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.
1Special 10 Augusta Chronicle.

SPSSiSbA ~ Au7SASl<A y 49, oA1ASi~'
COLUMBIA, :. c. April %0.-aleagre
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 ore Of
the participants.
Mr.. Tom stack, son OF Capt. W. H.
Stack, OF this city, did the shooting. and
Mr. John Hamnlett,..a brother of B. J..
Hammett, of Biuckville. is the victim.
Mr.. stack is 4 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.
Tile two nen got into an alteration
over some business transaction between
them, HammeIt claiming Stack owed
him - and Stack denying it. Hard
words led 10 i fuss. Stack drew his
pistol and fired three shots, each
one Of which took effect in Ham
NETS body. The injured man was
taken up and kindly cared for, / f one
bullet which entered the stomach, it is
thought, has inflicted fatal wound.
The TWO other bullets lodged in the
shoulder and arm respectively.
Judge Melton, Co.umbia's famous
criminal lawyer, has bee: engaged as
counsel for young Stack.
DEATH OF Mr.. HAMETT.
Especial to News and Courier
COLUMBIA, May l.-Mr. Hamett,
who WAS fatally shot by MIR. Stack,
died here this evening. He made :.
statement. in which he says he was
unarn-d during the difficulty that led
to the killing, that he made no attack
or assault on Mr.. Stack and that the
latter during the row pulled out pis
tol and shot bin. Sheriff Rowan has
placed Mr.. Sack in Richland County
jail.
THE STACK-HAMMET EFT INQUEST.
Special to Sunday News.
COLUMBIA, May 1.-The inquest in
the Stack -Hammett homicide case was
begun this morning. MesSrs. William;
4 Skinner appeared Oh behalf OF the
State ut the request by telegram froH
the brothers Of the deceased. Mr.. vii,
liamS also had letter from Attorney
General Pope, authorizing him to ap'
pear. Judge Melton represented tine
friends OF the deceased. AS stated thi:
morning Mr.. Hammett made an ante
mOrten statement, the essential points
OF which We're given. II is as follow:
| IN full:
HAMMETT'S STATEMENT.
|. John b. Hammett, fully consciou:
Of my end OF life, do make this my dy
ing declaration as follows:
| had no pistol or other weapon
about NE when shot, nor did / hav,
any weapon on me that day. The
only time that | carried a weapon wa
when going from the house to the com
uis>ary at night. was about thirt,
or thlr;v-tive yards from Mr.. Stacl
when shot. did not have stick VI
there. was laughing at him on hi
horse, and told him that l was no
afraid of him or his horse. did no
throw lightwOod knot at him. di(
not pat my hand behind me to draw
pistol, | had none; nor did have an,
intention of drawing pistol. l tolC
him that / could whip him. This wa
all the threats that | can remember
At the shooting Charles Griffith, Bo
Williams-these are all present except
perhaps, some little darkies.
Taken before me this lst Of May
1891. PRINGLE t. IOCMANS.
Notary Public.
The jury consisted of the following
r. kiugslang, foreman, W. 5. Reamel
Harry Scott. a. NJ. Meetze, J. {
Mooney, J. w. Comtie, B. c. Sloan
w. 0. Craig, r. o, Jones, R. {
Wright, P. }. Rucker, W. J. Arrant<
Sadler Gillespie.