HIST |
In 1887, a tragedy occurred in Sumter involving Daniel Ezra Keels. Under the headlines “Sumter’s Black Friday”, the “Watchman and Southern” called the following event the “Blackest stigma that has befallen this country for generations.” • The tragic event revolved around an apparent feud between John R. Keels, son of Daniel Ezra Keels, and Peyton G. Bowman, a school teacher. A quarrel started between Keels and Bowman in a Bishopville saloon over the charges for some legal papers drown up by Keels, a Sumter lawyer, and Bowman. During the argument, Keels shot Bowman in the leg with his pistol. No long after, Bowman’s brother-in-law, also a lawyer in Sumter, met Keels in Rosendorf’s saloon and another quarrel ensued but without shooting. Bad feelings, however, persisted and a few days later, the Keels clan, led by Daniel Ezra Keels, came from Lynchburg to Sumter “armed and looking for trouble.” The Keels went to John R. Keels’ office on Main Street and in the street the Bowman clan was waiting. To head off any further trouble, several citizens swore out warrants on both parties. Both clans were arrested and taken before George E. Haynsworth, trial justice, to be put under peace bonds. Haynsworth was very popular. He was credited with firing the first shot on Fort Sumter that started the Civil War. For some reason, neither clan was disarmed. While Mr. Haynsworth was writing the bonds, someone fired a shot and a fusillade broke loose and Haynsworth sprang to his feet “just in time to intercept a badly aimed bullet.” Daniel Ezra Keels was wounded along with a Bowman clan member. A jury acquitted the Bowmans and the charges against Keels was “nol prossed.” [2] |