The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1891-05-07
4 FATAL SHOOTING.
Thomas J. Stack Kills John Hammett in
Difficulty about Money Matters.
Especial to Augusta Chronicle. !


COLUMBIA, S. C. April 3O.-sIeagre
details have reached this city of a
shooting affair in Lexington county
between two white men, which seems
likely to result, in the death OF one of
the participants.
Mr.. Tom Stack, a son Of Capt. W. II.
Stack, 'of this city, did the shooting, and
Mr.. John Hammett,.a brother of B. J.
Hammett, Of Blackville, is the victim.
Mr.. Stack is a member of the firm of
Stack & Ruff. contractors, engaged in
the construction of a section of the
South Bound railroad, about ten miles
from Columbia, in lower Lexington
county.
The two lnen got into an alteration
over some business transaction between
them, Hammett claiming Stack owed
him 81 and Stac! denying it. Hard
words led to fuss. Stack drew his
pistol and fred three shots, each
one of which took effect in Ram-
mett's body. The Injured man was
taken up and kindly cared for, but one
bullet which entered the stomach, it is
thought, has inflicted a fatal wound.
The two other bullets lodged in the
shoulder and arm respectively.
Judge Melton, Columbia's famous
criminal lawyer, has been engaged as
counsel f?r young Stack.
DEATH OF Mr.. HAMErT.
Especial to News and Courier.1
COLUMBIA, May 1.-Mr. Ramett,
who was fatally shot by MIR. Stack,
died here this evening. He made a
statement, in which be says be was
unarmed during the difficulty that led
to the killing, that he made no attack
or assault Oh Mr.. Stack and that the
latter during the row pulled out pis.
tol and shot him. Sheriff Rowan has
placed Mr.. Stack in Richland County
Jail.
THE EFT INQUEST.
Especial to Sunday News
COLUMBIA, May 2.-The inquest in
the Stack-Hammett homicide case was
begun this morning. Messrs. Williams
L Skjpner appeared on behalf of the
@5sate at the request by 5t:1 te1e sssa 41 n tom
the brothers Of the deceased. Mr.. Will
liams also had a letter from Attorney
General Pope, authorizing him to ap-
pear. Judge Melton represented tile
friends of the deceased. AS stated this
morning Mr.. Hammett made an ante
mortem statement, the essential points
OF which were given. 1t is as follows
in full:
HAMMETT'S STATEMENT.
l, John 3. Hammett, fully conscious
of my end of life, do make this my dy-
ing declaration as follows:
l had no pistol or other weapon
about me when shot, nor did / have
any weapon on me that day. The
only time that | carried weapon was
when going from the house to the COM
at night. was about thirty
or thlr;y-fve yards from Mr.. Stack
when shot. did not have stick up
there. | was laughing at him on his
horse, and told him that 1 was not
afraid of him or his horse. I did not
throw lightwood knot at him. did
not put my hand behind me to draw a
pistol, | had none; nor did have any
intention Of drawing-a pistol. l told |
him that l could whip him. This was
all the threats that | can remember.
At the shooting Charles Griffith, Bob |
Williams-these are all present except,
perhaps, some little darkies.
Taken before me this 1st of May, |
1891. PRINGLE T. YoUMANs.
Notary Public.
The jury consisted of the following:
R. Kingslang, foreman, w. S. Reamer,
Harry Scott. A. NJ. Meetze, J. G..
Mooney, J. w. Comtie, B. c.. Sloan,
W. O. Craig, r. o, Jones, R. c..
Wright, P. }. Rucker, w. J. Arrants,
Sadler Gillespie.