Dispute Over Boundary Between Two Tracts of Land Causes Tragedy at Blaney.

Special to The State.

Ridgeway, August 7, 1913 – Henry Sessions was shot by Joseph Simpson late yesterday afternoon, August 6, 1913, near Blaney and died shortly afterwards as a result of his wounds. From the few fact available it would seem that the affair was caused by a dispute in regard to the boundary between the tracts of land owned by each. It is alleged that Sessions was returning from Blaney when he called out Simpson, near the latter’s ginhouse, and both soon became involved in a violent argument concerning the matter. Here the accounts of the shooting which have reached Ridgeway vary materially, one version alleging that Sessions stepped from his buggy and commenced drawing a knife when Simpson drew his pistol and fired the shot taking effect in the former’s throat, while the other version is that Sessions cursed Simpson and upon refusing to retract was shot by Simpson while he was still in his buggy. In both accounts it is stated that Simpson fired three times. The shots were not instantaneously fatal and Sessions after being shot managed to drive home, where he died before summoned. Simpson surrendered himself shortly after the shooting to the authorities of Kershaw county and is now in the Camden jail. Session was buried this afternoon, August 7, 1913 at Zion church. He is survived by a wife and one child, and two brothers. The coroner’s inquest was held today, August 7, 1913, but a verdict has not been as yet reached. Both parties to the tragedy are well known in Ridgeway, being farmers who traded here and both have relatives living in town.