The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1886-07-08
MURDERED BY A WOMAN.
TRAGEDY IN A CROWDED CHURCH
g., IN BARNWElL COUNTY,.

Stee1ly In Hunters CEapel "hlie Su"'
day School Services are Being Hcld.-N"
Warning Given to the Victim.
MIDWAY, July AT Hunters
Chapel Church this morning. while Sun
.day-School was in session. Miss Emma
Connolly killed John A. Steedly. She
walked into the church with her arms
folded and pistol in one hand. cooked.
She passed into the seat in rear of Steed-
ly.<and when just behind him shot him.
He arose, looked around, tried to get
out his pistol. and at the same time
made for the door. Miss Connolly
snapped her pistol at him agalu, but 1t
failed to 60 of. IF it had gone off the
chances are that some one else would
have been hurt, as the church was
crowded. Steedly fell at the door Of the
church Just outside and died in about
three minutes. There was great eX-
element among the ladies and children
at the time. Steedly had been putting
out damaging reports about Miss Con-
nelly. for which her brothers and Mr..
OFT had horsewhipped him some time
AGO. an account Of which appcard in
your paper. Some ten days since Steed-
" published letter in your paper giving
his version of the whipping and relterat-
ing the reports. This letter seems to
have been the immediate cause of the
shooting. As far as can be ascertaincd
the feeling Of the public seems to favor
Bliss Connolly. who is under arrest In
the News and Courier on June 7 the
following letter was published from our
Bamberg correspondent:
'''Some excitement prevails in the
neighborhood of Hunters Chapel over
the cowhiding Of Mr.. John 4. Steedly
BY Messrs. w. t. Connolly and A. l..
OFT. It seems that Steedly had been
circulating false and damaging reports
concerning Connelly's sister. In order
to obtain full satisfaction for the offence
Messers. Connolly aud OFT purchased
50 so whalebone whip. waited upon Mr..
Steedly and administered about thirty
lashes, wearing the whip completely
cut. lis said that Steedly has become
reconciled to his fate, since calling upon
trial justice and being advised that in
case a lawsuit was entered against
Messers. Connolly and OFT other punish
ment would probably be inflicted for
circulating reports equally false and
damaging concerning other persons"
On June % a letter from JOHN A.
Steedly was published, i'll which he
esaid: ~ %.
s.In Your issue OF the 7tll inst, | see a
>card from your Bamberg correspondent,
stating tliaS I was cowhided by ~. 7.
Connolly and A. L. OLt. Your cores
pondent did me great injustice in that
report. I was attacked by Messrs.
Connolly and OFT, and before had any
warning Connolly presented q cooked
pistol at me and Oft placed Ills hand on
his and l was told by both Of these men
that If 1 moved they would kill me.
Connolly did strike me several blows
with whip, the cost of which I do not
know or care. Your correspondent says
that had been circulating false and
damaging reports concerning Connelly's
sister. That is untrue. All that said
was in q very confidential way, and I
had no desire or expectation CT doing
Miss Connolly any damage by speaking
to my friend, but unfortunately for me
and him he divulgcd the secret.
"And now, since the lady aud her
friends have taken the steps they have,
in justice to myself I must say that her
mother knows the whole truth and
knows that 1 have not lied. Everyone
can see that YOUR correspondent was
not disposed to do ME justice in that
report.
II hope in the future, when using my
name through the papers. he will be
careful to say nothing but the truth.
Time will tell whether 1 am reconciled
to my fate or not and as to his state
ment about my calling on trial Justice,
it is, as other statement made, either
wilful or negligently untrue. Now Mr..
Editor, 1 hope in justice to me You will
publish this"
On June 25 the Bamberg correspon-
dent Of the News aud Courier wrote as
follows:
I'm justice to your correspondent and
Mr.. Steedly it is necessary to state that
the report made concerning the COW
hiding of Mr. John Steedly was found
ed entirely upon information gwen
your correspondent by a gentleman
whom he believes to be reliable. His
statements have been confirmed by
other parties. and your correspondent
has neither seen nor heard denial OF
the facts as reported until Mr.. Steedly's
card appcard i'll the News and Courier
Yesterday. 1t was far from the intention
of your correspondent to DO Mr.. Stccdly
all injustice. and it is hoped that he may
be able to clear up the matter satislac-
torilv. ."--News and Courier
The Inquest.
BAMBERG. July 5.-Jctlcrson Stokes
was foreman of the jury Of inquest over
the body of John y. Stecdly. The fol-
lowing evidence was given before the
jury.
Jacob Rcntz: Il was at Hunters
fu,..o1 ~, il,, Itl, ,1ot. of Iu1r 0hout | I