The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-08-15
THE EDGEFIELD MEETING.

\ large meeting of the Democrats of
Edge6eld, commemorative of the day of
Chambcrlain's dismay and disgrace two
years ago, was held near the Court House
on last Monday. The large assembly
was addressed by Gov. Hampton, Judge
Mackey, Gen. Noise, Col. Yolmans,
Gen. Gary and Maj. Tillman. Although
the crowd was not as large as two years
ago, the same spirit which characterized
the former meeting marked the last, and
with this spirit animating the Demo:
cratic party, success in the coming CAM
paign is not only more certain than it
was two years ago, but is certain.
Upon the occasion sad atfray oc.
CURED, the particulars of which we take
from the Ne,cs and Courier:
All passed on pleasantly until near the
end, when it became known that a se-
rious affray had occurred in the village,
mile distant, and which had the effect
of bringing the proceedings to an end
sooner than was intended. The circum-
stances were as follows, as we'll as could
be ascertained amid the confusion and
excitement which prevailed in the vii.
lage:
1t seems that several years ago, about
1869 or 1870, several men named Booth
went to the house of Mr.. Abram Jones
for the purpose of attacking Jones Oh ac-
count of some cause of complainG exist.
| ing between the parties. The Booths
were accompanied by young man
named Luther Toney. Jones was pre-
pared for the intended assault, which was
abandoned; but the young man Toney
was shot, and, as was claimed, acci.
dentally killed by one of the party of
Booths, in whose company he was at the
time. The relatives of Toney regarded
the killing as intentional, and the affair
became the occasion of bitter family
feud between the Toneys and Booths,
which led to an encounter few years
ago, but which did not result fatally to
any of the parties concerned.
While the speaking was in progress at
the grove to-day, however, the Booths
and Brooker Toney, who killed the negro
United States marshal Jew weeks ago,
met in store at the village and soon be-
came engaged in deadly conflict.
| There were three of the Booths on one
side, and Toney and one or two of his
friends on the other. 1t was impossible
to get an accurate account of the fight,
but between twenty and thirty shots were
fred within few minutes time, and ut
its close it was found that Brooker Toney
and James and Thomas Booth had been
killed; the three fell within forty feet of
each other, and all died within a few
minutes, without one having uttered
word. The fight took place on the pub
lie square, and number of spectators
were wounded.
The casualties were as follows: To-
ney and James and Thomas Booth,
killed outright; Benjamin Booth, shot
in four places, twice through the lungs
and badly beaten about the head, and
supposed to be mortally wounded; W.
L. Coleman, friend of Toney, and who
was concerned in the shooting, slightly
wounded in the abdomen; Mark Toney,
shot in the side; Wade Lott, in the arm;
S, B. Ryan, in the heel; Clarence Seig-
Ter, in the hand. Several of these were
innocent spectators, not concerned in the
ARRAY. All the persons engaged and all
the killed and wounded were white.
Brooker Toney is supposed to-have
been killed by Benjamin Booth, and is
supposed to have killed James and
Thomas Booth. Benjamin Booth was
the alleged slayer of Luther Toney, and
was tried and convicted of manslaughter
before Judge Platt and sent to the Peni-
tentiary, and Brooker Toney, though but
26 years of age, had killed Gus Harris,
the negro United States marshal, and an.
other negro two or three years ago.
When the firing began the shots were
heard at the scene of the speaking about
a mile of, and Governor Hampton, who
was ignorant of the cause, ordered one
of the militia companies assembled for
review to hasten to town and suppress
the disturbance, and the order was quick.
ly obeyed, but the affray was over before
the company arrived on the spot. The
affair is deeply regretted by the citizens
| of Edgefeld, but could not have been
anticipated nor prevented. The feud
was an old one, and resulted as stated
before any effort-could be made to arrest
its bloody contamination.
A post mortem revealed the fact that
Brooker Toney was shot six times, once
through the bowels, twice through the
chest, and thrice through or into the body
from behind. James Booth was shot in
the groin and bled to death internally,
and Thomas Booth was shot through the
lungs. Benjamin and James Booth were
old gray-haired men. Brooker Toney
and Thomas Booth were beardless boys.
G. NICK.