The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-12-15
TIE STOKES BLUFF KILLING.
The Funeral Of Young Gignilliat-The
Coroners Inquest.

The Funeral Of Young Gignilliat-The
Coroner's Inquest.
The funeral of Arthur NJ. Gignilliat,
whose body was brought down from Stokes
Bluff on the steamer Ethel, Saturday night.
took place at Boaaventure cemetery yes
terday afternoon. Rev. 0. P. Fitzsimons
officiating.
An inquest was held by the coroner of
Hampton county, South Carolina, upon
GignIlliat's body Friday afternoon and
Saturday morning.
A gentleman who was present furnished
the MORNING NEWS with a condensed state
nent of the evidence given before the coro-
ner's jury.
Gignlliat, on his arrival at Stokes bluff
from Savannah Wednesday night, asked
Edmuni Stevenson, assistant agent of the
Steamboat line, if he had sent the
horse ana buggy, which he borrowed,
back to their owner, Mr.. Lawton,
as be had promised TO do. Stevenson re-
piled that be had not promised anything.
Hignilliat said TO him, "Do not contradict
my word" Further words passed between
the parties, and Gignilliat partly drew a
plstoj from his pocket. but replaced it, and
walked of. Returning a little later he
called for the horse and buggy. and drove to
Mr. Lawton's, Where ne han been staying.
The next morning, while going to Stokes
Landing with his friend. Mr.. Braxton,
He met Mr.. Adams, and speaking Of
the difficulty of the night before, Adams
| offered to precede him TO the landing and
persuade Stevenson to offer an apology.
| When Gjgnilliat arrived he found Adams,
Robert IL. Manner, the negro, Stevenson, and
| another negro there. Producing $40 BILL
ne asked Mr. Manner to change it. Obtain
ing two 'fives" from Manner, he offered one
to Stevenson for taking care of the horse
and buggy. Stevenson refused to accept it,
| aad repeated his remarks Of the night be-
fore. Gignilliat then exclaimed:
You have contradcted my word and
must apologize, or will whip you.n
> -evenso n refusing to apologize Gignilliat
struck HIM with stick, or switch, which
he had picked up on his way to the landing
| At this Juncture Manner ran to to his private
room to get his pistol. Stevenson, on being
struck, advanced on Gigniiliat, or attempted
to get his guu, and as he did so Gignilliat
fired, aiming low it was claimed,
with the intention of disabling
rather than killing Stevenson. The ball
however, cut the femoral artery and made
& fatal wound.
Manner at this time returned with his
pistol. and according to the testimony of
Adams, fired through the open doorway
at Gignilliat. Manner first said that he
simply fired to quiet matters, but at the
| lHqu eSt lie teStlueu UnaG MS PISTOL being a
double action hammerless, went
off accidentally. The ball struck
in some boxes near Gignillias
and be was heard to exclaim just before
firing: Nobody shall hurt Ned while l am
here
The attention of Gignilliat and Adams,
who was standing by him, was attracted to
Manner by the shot, and they turned to de-
fend themselves from his attack. Adams
continued to look for Maner, who was be-
hind the edge of the door outside, but Gig
nllllat, evidently hearing some moveme Ut
on the part of the negro, turned just III time
TO receive the entire load from the negros
gun full in the face, at tue same instant
firing his pistol again but missing his aim.
The negro aDd GigDilliet both then fell
Adams, seeing the fatal termination, sprang
out Of the open doorway between Manner
and Braxton, who had just come together,
and stood with pistols drawn on each other
| AS he did SO Adams exclaimed: Both men
in there are dead; don't shoot any more"
Braxton exclaimed: Let's don't shoot p
and handed his pistol to Adams. Maner
then put his pistol up, saying: 81
surrender; l give myself mp" and
called TO the negro witness, saying: "Send
for my friends" Stevenson fell dead as
soon as he fired his gun, but Gignilliat lin
gered IN an unconscious condition until near
II o'clock that night
The coroner's jury was composed of both
negroes and whites, and up to the time the
Ethel left the landing Saturday had not
| agreed upon a verdict