The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1890-06-05
HOMICIDE.
u O. GRSRRaN srABRED TO DIE ATE
-. BY DAVID S. sTEPHEsHS,
The Murderer FleeS ana IL Sti.l az
Aarge.

| =.
half pnstreight O'Clock our quiet village
was thrown into n great commotion by
the cry OF murder" ON the street. AS
the cry for help" rang out there was
seen men running toward Ann street
where MIR. 8. g, Griffin was found living
covered with blood gushing from knife
, wound in the region of the heart. Will
! ling hands were there to help but nil
stood with bated breath as oil felt that
he was beyond hope. "Who did it2"
was tho question on every lip, the dying
man solved the mystery, "Dave Ste.
phene did it catch himl' Drs. Earle and
Williams. We're soon by the side of the
wounded man. On II hasty examination
they wero satisfied that the wound w.ls
mortal and had him removed to his home
near by, where he fingered two hours
and died. Mr.. Griffin had just returned
homo from Fort Hill where he had been
for the past week erecting his saw mill
preparatory to beginning work on his
contract for saving tho lumber for the
Clemson College. He was met on the
street by Stephens and difference arose
between them about the removal of the
saw mill Stephens having recently been
employed by Griffin to work his mill
near this place. After Il few words the
fatal blow was struck and the assassin
fled. Sheriff Richey was at tho scene of
I the tradgedy few moments after the oc-
currence and did everything in his power
to intercept the guilty man but 80 far his
efforts have been unavailing. Coroner
Boggs was notified and camo up Oh the
1st instant Il jury was impaneled with
Capt. II. G. Grady as foreman and the
inquest was held in the Court House.
Tie testimony and finding of the jury
is given below.
j. 2. Boggs sworn says: I came out
of Morris stor" and Stephens asked me
if [ knew whot, l. Griffin had moved his
saw mill or not 1 told him L thought
ho had. This was OH yesterday, 31st of
May, 80. He says "well if he has will
settle some saw mill business with him"
A bystandcr remarked then that "herc
comes Mr.. Griffith now and you can SEQ
him." / saw Stephens and Griffin meet
out in the middle of Ann street. They
walked down the street in the middle to-
Gcther and heard them talking, but could
not understand what they wero saying.
They walked on down toward Grif1ins
house. Down near the foot of the hill
saw one man strike with his right hand.
This was 500 o'clock. Then they sep
nrated Griffin turned back up tho street
i'hN lioilo"Ctt ain CUT. IOu forgive
my sins. Help" this cry was repeated
by Mr.. Griffin four or five times. Then
lie says "John come to me-" J ran to
him and when 1 got to him I said
"who did it Cali" and he says "Dave
Stephens, there ho goes towards DIR.
Curetons, catch him." / saw a man
leaving the street, dressed rs Stephens
was, going i'll that direction when
Stephens said he would settle some saw
mill business with Griffin he said it in a
threatening manner. That is why /
waited to see them meet When they
met, Stephens threw his right hand
back i'll his hip pocket. Stephens
had never said anything against Cal. be-
fore in my hearing. I was the first man
that got to Grilii. after he was cut. He
had his hands over his bowels and told
me to feel where the wound was The
cut was on the left side just above the
: nipple. The fifth rib was split. He liv-
ed some two hours after he was cut.
DIR. Cureton sworn says: Was sitting
on a bench when Griffin came up. Steph-
ems was sitting on the same bench.
When Griffin got within ton or fifteen
steps of me Stephens went out in the
tho street and met him and I heard
Stephens ask him how he was getting
along with his saw mill and understood
Griffin to say 'tolerably WELL" Steph-
, ems asked Griffin if he brought the saw
mill with him; could not hear Grtlin's
, reply. Down ut foot of the hill heard
some one hollow and went down
to whore he was and Griffin said che
has killed me- asked him who, and he
said "Dave Stephens" Noticed Steph-
ems as they were walking down the hill
have his hand on right hip pocket; as 1
was going to them saw some one running
across the field, west Think Stephens
went through the bars below the shop.
Did not see any part Of the scunlc.
The first thing | saw was Cal. Griffin
get oft the sidewalk into the street. FIX
amlned him as soon aa J. got to him to
see where he WAS cut. He was cut on
the left side about an inch and a half
below the nipple. Stephens was talking
about Griffin before he came ND to come
one. sitting behind me. Ho used pro
fame language. [ said, yonder comes
MIR. Griffin now. Stephens said, eyes
coming with d-n lie" He did not
mako any threats of doing personal vi
olcnce to Griffin. l SUPPOSE Griffin liv-
ed about two hours t'lcr he was cut.
This was on May 31st, 80,
Jasper CASTOR, colorcI Sw-,rn sovs.
Had started home; heard Stephens say
10 1fillln that ne -rented the saw mill
an:. grist mill from him and if he did
not bring the saw mill back he
would have to shut the mill down.
Griffin told hin to shut the mill down if
he wanted to, that there were men he
could get to stay III the mill and he could
not get back in there any more. Ste
phons said that he could prove that he
rented the mill from him, and Griffin said
there was no contract made except he
| (Stcphens) was to tend to the mills for
the third. Stephens said it was so and
Griffin said it was not and said he was n
liar, then Stephens said "yOu are n Cd
d-n liar then Griffin struck Stephens
and when Stephens got steady he walk
ell up and Knocked Griffin down. When
Griffin got up and started ut Stephens,
Stephens cut him. Griffin says Ste
phons did you cut mo with that knife?
Stephens says yes / did ard if you come
at me again will cut YOU again. Grif-
Tin told me to run and let the people
know it and to send for DIR. Earle as
quick ns possible for he was cut SO that
he thought it would kill him. come
and told it at Mr.. Morris Store They
passed me at the corner of tho street. I
was about eight or ten steps from them
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