The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1891-05-12
A SHOOTING SCRAPE.
A SOUTH BOUND ROAD CONTRACTOR
sHooTSA MAN.


SHooTSAMAN.
a squabble About Pay the Cause OF the
Dimouity-The Wounded HAN Brought
to Observation-Disclosures OF tho Shoot
Ing.
COLUMBIA, S. G., May News was
received In the city yesterday that a
difficulty had occurred at the construc-
tion camp of Messrs. Webb & Oates, on
the South Bound Road, about ten miles
from tho city. in which white man
named John Hammet had been shot
and mOrtally wounded by Il. j. Stack,
a member of the firm of Stack & Roof,
sub. contractors under Webb s. Oates.
The first news of the affair was
brought TO the city by Felix Sharp, who
was the bearer of letter to III. l.. Will
hams. The letter Is as follows:
STACK s. ROOF CAMP, April 80, '91.
Mr. III. L. Williams.
DEAR FRIEND: John Hammet got
shot this morning. Seriously hurt.
Don't think he can live. Please notify
the Masons and X. of P.'s. He belongs
to both orders. Bring a good doctor
with you. He will be paid well for his
work. Come right away. am alone
Also want you to send a telegram to
Is. j. Hammet, Blackville. He will
come to your stables. Have him brought
out here, and look on other side for tele-
gram. Your friend,
Bob L. WILLIAMS.
The telegram referred to is as follows:
B. j. Hamn,et, Blackoille:
johnnie is dangerously shot. Can't
live without change. Come at once.
r. l.. WILLIAMS,
At III. L. Williams's stables.
In response to the request contained
In the letter, DR.. Frank Green was asked
to go out to the camp and attend to the
wounded man, and he started with that
intention, but when he reached New
Brookland Trial Justice Green in
formed him that news had reached him
that the man was dead, and that it
would therefore be no use to 60. The
party who gave this information to the
Trial Justice stated that Hammett had
wrist. the upper portion of tho arm and
through the abdomen. 1t soon ap-
peared, however, after DR.. Green's re-
turn to Columbia, that the report of the
mans death was premature, and at the
last accounts he was still living, but
with no apparent chance Of recovery,
and wagon and mattress had been sent
to the camp to bring him into the city.
He is under the medical attendance Of
Or: Geiger, of Lexington, who was sent
TO the camp as soon as the news of the
shooting was spread abroad.
THE CAUSE OF THE DIFFICULTY.
There we're many conflicting reports
on the streets as to the causes which led
to the difficulty, but the following ac-
count of 1t from gentleman who was
at the camp yesterday after the occur
BILE:
1t seems that Hammet and his friend,
II. l.. Williams. two Barnwell men who
were In the employ of Stack & Roof,
decided some days ago to quit work and
demanded their pay. With this demand
Mr: Stack was unable to comply at once,
as his firm only has monthly settle
ments with the chief contractors, which
are made on the Goth of each month.
When informed that they could not get
their pay at once, the report is that
these men became very troublesome
and riotous, and with pistols In hand,
prevented the other hands from work.
Ing. Mr.. Stack then saw the chief con-
tractors, and with the view Of getting
rid of these men arranged to have them
paid of, and they were paid off by
checks on the Loan and Exchange
Bank, Hammet receiving the sum Of
1924, which it is said was the amount
due him.
The gentleman who gave the above
information says that the story of the
further trouble as given to him by the
people at the camp, was to the effect
that Hammet and Williams came over
to Columbia after getting their checks,
| and then returned to the camp and still
lnterferred with the hands and preyen-
ted them from working, and that this
state of affairs continued until yester-
day morning. At that time Mr.. Stack
being on horseback at the camp, was
assaulted by Hammet, who came at
him with pine knot in his hand and
threw 1T at him, and Stack then drew
MS pistol and shot Hammet through
miss ing 1t, called to Williams to bring
him his, which he did. Then Stack
hred twice again, one shot striking
Hammet In the upper part of the arm,
the other striking him in the middle of
the abdomen, passing clear through the
Dody. 1t does not appear from the ac-
counts received that Williams took any
part In the difficulty except to hand his
friend the pistol.
AS soon as he had done the shooting,
Mr.. Stack rode off and came on to the
SAVy t1o HAS employed MeSSrS. Melton
~ melton as his counsel, and by their
advice has remained quietly at the resi-
dence or his father, Captain w. II.
Stack, to await the result of the wounds
ann submit to the process of the law.
Inc statement of Williams. as made
10 his friends in this city. varies from
tne ABOVE In one or two important par
ticulars, and 1t is to the effect that
Stack and Hammet renewed their dis
pnte about the settlement Yesterday
morning, and tn Hammet told Stack
that II he would get down off his horse
ne would whip him, whereupon Stack
rode Off short distance and was fol-
lowed by Hammet, who had no weapon
OF any kind, and that Stack then turned
and hred five shots at Hammet, three of
which took effect as above stated. The
brothers of Hammet came Up to Column
Dia last night and employed Messrs.
skinner & Williams. and together with
MT. Skinner proceeded to the camp to
get the wounded man and bring him to
the city. 1t was stated that Mr.. Skin
ner would endeayor to procure Ham
NETS ante-mortem statement If posi-
ble.-Register.
A Young Observation-Disclosures.
PHILADELPHIA, May u Mrs. Henry
*. Updegraye, wife of hotel keeper
at Tower City, Pa, Is probably the
youngesl great-grand mother in tho
A.I SA-A Il