The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1885-10-01
The moore-n1urray Affair.

Manly, D. D., in the presence of an i'm
mense congregation..f
The Moore-Murray Affair.
On last Thursday, summons in two
cases were served upon Maj. John B.
Moore and Mr.. E. B. Murray, citing them
to appear before the Mayor on the
following morning, to answer first, the
charge of fighting with pistols on the pub
lie square, and thereby disturbing the
public peace, and second, for. carrying
concealed weapons. at the appointed
hour Col. J. N. Brown and Capt. A. T.
Broyles, counsel for Maj. Moore, appeared
before the Mayor and entered the plea OF
guilty upon each charge against him.
Mr.. Murray, with his counsel, Messrs.
John E. Breazeale and z. W. Long, ap-
peared for trial upon the first charge
that of fighting with pistols and disturb
ing tl'c peace. At the conclusion Of the
testimony against him, introduced by
the Council, his Attorneys moved to have
the case dismissed, on the ground that the
evidence showed that Mr.. Murray acted
throughout in self-defense. Mayor Tolly
stated that the case was very grave one,
aud if there had been any evidence to
show that Mr.. Murray had acted other
wise than strictly in selfdefense, he would
have found him guilty and let him ap-
peal to the Council to sift the evidence,
but as there was no testimony to sustain
the charge, he would be compelled to dis
miss the case. Had the Mayor refused
this motion the defense had quite num-
ber of prominent citizens who were wit
nesses of the difficulty to be sworn. AS
so many rumors have gained currency
about this matter, we publish below a
certified copy of the evidence taken at
this trial, knowing that the public will
like to have the facts as officially obtained
City Council
E. B. Murray.
Lee Gillaird Was present on the 18th
Sept. at the disturbance saw Mr.. Muir
raw; saw Mr.. Murray on the street; saw
him, as Mr.. Moore approached, stop be-
tween the corner of Simpsons and Hill 8
and call out stop; Immediately he drew
his pistol; at that juncture Mr.. Fant
was about to interfere, when Moore
stepped to the right and pulled his pistol (;
the firing then commenced; both fired
don't know who fired first; occurrence
did not disturb nue.: occurred between
the row of trees and Hilps Drug Store.
Cross Examined: Lives 81 miles from
town; no particular business brought me
to town; had been coming for about
weeks; was not one of the confidential
advisers of Mr.. Moore; was at Mr.
Moore's Office that morning; thinks Mr.
Clinkscales and some countryman were
there; thinks it was Elgin; witness was
looking for the difficulty and predicted it
from the start; was not here as a friend
of Mr.. Moore was not on the square
by virtue OF any consultation with Mr.
Moore OF his friends is not related to Mr.
Moore; when the shooting commenced
was about 40 yards to Maj. Moore's left
and about 60 or G5 yards from Maj. Muir.
ray; was sitting between Peoples and
Watson's, facing the street; this was
nearly on the opposite side of the square
from Maj. Murray; heard Mr.. Tolly tell
FAINT to stop that man heard Murray
also say stop; Mr.. Tolly was at Hills
Drug Store, about Is or 80 steps from
Murray was about twice as far from
Murray than Tolly was; at the time
the square, and within about 60 yards Of
him I advanced to see the affair. out o.
pure curiosity; don't know whether
Moore had his pistol in his hand; was
to his left, tho pistol in his right; Moore
had stick in his left hand about 3.4 OF
an inch at the butt; as Moore went across
the street his right hand was stationary
he was going at a pretty brisk walk; die
not hear police whistle; don't know
that Moore increased his pace after Mr.
Tolly called to stop; saw the pistols that
day; don't know about their relative
size; could not tell from their reports.
(Signed) L. L. GILLIARD.
James NJ. Payne: Was present on the
18th; saw the difficulty between Moore
and Murray; was standing at Hill's cor.
ner; l saw Murray coming up the side.
walk, about opposite Simpsons Drug
Store; I looked down towards Moore's
Office; saw Moore start from his Office in
fast walk Murray walked on until he
got about half way between the row oi
trees and Simpsons corner; he stopped
and faced Moore; Mr.. Tolly ran out
about that time and blew his whistle and
called to Mr.. Fant TO stop him; stop that
man; called 2 or 3 times; did not sec
Murray leave his office; FAINT ran up to
Maj. Moore and got to within or G feet
Of him at that time Mai Moore present.
cd his pistol at Mr. Murray and Mr..
FAINT retired Mr.. Fant had not got back
very far before Moore fired looked to
Murray and in two or three seconds he
fired Moore kept advancing and both
kept up tho firing until it was over
Moore in advancing was bearing to his
right, and Murray to his left, both bear
ing towards HILLS corner; somehow they
took another turn and went back the
other way they kept shooting, and Muir
ray then made the effort to shoot twice
after firing his last shot, but his pistol
snapped; the affair caused q consider
ablo disturbance; it was the biggest shoot
ing scrape ever saw here.
Cross Eel am an Alderman of this
City; after swapping his pistol twice,
Murray retrcated towards his Office; Mr..
Moore ran after him and shot; don't know
whether he shot once or twice; Moore
was not more than 20 or 80 feet from
Murray when he fired the last shot; Maj.
Murray could have gone into Simpsons
Drug Store when he was retreating; lie
passed by the door; thought that was
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