The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1891-05-13
A SHOOTING SCRAPE.

A SHOOTING SCRAPE.
A SOUTH BOUND ROAD CONTRACTOR
SHOOTS A MAN.
A Squabble About Pay the Cause OF the
Dificulty The Wounded Man Brought
to Columbia-Partioulars of tho Shoot
Ing.
COLUMBIA, S. c., May News was
received in the city yesterday that a
difficulty had occurred at the construc-
ton camp of Messrs. Webb & Oates, on
the South Bound Road, about ten miles
from the city, in which white man
named John Hammet had been shot
and mortal]y wounded by T. j. Stack,
member Of the firm of Stack & Roof,
sub contractors under Webb & Oates.
The first news of the affair was
brought to the city by Felix Sharp, who
was the bearer of letter to H. l.. Will
liams. The letter is as follows:
STACK & ROOF CAMP, April 80, 81.
Mn. II. l.. Williams.
DEAR FRIEND: John Hammet got
shot this morning. Seriously hurt.
Don't think he can live. Please notify
the Masons and K. of P.'s. He belongs
to both orders. Bring good doctor
with you. He will be paid well for his
work. Come right away. I am alone.
Also want you to send telegram to
b. J. Hammet, Blackville. He will
come to your stables. Have him brought
out here, and look on other side for tee
gram. Your friend,
BoB Z. WILLIAMS.
The telegram referred to is as follows;
B. J. Haann,et, BlackUil7e:
Johnnie is dangerously shot. Can't
live without change. Come at once.
r. L. WILLIAMS,
At H. L. Williams's stables.
In response to the request contained
in the letter, DR.. Frank Green @as 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 90. The
party who gave this information to the
Trial Justice stated that Hammett had
been shot three times, viz: through the
wrist. the upper portion Of the arm and
through the abdomen. It 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
DR.. 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 were many conflicting reports
on the streets as to the causes which led
to the difficulty, but the following ac'
count of it from gentleman who was
at the camp yesterday after the occur
rence, may be regarded as strictly rella'
BILE:
Itseems that Hammet and his friend
R. l.. Williams. two Barnwell men who
were in the employ OF Stack & Roof
decided some days agoto quit work anc
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 ge
their pay at once, the report is thai
these men became very troublesome
and riotous, and with pistols in band
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 then
paid off, and they were paid off b,
checks on the Loan and ExchaDg
Bank, Hammet receiving the sum 0
1924, which it is said was the amour
| due him.
The gentleman who gave the abov
information says that the story OF tn
further trouble as given to him by tn
people at the camp, was to the effec
that Hammet and Williams came owe
to Columbia after getting their checks
and then returned to the camp and still
interferred with the hands and pre7en
ted them from working, and that thl
state OF affairs continued until yrster
day morning. at that time Mr. STAG
| being on horseback at the camp, wa
assaulted by Hammet, who came a
him with pine knot in his hand an
threw it at him, and Stack then drev
his pistol and shot Hammet throug
wrist. Hammet felt TO. his pistol, an(
missing it, called to Williams to brin
him his, which he did. Then STAG
ired twice again, one shot strikin
Hammet in the upper part Of the arm
the other striking him in the middle Q
the abdomen, passing clear through tn
body. 1t does not appear from the az
counts received that Williams took an
part in the difficulty except to hand hi
friend the pistol.
| AS soon as he had done the shooting
Mr.. Stack rode off and came on to th
city. He has employed MessrS. Melto
& Melton as his counsel, and by thel
advice has remained quietly at the res
dence of his father, Captain w. /
Stack, to await the result of the wound
du1 oOOl11O w lilC plpS0-o VI SAiS 'o '
The statement Of Williams. as mad
to his friends in this city, varies fror
the above in one or two important pa
ticulars, and it is 10 the effect thu
Stack and Hammet renewed their dl:
pute about the settlement yesterda
morning, and that Hammet told STAG
that if he would get down off his hors
he would whip him, whereupon Stac
rode off a short distance and was TO
lowed by Hammet, who had no weapo
of any kind, and that Stack then turne
and fired five shots at Hammet, three
which took effect as above stated. Th
brothers of Hammet came up to Colun
bia last night and employed Messr
Skinner & Williams. and together wit
Mr.. Skinner proceeded to the camp t
get the wounded man and bring him t
the city. 1t was stated that Mr.. Skin
ner would endeavor to procure Han
NETS ante-mortem statement II poSs
ble.-Register.
| Il Young Great-Grandmother.
| Dr1rJ .DErpv;rA Nav Mrs HenT