Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-05-07
dulge rather freely in the use of ardent spirit

of the pistol, and ascertaining that Capt.
Christopher was lying in his room dead, imme-
diately proceeded to summon DR.. Girard, the
surgeon of the post, and to notify w. B. Will
liams, acting coroner, Of the occurrence. The
coroner arrived on the spot about 1870 o'clock
that night, and summoned jury, consisting of
T. j. Bell, l. D. Witherspoon, H. F. Adickes,
T. M. Dobson, J. S. Lewis, John j. Smith,
Joseph Herndon, T. M. Whitaker, L. NJ.
Grist, J. Ed. JefFerys, Thomas S. JeHerys and
T. G. Dunlap, before whom the following tes-
timony was adduced:
Lieut.. F. F. Whitehead, sworn, said Met
with Capt. Christopher but once on yesterday
to speak with him. 1t was at an informal guard
mounting on yesterday morning. He inquir-
ed Of me if l "went on" replied in the af
6rmative. Yesterday, about 8, p. m., saw
Capt. Christopher and Lieut.. Benuer crossing
the street from the "Adickes corner" in the
direction of the Court House. Did not see
him again until found him lying on the floor
of his office, in the McCaw building, where
he now lies
After tea went direct to my Office in the
Rose hotel building and received my mail
Being officer of the day, | remained there With
my clerks until about ten minutes to 9 o'clock.
| then received the report of my guard and
came on over to my room in the building in
which the body now lies, not waiting for tattoo
to beat off, 1 came into the building and
went direct to my room lit candle and par
TALLY undressed myself 1 LAY down on the
bed and commenced reading. In few mo-
ments heard Capt. Christopher, the deceas-
ed, come up stairs and speak to Mrs. Christie
pher as he entered her room I distinguished
his voice, but could not understand what he
said. He closed the door, and | heard him
conversing rather loud. He remained there
about or 7 minutes, when he came out, shut
ting the door violently, and proceeded direct
ly to bis Office, and across it. He did not
have more than time to get his pistol before I
heard shot fred and him fall. dumped up
as quick as I could, put on my pants and
Shoes and rushed across into Mrs. Christie
piers room. AS I entered, I noticed Mrs..
Christopher and Miss Dennis sitting op the
bed. think they were both crying-Mrs.
Christopher was very much excited. Miss
Dennis seemed to be trying to quiet her.
Something that was said induced me to be-
lieve that they supposed Capt. Christopher
had shot himself Can't remember what was
said. said to Mrs. Christopher, "do please
be quieta few moments. 1 do not think your
husband has shot himself, and he is only try
ing to scare you. Be quiet a few moments
and will take the lamp and 60 down and
see." This was about 915 o'clock. took
the lamp and proceeded to the Office door,
pushed it open, and saw Capt. Christopher ly-
ing on the floor. I advanced far enough into
the room to see the pool of blood at his head
Fearing that Mrs. Christopher would become
unmanageable and get down stairs, she being
sick and in weak state, / thought | would
20 up stairs and break the news to her as
gently as I could, and get Miss Dennis to stay
with her and lock themselves in the room.
This, Miss Dennis agreed to. Mrs. Christie.
pher at this time was in a very excited con.
dition. Realizing my position as the only
man in the house, and as the person to act, l
returned to Capt. Christopher's
office for the purpose of ascertaining whether
or not he was dead. l went to the body and
run my hand between his blouse and shirt to
the location of his heart, to ascertain ifit was
beating. could not discover any sign Of life,
and was satisfied that be was dead. About
this time I heard Mrs. Christopher and Miss
Dennis coming down stairs. I went out and
met them in the hall. Mrs. Christopher was
nearly frantic After considerable persuasion,
1 succeeded in getting them back to their
room, upstairs. I then said 81 thought the
doctor and the coroner should be called"
and tried to impress the ladies with the ne
cessty of remaining where they were, quietly
as possible, while was absent looking for the
doctor and the coroner. I Immediately left
the house and proceeded up the street, and
called at the store of DR.. Allison. In CON-
pany with DR.. Allison I proceeded to the res.
idence of DR.. Girard, and with him and
Dr.. Allison, called at the residence Of W. B.
Williams, Esqr., the coroner. did not find
the coroner at home. DR.. Girard and my
self returned to the house, and DR.. Allison
went in search of the coroner. am morally
certain that there was no one in the room ex-
cept Capt. Christopher, when he was shot.
Have discovered no sign that he was shot from
the outside of the room. Heard Capt. Chris
topher say that he was shot at last year, near
his residence TWAS Capt. Chrstopher's opin-
ion that he was shot at, at the time alluded to,
by a soldier, who subsequently deserted.
There was light in the room at the time
Capt. Christopher was shot and at the time
witness entered the room. Witness knows
that for some time past Capt Christopher has
been very much under the influence of intox-
icating liquor, and was frequently in an in
sane condition.
Miss Sue Dennis, sworn, testified: Yester-
day evening was in Mrs. Christopher's room
when Col. Christopher came in he sat down
in the room for while, and then got up
and walked around the room several times,
and seemed to be quite excited. He then
went down stairs, and shortly thereafter we
heard the. report of the pistol, and then the
fall. Witness heard the dining-room door
close, and saw afterwards that Col. Christie.
pher had gone in there and eat his supper;
thinks he went into his Office from dining
room, and then he came inc Mrs. Christie
piers room. He seemed very much excited.
Mrs. Christopher asked him if he had been
drinking. He answered that he had taken
two or three drinks. She suggested to him
that he had better lie down. He replied that
if she did not wish him in her room he could
leave it. Mrs. Christopher said she did not
wish him in the room in the condition he was
in, and to keep quiet. He replied, if she did
not mind, he would do something she would
be sorry for, and then left the room. Several
days previous to this, witness was induced,
from threats she had heard him make, to re-
move his pistol from his Office. Did not seem
longer than two minutes from the time COL
Christopher left Mrs. Christopher's room
until she heard the report of the pistol. For
a week past, Col. Christopher has acted more