Greenville, S.C., Jan. 4—I.R. Johnson, 33, salesman for a Charlotte music house, who was shot four times Saturday morning at the home of Mrs. C.C. Burroughs in this city by her former husband, died last night in the city hospital. Burroughs, 40, who surrendered to police immediately after the shooing and admitted that he shot the salesman, is being held in Greenville county jail, together with his son, Clyde, 17, who is being held as a material witness.
The shooting took place a few minutes after midnight in Mrs. Burroughs’ home. She said she had secured a divorce from Burroughs. The divorced husband, who refused to say anything to a reporter except “Cap’n, beyond wishing you good luck and a happy new year, I’ve nothing to say,” talked more freely with Sergeant J.O. Turned [Turner?] and Call Officer J.H. Granger, who investigated the shooting.
However, being dressed at police headquarters, Burroughs admitted that he had shot himself through the thumb with his own pistol while struggling with Johnson. The pistol, a .32-caliber S. & W., Burroughs turned over to police when he surrendered. He received two lacerations on his head and face.
The policeman who investigated the affair said that they evidently passed Burroughs, headed for headquarters, when they answered the call to the Burroughs home, several neighbors ringing in the alarm.
“When we arrived at the house, we found Johnson lying in a pool of blood in a corner of the hall. We picked him up and placed him in a bed, calling at once for an ambulance.”
Burroughs’ Story
According to Burroughs’ story, as related by the policemen, he returned to Greenville last Friday night. He went to his wife’s home and entered the room in which she and several of her seven children, 2 to 17, were sleeping, to the right of the hall. His wife asked him what he wanted. “Do you want me to stay here?” he asked. Burroughs said his wife said, “No,” the sergeant said.
Leaving his wife’s bedroom, according to the story told police by Burroughs, the former husband went into the hall and was met by Johnson, who dressed in his nightclothes, entered the hall from a room to the left and struck him on the head and face with a heavy iron poker.
Burroughs drew his gun and Johnson grappled with him, the two falling to the floor. Johnson, so Burroughs said to police, was upon the top when the shots were fired. The attending physician said that two of the shots penetrated Johnson’s lungs, a third passed through is bladder, while the fourth punctured his intestines in four places.
Mrs. Burroughs, when seen at the city hospital early Saturday morning, said that her former husband had sneaked into her house, awakening the children. She said he left her room with the expressed purpose of killing Johnson.
I grabbed him and tried to hold him, one of my boys aiding me,” she said. Burroughs, according to his former wife’s story, had his pistol ready for use when he left her room and went into the hall, meeting Johnson, who entered the hall from a room to the left, the fight following.
Had Obtained Divorce
“Burroughs,” said his wife, “Has never raised a hand to make a living for my children and myself. I have worked ever since we were married, as a dressmaker, providing for my children, myself—and Burroughs. When Burroughs got into trouble the last time, I said, ‘I’m through with him’ and filed suit for divorce in Atlanta three days after he left for Florida. I’ve secured my divorce and Mr. Johnson and myself were to have been married within a short while. Mr. Johnson always treated me with as much respect and courtesy as any man could treat a woman. He came to my home to spend the Christmas holidays, staying over for New Years.”
Records in the office of Harry A. Dargan, clerk of court here, show that during the January term of general sessions court, 1924, Burroughs was tried in his absence and a sealed sentence was handed down after he had been found guilty of false pretenses, either in connection with merchandise or money which he is charged with obtaining through fraud.
Constable C.S. Hamby yesterday served upon Burroughs several bogus check warrants which were issued by Magistrate George W. Baston over a year ago. Burroughs, officers here said, has been away from Greenville for about 15 months.
From page 8 of the Concord Daily Tribune, Monday, Jan. 5, 1925.
newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92073201/1925-01-05/ed-1/seq-8/
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