Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-06-21
THE GREENvILLE TRAGEDY.
4 F4THER'S VENGEANCE.
GreenYille News. Friday,

ana passions OF WnOle community, mas
been made public by serious shooting affair
which occurred yesterday between l.. W.
Kay and l.. w. Floyd in the office Of the
on Main street, between McBee Avenue
and Washington.
The distressing story which eliminated
in the shooting is as follows:
Mr.. Floyd has been frequent visitor to
Mr.. Kay's house, where he has been paying
considerable attention to Miss Lille Kay,
a very beautiful young lady of about II,
who is the daughter Of Mr.. Kay. M. ID.
Harrison was also an admirer Of the young
lady, but his suit met with an unfavorable
response some time since, and he has not
visited her for some time. Mr.. Floyd ac-
companied Miss Kay to various entertain
ments, and went buggy riding with her
several times. Recently the conduct OF
both parties has excited suspicion, and MIR;
Harrison, who thought that she still had
a claim upon his protection, began to watch
the couple On Friday night of last week,
Mr.. Harrison alleges that he in company
with others, saw Mr.. Floyd and Miss Kay
enter Mauldin's building, corner of Main
and Washington streets, in the upper story
of which Mr.. Floyd's room is situated. MIR.
Harrison stated that he followed in a few
moments, and approaching Mr.. Floyd's
room heard his voice and that of Miss Kay.
The next day Mr.. Harrison told friends
what he had seen, and this information
was soon impaired to Mr.. Kay. His
daughter and Mr.. Floyd strenuously de-
MED the truth of Mr.. Harrison's statement,
and rigid investigation. He questioned
Mr.. Harrison closely, and the friends of Mr..
Floyd endeavored to persuade Mr.. Harri-
son to retract, but he averred that he had
made true statement, and refused to de-
viate one iota from his original version.
Several friends of Mr.. Harrison, who ac-
companied him on Friday night last, con-
tirmed his assertions. This reduced the
matter to a question of veracity between
Mr.. Floyd and Mr.. Harrison. Several in
terviews were held for the purpose of in
curing into the matter of adjusting the
affair amicably. On Wednesday Mr.. Kay
got Mr.. Harrison to accompany him to the
store of Lipscomb & Russell, where Mr..
Floyd and number OF his friends were;
Mr.. Kay repeated the statement as he had
heard it, and asked Mr.. Harrison if it was
true. Mr.. Harrison replied in the aftirma-
tive. Mr.. Floyd told Mr.. Harrison that he
had told an untruth, using, it is said, an
epithet and making a motion with stick
as if about to strike Mr.. Harrison. Mr..
Harrison drew his pistol and Mr.. Floyd
drew his, but the friends of Mr.. Floyd
seized Mr.. Harrison's arm and Wrenched
the pistol out of his hand, while Officer
Carter caught Floyd's arm. This created
much excitement on the streets, but no
publication was made of it, the Ne,cs desir-
ing to suppress the unfortunate affair as
long as possible. On Wednesday evening
Mr.. Floyd, who, Mr.. Kay says, had promis-
ed to do his daugter justice, suggested a
conference with Mr.. Kay. Accordingly in
company with a friend Mr.. Floyd went to
the sheriff7s Office in the Court House. Mr..
Kay, who was not yet convinced of Mr..
of his friends to be present and hear the.
interview, Sheriff Gilreath was also pres
ent. One or two propositions were made,
but the conference broke up without enact
ing anything.
The affair was in the meantime matter
of public talk and various opinions were
expressed in regard to it, every one agree
ing however, that Mr.. Kay should hold Mr..
Floyd to strict account if he was convinced
of his guilt. Mr.. Kay said that he did not
wish to kill an innocent man and wanted
to secure irrefutable evidence before he
resorted to extreme measures, although
some parties censured him for not acting
more quickly.
On Wednesday night Miss Kay made
in which she said that Mr. Floyd
had accomplished her ruin. H. O. King,
a relative Of Mrs. Kay arrived Wednesday
night and at once gave his assistance and
advice to Mr.. Kay. Yesterday morning
Mrs Kay sent a message to Mr.. Floyd re-
questing him to come. to her house, as she
wished to ask him something. This Mr..
Floyd refused to do. Shortly before eleven
o'clock Mr.. Kay and Mr.. King went to the
store of Libscomb & Russell. j. w. Lips
comb, j. A. Russell, T. w. Davis, James
Perry, Thomas Whitmire, and VIM. Hunt
were in the store. Mr.. Floyd was seated at
his desk in his office, writing. His office is
in the back part of the store, the right hand
corner as one enters the store, and is separa-
ted from the store by a high pine railing.
A window on the back yard opens into Mr..
Floyds office.
As NIessrs. Kay and King entered, some
one said "Look out Floyd, Kay has come"
Mr.. Kay stated that he wished to have
private talk with Mr.. Floyd and hoped
that those present would excuse him for a
few moments. Mr.. King took a position
door, which is few feet from Mr.. Floyd's
office. Mr. Kay went into this Office. Mr..
Floyd arose, pushed back his chair and
faced Mr.. Kay, who, in tone of voice in
audible to those in the store, asked Mr..
Floyd if he would marry his daughter.
Mr.. Floyd replied that he would not. Fir
ng then began, the two being about five
feet apart. 1t is impossible to say who fired
The first shot, as they both fired almost 81
Both men used Smith &
Wesson's thirty-tWo calibre revolvers. The
first bullet from Mr.. Kay's pistol struck MIR.
Floyd, and he reeled back and fell against
The window sill. Mr.. Floyd's pistol was in
;he lower coat pocket on the right hand side,
,till in the pocket, and discharged it in that
position, the ball passing through the p0ck-
It and corner of the coat and entering Mr..
Hay's right breast pocket, went through |
thick package of papers in that recepta-
lie, and then out through his coat. Mr..
<ay then receded until he got to the door
# the office. Here r. w. Davis ran for
ward and seized him, but not before he had
ired again, aiming at Mr.. Floyd's head.
Mr.. Floyd was then partly behind his desk.
,1r. Davis was then attempting to hold Mr..
KAY. Mr.. Floyd then fired again, but as
Nr. Davis was between him and Mr.. Kay
he bullet took effect in Mr.. Davis left arm,
passing entirely through and lodging, in
tairway on the opposite side which leads
lis hold on Mr.. Kay, and Messrs. j. a.
RUSSELL and w. Hunt seized him, forcing
i'm toward the back door. Here Mr.. Kay
ndeavored to fire again, but as the ham
ner was descending it caught in Mr.. Hunts
land, cutting it somewhat, and failed to
discharge At the back door an effort
vas made to wrench the pistol from Mr..
lay's hand but without success. While
he struggle with Mr.: Kay, was in progress,
T. A. Lipscomb ran to Mr.: Floyd, who by
his time had gotten to a pile of flour sacks,
utside his office nearer the front door, and
vas leaning against them, and forced him
ehind them. Mr.. Floyd freed himself