The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-07-13
Murdered by a Woman
'pecial dispatch to.The News and
Couricr.1

I Midway, July "A. Hunters chape
church this morning, while Sunday
school WAS in session, Miss Emma Con
nelly 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 Ste.
edly, and when just behind him sho,
him. He arose, looked around, tried to
get out his pistol, and at the same time
made for the door. Miss Connolly snap.
ped her pistol At him again, but it failed
to 80 of: If it had gone off the chan ces
are that some one else would have been
hurt, as the church Mas crowded.
Steedly fell At the door of the church
just outside and died in about three
minutes. There was great excitment
among the ladies and children at the
time. Steedly had been putting out
damaging reports about Miss Connolly,
for which her brothers and Mr.. OFT
had horsewhinped him some time ago,
IN account. of which appeared in your
paper. Some ten days since. Steedly
published letter in your paper giving
his version Of the whipping and reiterat-
ing the reports. This letter seems to
hare been the imme edate cause of the
shooting.
As far as can be ascertained the feel
ing Of the public seems to favor Miss
Connolly, who is under arrest.
In the Ne,cs and Courier on June
7th, the following letter was published
stom OUT Bamberg correspondent
'Some excitement prevails in the
nsighhorhood of Hunters chapel over
the cowhiding of Mr.. John Steedly by
Ressrs. w. S. Connolly and A. L. OFT.
It seems that Steedly had been circulat-
ing false and damaging reports concern
ing Connelly's sister. In order to OBJ
tain full satisfaction for the offence
Aessrs., i, Coppelly and OFT purchased
$3.50 whalebone whip, waited upon
Mr.. Steedly and administered about
thirty lashes, wearing the whip compile
teiy out. It is said that Steedty had
became rcconciled to his fate since call
Ing upon trial justice and being
advised that in case lawsuit was
entered against Messrs. Connolly and
OFT other. punishment would probably
bc inflicted for circulating reports equal
Iy false and damaging concerning other
person.
On June 23d, letter from John A.
Stcedly was published in which he
said.
I'm your issue Of the 9TH inst, I see
card from your Bamberg correspond
ent stating that was cowhided by w. /
L. Connolly and A. L. Ott Your COR
respondent did me great injustice in that
report was attacked by Messrs. |
Connolly and OFT. and before l had
any warning Connolly presented cock
ed pistol at me and OFT placed his hand
on his, and was told by both Of these |
men that If moved they would kill me. |
Connolly did strike me several blows
with whip, the cost of which do not
know or care. Your correspondent says
that had been circulating false and
damaging reports concerning Connelly's
sister. That is untrue. All thatI said
wss in very confidential way, and I !
had no desire or expectation Of doing
Miss Connolly any damage by speaking
OF her to my friend, but unfortunately
for me and him he divnlged the secret.
"And now, since the lady and her
friends have taken tho steps they have,
in justice to myself must say that her
mother knows the whole truth and
knows that 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 nv
name through the papers, he will be
careful to say nothing but the truth
Time will tell whether am reconciled
to my fate or not; and az to his
statement about my calling on 4 trial
justice, is, a. other statements made.
either wjifully or negligently untrue.
Now. M. Editor. hope in justice to
mo you will publish this:
On June rs the Bamberg corresnon.
dent OF The Ncrs and Courier wrote
ss follows:
I'm justice to your correspondent and
M. steedly it is necessary to state that
tho report made concerninp tho sorh;s