The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-01-24
ARREST OF THE ERE R

On Friday morning Mr.. William E. McMl-
chael, deputy Sheriff of Orangeburg Coun-
ty. was Informed that Chavers, the man
who killed Mr.. Dargan at Graham's Cross
Roads, on the Northeastern Railroad, o"-
ring q disturbance while Reynolds AenaSe-
rie was exhibiting at that place on lues-
dov night. 18th instant, was in town. MT.
McNichael was at the courthouse when he
received the information, and lmmediately
started in pursuit, summoning a posse CONT
tatus as he hurried on. At the corner, near Tread
wells Hotel, he got the first sight of Chayers,
who was then half q mile from him, near the
old graveyard. An exciting race now en-
sued, Chavers running towards the river
swamp, hotly pursued by the sherif7s party,
who fired seven shots at him. He was at
last caught in the swamp up to his neck in
water and brought to the courthouse, and
thence committed to Jail. This information
we obtain from the Orangeburg News.
The following full and accurate statement of
the facts Of the murder will be read with great
interest:
TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEWS.
AS so many different accounts are in circu-
lation as to the manner in which Mr.. 1. j. n.
Dargan was murdered at Grahams Cross
Roads, on the 18th instant, feel it to be my
duty, as one present, and as the magistrate
who held the inquest over the body, to make a
brief statement of the real facts OF the case:
happened to be in Mr.. Holliman'S store on
that evening, on business. Not many minutes
after entering the store, gentleman present
called my attention to the fact that Mr.. Dargan
was getting into difficulty on the outside.
Immediately stepped out, and found him ours
ing and threatening to shoot some one, 1t be-
inc then about 10 O'clock at night. then pur-
suaded him back into the store, and he went
in with me very quietly. now gave my at
tention to some other. business, and not many
minutes elapsed when found Mr.: Dargan and
a gentleman named Hammond, belonging to
the menagerie. both being inside the store,
were in dispute, and the former threatening
to shoot the latter. begged them to desist
and be quiet, but they, nevertheless, approach
ed the door, as though going ont to light, when
Mr.. Dargan attempted to push Mr.. Ham
and get his pistol. Mr.. Hammond now said
he would not be showed out, and that if he
went he would go as q gentleman, and came
back into the store. At this moment color
ed man, attached to the menagerie company,
on the outside, called Mr.. Hammond and re-
quested him to go to the camp. MT. ID. opened
the door, and told him to go along and he
would come when he got ready. Then, imme-
diately afterwards. heard voice, first out
side the door, say, ''What's the matter 2 two
or three times; and then, LET that man put
his head out here and I'll kill him." Mr.. Oar.
gan Immediately opened the door and stepped
out. saving, 'sHere am," and without any
acted all the evening as if he had been well
armed He had not more than uttered the
words, when a pistol, or some other firearm,
was fired, and Mr.. Dargan came back quickly
into the store. and with his hand over his heart
said to me, "Oh, captain, am shot, took
immediate hold OF him, really believing at
the time that he was jcsting, and that he mad
fired of pistol himself, until l saw the signs
of blood upon his shirt bosom. / now saw
death depicted in his countenance, and he be-
gan to fall. Mr.. Hammond took hold OF him
on one side and upon the other, and we laid
him down, and he expired in about two min
utes.
now issued warrant toa special consta-
BILE to summon a jury Of inquest. The lury-as-
sembled in about an hour, and I-was careful 10
select as jurymen those who were not present,
leaYine- those present to be examined as Wit
nesses. The examination was concluded
about half-past four o'clock in the morning,
and the following was the conclusion OF the
verdict: "The jury aforesaid, upon their
oaths aforesaid. do say that the SAID 1; ).
Darcan came to his death by a pistol shot, or
the Shot of some other frearm, in the hands
of some person or persons unknown to the
Jury" This verdict, of course, ended my
duties in the matter. II the jury had found
against any particular party, should have
forthwith issued warrant for his arrest. The
circumstances all pointed directly. and as it
seemed to me, incontrovertibly, to man
named Chavers, with whom Mr.. Dargan had
the first difficulty These circumstances are
too numerous to relate here, but suffice It to
say that several of the showmen who testified,
said the voice was like his Other witnesses
said Just before firing he remarked, You
are the man that cursed me this evening" and
the colored man who came to the door to call
Mr.. Hammond testified that he saw Chavcrs
standing near the door, and that he was the
only man he saw
The whole affair was certainly most melan-
choly and unfortunate; but will state here,
that so far as know no man connected with
the menagare is at all to blame except Cha
vers. He acted most dastardly end cowardly, IL
he was in fact the man who fired the fatal shot,
and that he was the man, myself have not
the least doubt. Mr.. Hammond acted through
ought the affair as a perfect gentleman. The
foreman of the jury examined the body, and
Mr.. Dargan had no sort of weapon about his
person.
Respectfully. SAN. W. MAURICE.
Kingstree, S. G., January 2l, 1870.