The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1891-10-06
THE MURDER OF A MAYOR.
>sH2T IN The BACK BY a BRUTAL
WlFE-sEATEe,

Mayor Hennsman of spartanburg, while
the Peace, Receives His Death Wound
at the Hands OF john Williams, CoIored,
SPARTANBURG, S. c., Sept. 27.-Hon.
ia. HennemaD, mayor of Spartanburg,
was shot and killed this evening at 6:2O
o'clock by John Williams, colored. He
breathed about half an hour before life
wa extinct.
Williams and his wife we're quarrel
ing In their house, beyond the Green
vile branch. MI. lIenneman was pass
ing by, and went in to command the
peace. About the time he got In the
yard, Tom Place, Il white man, came up.
lie says Williams was standing on the
steps n his vile was inside the house
abusing h mayor. Place asked Mayor
Henneman If he needed anv help to ar
rest the negro. He said: mo, / have
sent for the police. and they will make
the arrest"
Williams Then cursed the mayor and
told him to get out of his yard, or he
would fix him, and then he went into the
house. The mayor said:"You are going
after your pistol, are you?" And then
he drew out his pistol and follow e the
negro in the house. A scuffle ensued. in
which Place thought the woman was
taking a prominent part, and soon he
heard a pistol fire. In a short time Mr..
Henneman and the negro both came
rolling out of the door and fell to the
ground, the negro having the mayors
pistol. They scuffled and rolled several
feet, when the negro shot the mayor
while he was in u recumbent position,
on his side. The ball entered just above
the hip and penetrated the cavity.
Williams made no effort to escape,
n proposed to surrender the pistol to
Place and go to Jail with him. Will
llams's wife says that Mr.. Henneman
fired at her husband in the house, and
she shows the place whore the ball ell
tered the wall.
when arrested h negro said that the
mayor, ordered him to hold up his hands
when he came IN tho house. So far as
Is known at present, Place and Will
liams's wife are the only witnesses to
the shooting. About 8o'clock the body
was moved to Mr.. Henneman's house,
where the inquest will be held tonight.
Williams wife has been arrested, and
she says that Williams was beating her
and abusing her when the mayor came
In to stop the quarrel. SHE saws he fired
his pistol to make her husband surren.
der when the scuile began, and they
both rolled u of the door. She did
not witness the shooting from the out
side.
The negro, in his talk to Place, and
after he was carried to Jail, showed a
vindictive spirit and seemed to exult in
his deed. The negroes of the CITY are
considerably excited, and they think the
killing a great outrage. One said he
was willing to join in u crowd to lynch
Williams. The town Is considerably
excited. Groups of people are on the
square, and there Is the usual talk of
lynching. Sheriff Nichols is in the iail
and will remain there tonight.
The sympathy Of the whole commun-
lty goes ont the stricken family in this
hour of anliction. Mayor IIenneman
came here from Norfolk about the @ A
1859, and started the jewelry business.
In that he has been quite successful.
Two years ago he was elected mayor of
the city. He leaves a wife, two daugh-
tiers and his son George at home. Rut-
ledge Henneman, the oldest son, is at
Greenwood, and DIR. John B. Henneman
is u professor at Hampden Sydney Col
lege. The coroner empanelled a Jury,
which viewed the body and then adj.
Journed to meet tomorrow at 8 o'clock
TO hear Tho eyidence.-The State.