The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-06-17
4 STORY WITH 4 MORAL.

h DlUnl Will Il MUnhu.
capt. McGRATH. YOU HAVE BEEN WRIT
ING LETTERS TO MY WIFE"
a. v. Howell Shoots Captain w. ].
McGrHth...A Former South Caro-.
Iinian IN Shot at wGrrentOn, Ga....
Some Particulars of the Sad Al.
fair.
Augusta Chronicle.
WARRENToN, Ga. June u..:Warrenton VIII
messed another terrible tragedy. this morn.
ing Capt w. J. McGrath was shot and In.
stantly killed by Ashley v. Howell.
The facts that led 10 the killing are as fol
lows: Mr.. Howell was married few weeks
took up their abode In Atlanta. A short
while afterwards his wife received very in.
snltlng letter making undue proposals. TO her:
This letter was post marked at Warrenton and
did not bear any signature.
Mrs Howell turned the letter over TO her
husband and begged him not TO have any
trouble about IT, Mr.. Howell LETT ut once for
Warrenton, pretending to come on business.
but his wife's suspicion was aroused and she
wou Id not allow him TO bring his pistol of
with him: Mr.. Howell arrived here Tuesday
OF his wife his intention of killing Capt. Nc
(jrath. whom he knew wrote the insulting
letter to his wife and asked her brother TO
borrow q good pistol from friend OF his
with. This her brother positively refused 10
do. saving he did not want TO have anything
to do with II. Where he procured his pistol
your correspondent was not able TO learn.
Howell was sitting In the window OF his
brother.in.law's store the morning when he
saw Capt. McGrath going towards the post
office. which is situated In the court house.
Immediately he jumped up and made TO.
wards the court house 1u. nos ostnes he sa
Capt. McGrath through the railing In the
postmaster's private office having money
order filled. Advancing In few feet Of him,
wife n letter" and before the captain could
speak, Howell drew bis pistol, ~ Smith q
Wesson, and fired, the first short striking
him in the temple. and going through the
head; the second short struck MN IN tne
shoulder; the third and fourth shots struck
him In the back under each shoulder blade,
coming out In front. 1mmed lately after the
shooting Howell ran out OF the court house
Capt. McGrath was carried out in the open
air, where he expired In few minutes.
During the shooting Capt: Mc6IaIns VIE
distance, and heard the shots that took her
beloved husbands life. She was not allowed
10 see him, but carried Immediately home;
Capt. McGrath is originally from Charles
ton =. c., moving here about four years ago
and entering the mercantile business. His
father is now living in Charleston. and Will
arrive here 10 night. He leaves deVoled
wife and four little children 10 morn MS loss
The people OF Warrenton extend to Them
their deepest sympathy in this hour OF their
greatest bereavement
the wife OF Mr.. Howell was at the bottom
of the affair. Capt. McGraih had for long
,,,if n, of a
asking her TO visit his store and TO meet him
The lady In the case is scarcely more than a
child. She Is daughter Of MIR. j. W. DeBeau.
grine, a well-known citizen OF WarTenton;
we're married and left Immediately for Allan.
Ia, where they have since resided. Before the
marriage 1t is reported that Capt. MeGrath i1
wrote the lady o note askf Ing her TO cal! NJ MS
store, ore coupling with 1t the statement that lie
was alone, The note fell into the hands Of
the girls father who called on McGrath and
told him that If he did not cease such atIeh-
liens to his daughter, he would XII him. NC,
Grath is sad denied wrtng Inc hGte u ana
were received from the same source, and Will
he produced as evidence at the trial ol
Howell.
Ing, however. was letter which was written
by McGrath about two weeks ago 10 MRS.
Howell. The letter was taken from the gene
raj delivery window OF the Atlanta postofhce
by Mr.. Howell. He broke the seal ana iound
had no name signed TO II. But 1t was In Nc
Graths handwriting and among other things,
directed Mrs. Howelrs attention 70 an eH,
press package which the writer SAID he haa nae
shipped TO her address from Camak. Mr.
Howell sought his wife. so Mr.. Wilhoite's
story runs. and requested an explanation,
promising to condone any indiscreton That
she might have been guilty OF WIN McGratn
The lady protested her innocence, however
and in formed her husband to other persecu'
tion Of like nature that she had been the vic.
tim uf Mt the hands Of McGrath. CONVINCED
his wife's innocence, and burning WIN .
done her and him, Mr.. Howell went to War
He remained quietly in town until yester
day, when as Mr.. Wllholte says, ne went &c
the 70 some as pasaess
side the postofice enclosure, conversing WIFI
Judge II. H. Fitzpatrick, the postmaster
These were the only occupants OF tne Toon
and when aSwe. apPe%airea few feet Of Me-
Grath. Howell advanced to the latter' say
SCapt. McGrath, you have been writing le'
teTs ,e Capt McGath replied or not is in
conflict. Judge Fitzpatrick Is reported al
saving that he did not. At any rate, HoWel
drew his pistol and began shooting. ne usee
Smith Wesson .1N EsvoiyebF bs apG iook eSef seet ir
McGra head aud body, except one, whicF si
was afterwards found on the floor. One bal
entered near the left eye, passing through lht
head and lodging nnder the eeow sHR the n left ea
and lodged on the opposite side. Ihe thlre
entered between the left shoulder ana lacK
bone, and the fourth penetrated the oody T, 9e
tween the right shoulder ana 1acReone. na tn'
of flor snoakinp a few words, 6XplTeu.
Howell left the postoffice Immediately, AND
walking across the street TO where MIR. Tom
Shurley, the marshal OF the to%n, Was dnt s,t
ting, Surrendered himself. Later IN the ga! M
a coroners jury was empanelled, which
after hearing all the evidence ootainaple, re
turned q verdict to the effect that the de-
ceased came to his death from pis'oi "ouhos
Mr. Wilhoite says that public sentlment II
decidedly in Howel's favor at Warrenton
and thinks that the young man VIII nave h'
trouble In yindicatipg gnrIsseon,on nrhse bv birth
and went TO Warrenton about four years ago
where he conducted successful mercantile
business He Is said to he son or eS-GoVer
nor McGrath. of Charleston. anu was IA ,naa nasa
OF courteous bearing and pleasing ADDRESS M ar s :
He took an active interest In the afairs Oh nk
town, and was regarded as one OF the mos
public spirited citizens of Warrenton; ~
wife ady Of aueeny PebTsobnass mag oar aro in9er
eslIng ch ildren, who will mourn Win her ioi
the dead husband and iaiher
The relatives Of Capt. McGrath were imme'
diately telegraphed the sad particulars OF me
Irnor3v and hi. remains Will pass through
Augusta to. day en- route TO Charleston.
Mr., Howell will remain In jail at Augusta
for nhont one month. when he hopes to re
m turn nt"S to WaIrenton and remain in jail there
until the grand jury OF Warrenton county
takes action In his case. He waived pre- pre-.
iiminary examination, so as TO give the case
anrh n conrse The prisoner was reared In
Warrenton and has many irlends lneIe WI Wno