The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-10-01
Serious Difficulty Caused by an IntOx.
icated United States Oflcial-Two
Persons Shot.
[Spurtanbur0 Spdrtdn.]

lCpUt tONOHf1 SPN'NN"
On Monday afternoon was thrown
sible conduct of q United States Official ar.
resting an Illicit distiller on the street and
getting accidentally shot with his own pistol,
and the pursuit OF the escaping d~istiller, who
was shot at as he ran through the streets.
Thomas J. Davis Special deputy United
States Marshall, and Special Deputy Collector
Of United States Revenue, arrested j.. Pun
ther of Polk County, N. c.. Monduy morning.
North Carolina endorsed by Judge Brynn Of
this State In 1878. charged with conspiracy to
rescue United States prisoners from jail In
Hendersonville. n. c., about two years ago.
a aad' vent Sefors Mr.. S. +. Poinier and gave his
own recognizance to appear at the next term
Of the U. s. Court at Asheville n. G.. which
was accepted as satisfactory and Panther was
consequently released. a..
In the afternoon Davis hacame intoxicated
and again arrested Panther, without authori.
ty, on the same warrant or which he had
been arrested In the forenoon and had given
bail, and carried him through the streets In u
boisterous manner fiourishing his pistol over
him and threatening TO shoot him. When
they reached the top OF the stairway bctween
Capt. L. A. Mills building and the new store.
room oeing erected by Mr.. l.. Walker on Main
toll and make his threats, Panther attempted
to wrest the pistol from him, and In the scuf-
fe the pistol fired, the ball entering the left
thigh OF / avis and scattering the tnlgn bone.
FATHER then ran down the Steps, ran around
Walkers new building and come out into
Church street through alley by Mr. r. w.
Birds residence, and run down Church street
jumping over fence near DR.. Bennett's resi-
dence and or towards DR.. j. F. Cleveland's
stable. being pursued bya promiscuous crowd
and fred at as he ran.
The whole affair was disgraceful and was
the result OF the intoxication OF Davis the U.
g.. Oficial who arrested Panthera second time
on q matter for which he had just a few hours
before been arrested and hsd given bond for
his appearance. Davis Is suffering sc verely
for his folly. which may cost him his life. but
he can blame no one but himself for his mis-.
fortune. Panther may be the desperate char
acter he Is represented 10 be, but, no matter
who he is, or what his character may be. he
mad certain rights under the law which ought
to have been respected. Davis had no right
to arrest him a second time on a charge for
which he had been arrested n had given
ball. Davis had no right to treat him as he
did while under arrest, and u promlschous
crowd had no right TO pursue him, without
authority, shooting at him rs he ran through
the streets, and examples should be made Of
the parties who participated In such riotous
conduct on the public highways. An officer
OF the law armed with illegal warrant Is not
Unsuitable In shooting down q citizen he at
tempts TO arrest e1cept under extreme ctrcunt.
stances, and certainly no circumstances can
Justify O promiscuous crowd unauthorized by
law, pursuing and shooting ut q citizen indis-
criminately.