Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1886-01-28
CORRESPONDENCE of the lOrkyille Enquirer
LETTER FROM ROCK HILL.

Rock HILL, S. c., January 25.-On last
Wednesday night, at negro festival, on Mr..
Robert Cornwell's plantation, 8 miles east OF
this place, Tom Massey, colored, shot and in
stantly killed George Gibson, also colored.
Massey came at once to Rock Hill and sur
rendered himself, stating that he had COM
mitted the act in self defence. On Thurs
day morning, Trial Justice FeWell acting as
coroner, held an inquest, Mr.. j. Z. Hoke
being foreman of the jury. The verdict was
to the effect that the deceased came to his
death by pistol shot fired by Thomas
Massey.
The facts of the occurrence, as have been
able to gather them, are about as follows :
Early in the evening of Wednesday, Glib
son had drawn pistol on another person,
and later disturbance was created among
some women in the yard, one of the dlsput-
ing women being Massey's wife. Massey,
in attempting to take his wife away, was
attacked by Gibson, who advanced towards
him, attempting to draw a razor. Massey
then fired the fatal shot. The pistol used
was a j-shot, 32-calibre, and only one car
fridge was in the pistol at the time of the
shooting. One of the witnesses before the
coroner's Jury testified that there was Whis:
ky on the premises. 1t is thought that
whisky and women were at the bottom OF
the trouble, they being fruitful cause OF
murder these days.
Peter Eaves, colored, was before Trial
rJustice Fewell last week, charged with
stealing q wheelbarrow from Henry Toole.
Peter claimed that he found the Wheelbar-
row on the street and that he only intended
to borrow it for few days. But in the
meantime he had painted it green-a very
appropriate color. Justice FeWell gave him
the alternative of paying S5 or going to jail
for thirty days. Peter has decided to buy
q wheelbarrOW, which in distinction
of the one he borrowed, he will doubtless
have painted red.
was shown a few days ago handsome
gold watch and chain, which the ladies of
Bethesda Church intend to present to their
late pastor, Rev. J. LoWrie Wilson, who re-
signed his charge of that church and remov-
ed to Abbeville few months ago.
X Rev.. @. Adams, who is to take charge of
Rock Hill and Harmony Baptist Churches,
LArrived at this place with his family last
week. He preached in the Baptist Church
at this place on Sunday morning and made
a favorable impression. 1t is hoped that
his mission to the church at this place and
Harmony may be for the good of many
souls.
The farmers in this section report that
the oat crop has not been injured by the
late cold weather. 1t is to be hoped that
the crop will be good one this season, as it
is the most profitable crop raised in this
part of the country.
On last Tuesday night Constable j. f.
ThOlnassOn, who was on his way to ROCK
Hill, when just above Ebenezer Church,
heard the report of a pistol which was fired
in the road just in front of him. He rode
up and arrested Nose Starr, colored, upon
whose person he founda pistol. He brought
him before Trial Justice Fewell, who placed
him under a 5000 bond to appear before
the next term of the Circuit Court toanswer
to the charge of carrying concealed deadly
weapon.
Mr.. John j. Roach has accepted position
as salesman in the store Of w. l.. Roddy
e. Co.
/Allen Jones, infant son of DIR. and Mrs.
/T. NJ. DuBose, died at this place on Sunday
night. The bereaved parents have the SYM
pathy of our entire community in their sad
atfiictiOn. Hal"