saturday, Juno 12th, but will bo in the following Monday, June 14th. Hope this change will not disappoint any one. S. 11. Brown, Supt The New Movement Class. All persons are welcome and cordially invited tovisittho New Movement Class and be with us each Sunday at the Conway Baptist church at 9:30. The chief attraction will bo open discussion. Juno 13th?what is Faith? what is frith for and how to obtain it? Wolslc. Editor FIcrald:?Please allow me space in your valuable paper for a few lines. We are having some fever in this section. Farmers are busy with their crops. Crops are small for the time of year. Corn and tobacco are line Cotton is sorry. We hope tlie time is near when a cotton seed oil mill, a guano factory and a cotton factory w ill be established in Horry It would be the upbuilding of the county. We hope the business men will get to work. Davis Paul, of Myrtle neach was in this section last Sunday, Ulrick Parker and Miss Flora Parker and Miss Mattie Tindal, visitod friends in the Mineral Springs section last Sunday. listen Tor wedding bells to ring in the near future. I) Opposed to Sunday Trains. Oh, my! Mr Editor, to see the people going down so fast, hellward I mean. Then to think that they are not satisfied at the speed they are going but want to get on a Sunday train in order that they might go that way faster. We were not satisfied until we got rid of the dispensary and now 1 think that the Sunday train is just as bad. One is the devil's flying angel and the other is the stationary angel. There is but one difference? the Sunday train will fetch girls and the dispensary will fetch boys, thero is no spiritual benefit to be had in either one of them. I trust that God will open our eyes. God has blessed our county up till now with rich blessingsif we would make good use 01 them. He says for us to help the poor. I want us to think of the manifold blessings that we receive from God and then where wo turn them lose to go back to God who gave them. O, God! I ask thee in the name of thy dear son, Jesus Christ, to have mercy on us and let us see ourselves just as wo are, and then may we repent and be filled with God's love that will keep us from the Sunday krftin anr] itnt im />n 4 ~ ?? ??? mum u u no wu vuu i uau tu glory. j W E, Bayboro. The health of the community is generally good at present. Tobacco is damaged considerably by the recent heavy rains. Next Saturday and Sunday is th< regular appointments of Kuv I). D Cox. We have a good Sunday schoo here now, Mr and Mrs A. Bell, Mr and MrsB. L, Prince and J. W. Gerralt went on the Sunday excursion t< Myrtle Beach last Sunday. J i LAii ted tall a w ib| Gathered hv a Herald Man on His Hounds. CAUGHT ON THE BOUNCE. Strav Hit* of Mew* Gathered ihy the Waysiile for the Informutlon and Instruction of Herald Kcadcrs'-llappcntiiK* of Interest About the City. .1 II Baker was in the cit.y yesterday. W Tj Bellamy was in Conway last Monday. VV a Jones was hero on business recently. The County mard met as usual last Tuesday, .1 M Flardeo was in Conway one day last week. Dr W K MeCord was at Loris the lirst of the week. The lire casino house has been rolled over to the city hall lot. The new dwelling of W I'ercj Ilardwick is almost completed. Win Da^e, of ualivants Ferry was amon^ those in Conway last Friday GO-FLY keep- llies off II orros and Cattle. and 5l)c. at all drug stores, Ju 3 lOt. j T Anderson, of Allen was in Conway one (.lay last week on business. B (i dilinore a prosperous farmer of Daisy, S, C., spent last Sunday in Conway, Owl and Wine Sap Tobacco, worth 40c ner nound Riir itninr-iin li<niu<. i i- ? i f> . ? Sale price lilcper pound. C I? Quattlcbaum has completed a good pavement in front of h's stores on Main street. U A Dusenbury returned last week from a visit of several days to relatives and friends at Latta, S. C. Work will begin soon on the three new stores on lird Avenue which are to be erected for Hal L Buck. Russ-Adams Co are now occupying the new store just completed for Li (1 Collins on tne east side ol Main street. W J Waller, S J Lewis, n Tomp kins, J 11 Raker, J C King, .J P Hardee were all in Conway last week on business. Dont wait to receive a state ment from us of tin? amount due on your subscription, but send or bring us the amount. The Conway Drug Co has started to move into its new quarters next door to the place it nas occupied for the past several years Dr J S Dusenbury is in Wilmington attending a meeting of Railway physicians and surgeons. He is expected to return to-day. Hon II B Scarborough returned a few days ago from St. oeorge's where he went to deliver an address for the high school at that place. W II Cook, who recently moved here from Charleston, began last week to open up a new stock of goods in the store next door to the Herald otlico. The Bank of Horry will alter its building so as to leave more room for carrying on its business. The work will be carried through as quickly as possible. The work of laying concrete pavements on the east side of Main Street was commenced last week in front of the stores owned by Col C P