The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-04-20
THE W1L1IAMsBURG TRAGEDY.
A Statement of the Circumstances O
the Brown-Martin Homicide.

A correspondent of the New York World,
writing from Williamsburg County, S. c., under
date Of April l3, gives the following as full
statement Of the circumstances attending the re-
cent deporable Brown-Martin tragedy:
An affair resulting in shocking tragedy Is the
all.absorbing topic at present in tHs section OF
the Palmetto State. Two young men, Martln anu
Brown both white, and both belonging to this
county, had slight difficulty with each other
while attending country Dance IL was Oat q
trIllng affair at first, but 1t soon increased TO
deadly feud. The county paper was used by both
parties as vehicle oil communicating to the pup.
lie their respective statements ol the matter, anu
the cards 50 issued soon tecmcd With rancorous
personal abuse and allegations on botn sldes OF
Ialschood and cowarllce. Then came challenge
TO mortal combat from Martin to Brown, requir-
ing the latter 10 naEe time, place and weapons.
This was accepted, aud u meeting arrangeu 10
take place on Lighthouse Island. below George
town.
At the time appointed both parties repaired to
tile island. Brown, with his second, chartased at
Georgetown the stean-tug Martha washington,
aud Under steam reached the lighthouse In good
Time, but as Martin had not arrived, Brown de-
clincl waiting for him, and with his second re-
turned 20 Georgetown. Martin, not being aoe 10
obtain steamer, had TO prnceeu down inc pay
from Georgetown In sal! boat. Reaching the
isiamd within en- hour after midday, the time
agreed upOn Martin aScertalne1 from the light
kceper that Brown had been there and gone:
Martin Immediately returned nome anu renewed
his challenge Int Brown refused TO accept on tne
ground that Martlu Hau issc" W Soiue " lihie ou
the llrSt cartel.
Brown then published pamphlet givinS bis
version of the whole business, and charging MAT
lin with having Intentionally and from coward
Ice disaTnoluted the 1ght at the lighthouse. Mar
tin read this pamphlet on Friday evening, anu on
saturday, falling to obtain cowhide IN klnSs'
tree secured servlceable substitute, and, repair
ing to the house where Brown was visiting. canea i
him out, aud after yainly endeavoring I'd get HIN
to retract his aspersions, intlcLel severe per
soual chastisement on Brown W TN an OAK VIII
The following week, Martin twho was sGilooi.
teacherl conducted his school as usual Wltnoue
hearing from Brown unit! Friday, when the latter,
with two OF his friends, approached unooserved'
and sending in word by one OF Tue SCI senohrs .hat
some gentlemen wanted to see him, went fortn,
and. seeing Browns two companions near ths
Sence some two hundred yards distant, supposed
they were the persons seeking the lnterVleW,
and q lyanced towards them, when DroMn,
who was concealed behind very large pInc'
,sIjy hefore Martin could have been aware OF
nj. 'nresence. AS Martin fell. he drew pis.
inl and ered twice, one ball burying itsell
IN the nine behind which Brown WAS standing.
and the other striking Brown in the leg. The last
shot, it is said, only took effect BY Browns STEP
ming one foot out at the time, supposlng the tlan.
Ger over. as Martin was presumed then to De hofs
re conltat. Martin died In ten minutes. Ihe
children iel In terror through the woods 10 .neir
! hemes, and Brown and his companions lett: Iney
have been arrested and ara to be tried ior tRe
murder. Martin received third ball In MS arm,
| which report says was fired By one OF BroWn .
comrades This tragedy Il occasoned Tue most
Intense excitement, as tis certainly wen caicuia-
ted 10 do