Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1881-07-28
From the GreenvIlle News, 2lst instant.
A MOONSHINER MURDER.
DEPUTY MARSHAL, T. L. BRAYToN SHOT DOWN
IN PICKENS COUNTY

United States Marshal, was shot and killed
by John Mellow, about two miles from Central
Station, in Pickens county, early yesterday
morning, while on raid with FIVE others 10
capture Mellow, who is an illicit distiller and
said to be man of desperate character, and
destroy his disti!lery. A warrant for the
arrest of Mellow, under the charge of illicit
distilling, had been issued upon information
by United States Commissioner Hayward, OF
Greenville, and the raiding party, consisting
of Thos. L. Brayton, j. F. Andres and Robt.
Knight, deputy marshals, accompanied by
John A. Bramlette and George Butler, left
Greenville by the Air Line freight train on
night before last at 12o'clock, arriving at Gen.
trail at minutes past two yesterday morning.
The first news of the shooting that reached
Greenvile was telegram from Geo. Butler
to U. S. Marshal Blythe, who is in the city,
stating the main fact of the killing. The
bare announcement Of the killing was received
with great interest, Mr.. Brayton and family
having been residents of Greenville for several
years past and we'll known in the community,
he having been also, up to this time, one OF
the publishers and the business manager of
the Neau South. The news of the tragedy was
received at Z a. M, shortly after it occurred.
John A. Bramlette, who was one OF the
raiding party, arrived from Central by the
Air Line train at 10 5S a. m. Shortly after
his arrival Daily News reporter gathered
from him the following account of the raid:
The raiding party reached Central about
o'clock Wednesday morning, went to Nc
Dow's house and made search for the still,
which they found about daylight situated
near McDows resid ence Bramlette states
that the still was at once taken possession OF,
and some work was done toward its destruc-
ton, when it was decided that several of the
party should 60 to McDow's house and arrest
him before further work was done at the
still. Andres, Knight and Butler went to
McDow's on this mission, while Brayton and
Bramlette watched at point some distance
from the distillery. Mellow answered to the
call at his door but remained inside and re-
fused to surrender. A considerable amount
of parleying ensued, when Butler returned to
Brayton, advising the reinforcement Of the
party at the house by another man. Brayton
requested Butler to stay with Rramlette on
the watch and went himself to the house.
Butler, instead of remaining with Bramlette,
returned to the house soon after Brayton
went there, and Brarnlette espying two men
armed with guns making circle around the
distillery, followed them off down branch to
see what they were up to. When Brayton
arrived at McDow's or soon after, the latter
agreed to surrender, and said he would be
ready to 20 to Greenville as soon as he ate his
breakfast.
After this promise Andress and knight re.
turned to the distillery for the purpose OF
cutting it up, leaving Brayton and Butler
alone at the house. Brayton placed himself
at the back of the house to prevent McDows
escape from the back door or window, while
Butler watched in the same manner at the
front. Brayton and Butler remained in their
respective positions for some time, during
which long silence prevailed in the house.
Butler says that he had noticed second man
in the house, and becoming somewhat uneasy
lest the silence inside indicated preparations
for an attack, called TO Brayton and suggest.
ed to him that they were making targets OF
themselves and were liable to be shot down at
any moment. Brayton replied chat he thought
there was no danger, that Mellow would not
shoot. A woman in the house, whom Butler
supposes was McDow's wife, made noisy
quarrel, saying she would die before Mellow
should be taken away. Seeing Brayton,s (
hands in his pockets, she pretended to think
that Brayton was going to shoot her, and
called to McDow with that complaint. Bray
ton assured her that he meant to do her no
harm. During the long silence inside the
house Brayton called several times to Mellow,
saying he was getting tired Of waiting. Bray
ton was shot throug door or window as
he was approaching Butler with his hat in
his hand, and was in the act of speaking to
him. No warning was given of the inten.
ton to shoot and the first shot was entirely
Unexpected. Brayton and Butler were with.
in four or five feet of each other when the
fatal shot was fired. At the crack of the gun
Brayton clasped his breast with both hands,
exclaiming "Oh !" and fell forward to the
ground. Death was instantaneous When
Brayton fell Butler rushed to him, but saw at
once that the shot was fatal. He straighten.
ed out the body, however, pushed back his
hair and picked up his hat which had fallen
some distance from the body and placed it
near him. In the meantime the firing from
the windows up stairs continued, several shots
being fred at Butler, probably from pistols,
before he left the yard. Before retiring But.
Ter drew his pistol and fred one shot in re-
turn and fled from the premises. He was
fred at with shot gun when about one hum
dred yards off, several buckshot whizzing
near him through the air and some small
shot, spent by the distance, striking him about
the legs. No attempt was made to enter the
house and the shooting was entirely unpro.
voked. After leaving the scene Of the TRACE
dy, Butler repaired to Central, telegraphed a
report of the murder to Marshal Blythe, and,
while waiting for reply, went to the hotel
and was eating breakfast when citizen of
the town rushed into the dining.room and in
formed Butler that he was being pursued by
Mellow and his son and son.inlaw. He es-
capped through the back door of the hotel and
went to Liberty with all possible dispatch,
and from that place to Greenville
A jury of inquest was impanelled by Trial
Justice johnson, acting coroner. The body
of the murdered man was found just as it
had fallen, lying near the corner of small
clubhouse about on q line with the corner of
McDow's dwelling and about twenty steps
from it. The dead man lay on his face,
turned slightly to his right, with the right
cheek resting on the ground, the right arm
being under the body and slightly bent, and
legs being straight and slightly crossed. In
the left hand the blade of an old drawing
knife was clenched. A hatchet was stuck
in the waistband of the pantaloons on the
left side. The right cheek was slightly dis
colored as if he had fallen on it. The house
L.