Quattlebaum. When you receive a statement of the amount due for the paper inclose us a one or two dollar bill pined to the statement and we will send you your receipt by return mail. * There will bo regular preaching services at the Presbyterian church next Sabbath, June 13th at 11a, m. and at 8 p. in. Rev O E. Robertson, formerly pastor of this church, will preach at both services. k. m. Collins, of Marion, a first class meat cutter has accepted a position with R. T. Harmon, at the Con way Parlor Market. Mr Collins has been in the butcher business for live years and knows how io cut any kind of stake you want. B A Richardson, li J Cox, J P Williamson, <? II Beverlv, S C Beverly, o o Roberts, W K Moore ind .1 W Cooper were all pleasant jailers at the Herald otlice last veek. Special services will be hold at the Pleasant Crove church on the 3rd Sunday and Saturday before. Rev C P Bullock, the pastor, will be assisted by Rev W J Titnimon. The public is cordially invited. No. 9 fj INFORMATION WANTED. Speak Out ".luuiii*" ami 'Presft Yournc If. Loris, S. C., Juno 7tb, Editor Herald, Conway, S C. IMease ask Junius throui/h vour n %J columns this week to give your readers his name as when he writes on a subject of such great concern to our people as a dispensary in our midst that we might know with whom wo are dealing with our pens and words. I can't think him a sympathizer with the fathers and mothers. Respect fully. J C Bryant. I itnd Sales. There were only two sales made at the court house last Monday. The property of Kanawha Lumber Corporation which had been mortgaged to Burroughs vS: Collins Co was not sold owing to an injunction issued we are informed at the suit of the Receivers. The farm of L A Ford in Little River township was not sold, tin; case having been compromised several days ago. A Tract of 5S acres of land in (Jalivants Ferry township was sold to W. L. Mishoe at the nominal price of $50 00 Another tract of 100 acres formerly the property of Andrew Hardee was sold to the Bank of Conway for the sum of $25.00. A Seller Commended. Wo, the undersigned, members of A I * * * Liie Adrian Association, do commend our shipping agent, I) D Anderson, for the honest and faithful manner in which he has managed the shipping business of our Association for the four past seasons. C W 1 tooth, President; w j Dawsey, Secretary; 1* M Dorman, Treasurer; j II Graham, F L Cartretto, A M Uooth, SM Hux, M S Todd, J M Thompkins, I) M Todd, L M Ludlam, t H nooth, .j \v uooth, S S Anderson, John a itaker, L 0 Jones, A S Anderson, (i w Thompkins, j E Allen, O F uooth. ? -? Wantkp: ? A middle age lady rolined and educated, desires to secure work for the summer, either to teach, or sew in a nice relined family Kefercnce exchanged, Address, Miss (i ii. J. Tuft, S. C. The oovernor has offered a reward of #100 for the apprehension, conviction and dt livery to the Sheriff at Conway of Melvin Watson, a ginger cake mulatto, who assassinated John Watson, white, in oreen Sea township on Juno 2nd. j. H. Noely, who will be well remembered by many friends in this county, has succeeded in business in Florida, and is now taking a course of law. He expects soon to stand the examination before the Supreme court of Florida and the Herald will be glad to hear of him in the future as one of the leading legal lights of that State. Trespass Notice. All persons are hereby forbidden to hunt, llsh or trap on my lands in Kloyds Township, lying on Long Branch, and known as the Sain .leinigau land. All violatois will 1>h prosecuted to the full extent of the statute SAM JEKNIUAN. Green Sea, June 4th, /null. 4wl2. Strayed. Strayed from my place, about Jail, uary 15 11)011, one sow and three pigs Ear marks, crop and nick in one ear and crop in other ear colo** of sow ulack and White, spotted pigs black and red spotted. Any one finding same will be rewarded by owner. jfe, J u Hughes, Loris, S. C. PROCLAMATION. STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, K v ROIITIV K OH A M K RK. WHEKEAS information has been received at this depaitment that an atrocious murder was committed In the county of Horry on or about the second day of June, 1 llK/d, upon tlie body of John VVatson by , oiih Ab bin Watson and that the said I .M.'ivin W atson l?^ lied from justice. N ? ) \V III K I f K k'l > 11 l?' I M C * MU e? r . , . <y?U| A , I>1 r IV O Ta Li| Governor of the State ot South Carolina, in order that Justice may he done and the mnj -Htv ot the law vindicated, do hereby o|T.?r >l reward of ONE HUNDKI-il) DoLIjAU* for the apprehension, delivery and convicdon of the said Melvlu vVats ?n, a gmgpr ca?e Mulatto, gray eyes alniut 25 years oid, weighing about 145 pounds, height .5 feet 11 Inches, right arm JolT, suli 'n ina-iie?, to the Sheriff of llorrv county, at Conwav. i IN* I KS I 1 >K)N V WhEUEOF, I have ( hereunto set my hand and [LS| caus? d the Ureat Seal of the st<,t n> be atllxed at Columb. , ttiis fifth day of June , A l> 11)JO, and in the IBHrd jp. r of the Independence of the United States of America M F ANSEL. I' Ily the Governor; H >1 MoCONVAN, Secretary of State.