Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1879-07-03

ID Episcopalian that I intend to whip"
@. Are you an Episcopalian, and how long
have you been member of the church? A.
I belong to that church, and have been men,
ber eight or ten months.
@. Did you witness the difficulty between
the deceased and Frew? saw the closing of
the fight between them. did not see the de-
ceased's pistol on that occasion.
Later in the day, two or three times, 1 heard
him say, speaking of me, "Yonder comes the
s-n of a b-h 1 intend to whip" When he
made a similar remark to Gary Anderson, at
one time, was in the piazza of the house, some
distance off, though could see them.
had a conversation with the deceased after
the reconciliation between him and Frew. I
went out to look for him, having heard that
he had made friends with Frew. I found him
close to his buggy, in company with Iredell
Jones and two others, sitting in the buggy.
Before 1 got within reach of them, he cursed
me for m of b-h. I walked mp calmly.
Mr.. Jones got him quieted, and remarked to
me that had acted right. Williford and
accompanied Mr.. Jones to the blacksmith
shop. Before we got there, talking about the
proposed reconciliation, he said id If he
cared anything about it. We took seats
Jones to his right and to his left. Jones re-
quested him to let me make my statement,
been off for water and returned to the buggy
containing the lady 1 had been waiting on,
and that desired no difficulty. He made no
reply, further than to say he cared nothing
about it. Mr. Jones left us about the time we
commenced talking. The deceased, soon after,
left, saying he didn't care a N for anything
more about it.
After this point, later in the afternoon, when
preparing to leave, while I was in company OF
Miss Mclaughlin and Frew, he came up, and
pointing to me, said-"Yes, d-n him, Intend
to cowhide him." made no reply, ana and
my companions returned to Rock Hill after
thanking MIR. Jones for the entertainment
he had given us.
That same evening, before dark, I had a
conversation with Capt. Allen Jones at the
back door Of my store He asked me about
the picnic, and told him of the incidents af-
ter he left. He then passed on, and follow
ed him up and we took seat, when he asked
about the fuss. / told him about the whole
affair. He then told me he had heard the de-
ceased say he would kill me, and Capt. Jones
advised me to prepare myself, because, said he,
the deceased would take advantage of me and
shoot me down at any moment, He mention
ed so much abuse, which, with my other afiic-
ton, said it was hard on me. About that
time, Capt Ivy came up Capt. Jones remark
ed to him that we were just discussing the pic
mic affair and the abuse had received. Capt.
Ivy said it was shame and scandal that the
deceased was at every party or picnic, drawing
a pistol and attempting to shoot some one.
They talked for some time on the matter, l
listening Capt. Ivy spoke of drawing up a
paper, calling a meeting to denounce WILL
ford's way of doing In reference to this pa
per, he said the young men would all sign it.,
declaring they wanted to keep away from him.
1 said I would do anything and would sign it.
Capt. Ivy also suggested a peace warrant,
but Capt Jones said the deceased would have
no regard for it, and that he would shoot me
down at any moment. He said he had heard
him say, not long before, that he would shoot
some one and leave the State.
On Saturday morning after the picnic, Capt.
Jones came to my store on business, and asked
me if had been bothered yet. I told him no,
when he said had better be prepared, and ad-
vised me TO get pistol, or something, as the
deceased would walk into my store and shoot
me down.
About dark, on the evening of the picnic,
Bob Gordon came and took me aside to warn
me Of threat the deceased had made against
me, in which he said he would fight no man
fair, and if I got ahead of him I'd have to be
d-dquick.
S. G. Keistler made communication to me
on Friday morning, between and 10 O'Clock.
He said he had seen A. Williford, Church and
Wade Williford, and that they said for me to
60 out and they would fight me any way l
wanted Church had also said-"By Cd!
he's got to fight me some way or other.''
Keistler also said had better prepare myself,
as was in danger. I have never carried
arms. The pistol was left in my store
pawned by Martin Massey. When pawned to
me laid it away. Pistol with five chambers
shown and identified. When left with me,
all the chambers of the pistol were loaded.
Four were loaded when fired at the deceased,
Two or three weeks before this occurrence, 1
took the pistol as I went to my supper, one
evening, to try it, and fired one chamber. 1
first put the pistol on my person after the con-
versation with Capt. Jones.
remember Dock Robertson coming into my
store on Monday, the day of the shooting. 1
was cleaning the showcase at the time, five or
six feet from the front door. l saw the de-
ceased pass just before Robertson entered.
NY clerk, Sadler was lower down in the store
Robertson asked me if heard what the de-
ceased said, and repeated the words --"There's
s-n of a b-h intend to whip" This was
about half an hour before the shooting.
On that morning, the deceased passed and re-
passed my house six times on the pavement,
and once diagonally in front of it, He passed
one time alone and in company with some one
else at the other times. When he made the
remark about whipping me, he was walking in
a north direction
Coming down to The shooting. I went to
my front door and stepped off the door to the
pavement, for the purpose of removing some
wooden ware which was at that time OF day
exposed to the sun. Looking up the street, l
saw the deceased sitting there, He drew his
hand from under his coat as / caught his eye,
and made motion as if to draw a pistol. l
then took my pistol out of the left pocket of
nv cOat-a sack coat-and fired. When l
stepped out of my door, did not know the
deceased was out there. Only an instant
elapsed from the time I caught his eye until l
fired. My pistol was in the pocket, handle up.
The face of the deceased was in the direction
of my door. After firing, Immediately cock
ed my pistol again. 1 did not know the result
of my shot. l then returned to my store and
loaded my gun-a breech-lOader, gun OF the
Catawba Rites-and watched the back door
of Howe's house to keep from being shot IN
the back. When loaded my gun after shoot
ing, my object was to go to the trial JUSTICES
office, and took the gun to keep from being
crowded while going there When caught
the eye of the deceased, he made rapid
movement with his hand to his hip-pocket,
where I knew he carried his pistol. believed
he was going to fire on me. l believed Fl
knew-I was in great danger of bodily harm,
or would lose my life. l.
I was fond Of the deceased and advocated
his membership to the company. My personal
feelings toward him, up to the occurrence at
the picnic, were quite friendly, He frequently
came to my store, laughing and talking
Cross-eranainetl by Mr.. Wilson, en.-At the
time fired, had stepped two and half feet
from my door, to get my wooden ware, which
was on both sides Of me- to the right and left
of the door, on the pavement, leaning against
4ho .,nn 1 lonl,od in 1nu front 90 stannpd