(Editor’s Note: Our friend Dub Fortner dropped by a copy of the special edition The Easley Progress published in honor of the city’s centennial Oct. 2, 1974. It included several stories about the history of Easley. This story was reprinted from The Easley Progress March 9, 1921.)

In the most sensational pistol battle in the history of Pickens County, Chief of Police Walter C. Holcombe of Easley was instantly killed and Wade Ballew, an alleged hobo, received wounds which are expected to be fatal. Others participating in the battle were Rural Policeman R.T. Chapman, Deputy Sheriff John Lesley of Alice Cotton Mill and Robert Wilson, a partner of Ballew.

As Chief Holcombe was about to arrest Ballew, he later shot the chief in the head without warning, killing him instantly. The shot immediately precipitated a battle between Chapman and Lesley on one side and Ballew and Wilson on the other, 30 shots being fired within a few seconds at close range while pistols were shot empty and reloaded during the battle. Chief Holcombe and Wade Ballew were the only ones injured.

Officers Holcombe, Chapman and Lesley had been called to arrest the two strangers who had alighted from a freight train near the Alice Cotton Mill and who were believed to be hoboes. The officers were accompanied by George Cooper, a local citizen, who, however, took no part in the shooting.

Coming upon the strangers, the officers found them preparing to bathe in the creek. Mr. Lesley took hold of the arm of the man who afterward proved to be Wilson and told him he was under arrest. Wilson made efforts to shake the officer off when Policeman Chapman took hold of Wilson’s other arm. Chief Holcombe passed on by and behind the other officers to take charge of the man who afterward proved to be Ballew and who was sitting down washing his feet. Just before Mr. Holcombe got to Ballew, it is said the latter drew his pistol from beneath his clothing and called out, “Hold up you hands, every one of you,” according to statements from the officers.

When Ballew saw this Policeman, Chapman looked around just in time to see the stranger put his pistol in Chief Holcombe’s face and fire, Mr. Holcombe falling instantly. As the shot was fired, Mr. Chapman and Mr. Lesley released their holds on Wilson in order to get their guns. Immediately after the first shot Ballew shot twice at Mr. Cooper, neither shot taking effect.

In the meantime, Wilson had protected himself by lying down in a gully just at hand. Policeman Chapman landed behind a slight projection at the end of the creek bank and Mr. Lesley gained the creek bank. All this happened almost instantly and the fight was on.

Before Ballew had time to move to a place of safety he was shot down by Mr. Chapman. Rising to his knees, Ballew renewed his shooting and emptied his gun at the policeman while the policeman in return emptied his gun at Ballew.

While this was going on, Mr. Lesley and Wilson were emptying their guns at each other and the smoke from the rapid fire of the four pistols at close range settled on the battlefield between the creek banks like a heavy fog and the combatants could see each other with difficulty.

While the officers were reloading to renew the battle, Mr. Lesley, who was on top of the creek bank, discovered that the strangers had retreated and were on their way down the creek.

As the public road follows the creek, Mr. Chapman and Mr. Lesley cranked up the their car and gave chase, overtaking their men about 500 yards down the creek in Higgins pasture where, under orders from the officers, the men threw up their hands and surrendered.

The were taken directly to the jail at Pickens, were medical attention was given Bellew and it was found that he had been shot nine times in the breast, legs and arms. On the way to jail the officers state that Ballew cursed continuously and begged to be killed. Wilson talked little.

Chief Holcombe was shot only once, the bullet entering his nose and lodging in the back of his head, killing him instantly.

The killing of Chief Holcombe crated the greatest excitement the town of Easley has witnessed in many years, and though no threats of violence were heard, many people lingered around the city hall all the afternoon, the scene of the shooting was visited by hundreds and the city hall would not hold all who desired to attend the inquest.

Funeral services were conducted by the Rev. D.W. Hiott. The floral tributes were beautiful. Especially beautiful and suggestive was the floral tribute of the town of Easley which was arranged to represent a cross. The town of Easley also bought the burial plot and paid all funeral expenses as a slight toke of its appreciation of the departed officer’s faithful service.