The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1891-10-07
TIE MURDER OF 4 MAYOR.
SH 4 IN THE BACK BY q BRUTAL
WtFE-BEATER,

Mayor Honneman Of Spartanburg, While
D:sctarginG His Duty rs an Ohicer OF
AT the Hands of John Gilliams. Colored.
SpARTANGuEG, 5. G Sept. 27--Hon.
J. y. iienuelnan, mayor OF Spartanbnrg,
wd5 SHOT aud killed !hl, evening at 6:2O
o'clock by john Williams, colored. He
breathed about half an hour before life
Was extinct.
Williams and his wife were quarrel
ing in their house, beyond the Green
vile branch. Mr. Henneman was pass
ing by, and went in 10 command the
peace About the tine he got in the
yard, Tom Place, Il Whi man, came up.
lie says Williams was standing on the
steps and his wife was inside the house
abusing the mayor. Place asked Mayor
uenneman If he needed any help 70 ar
rest the negro. He said: mo, I 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
be drew out his pistol and fOllowe the
negro in the house. A scuffle enSued. In
which Place thought the woman was
taking a prominent part, and soon Ae
heard pistol fire. In short time Dir.
Ilenneman 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 a recumbent position,
Oh his side. The ball entered just above
the hip and penetrated the cavity.
Williams made no effort to escape
and proposed to surrender the pistol to
Place and go TO Jail with him. Will
llamS'5 wife says that Mr. Henneman
fired at her husband in the house, and
she shows the place where the ball en-
tered the wall
When arrested the negro said that the
mayor ordered him to hold up his hands
| when he came IN the house. SO far as
is known at present, Place, and VIII
llams's wife are the only witnesses 10
the shooting. About 8o'clock the body
! was moved to Mr. Henneman's house
where the inquest will be hold tonight.
Williams wife has been arrested, and
she says that Williams was beating hel
and abusing her when the mayor came
in to stop the quarrel. She says he fred
his pistol to make her husband surren.
der when the scuttle began, and they
both rolled out OF the door. She did
not witness the shooting from the out.
side.
The negro, 1n his talk to Place, and
after hs was carried to Jail, showed q
yindictiye spirit and seemed to e1ult IL
his deed. The negroes Of the city are
considerably excited, and they think thG
killing a great outrage. Ons said be
was willing to join in i crowd to lynch
| Williams. The town Is considerably
excited. Groups OF people are on the
square, and there ls the usual talk OF
lynching. Sheriff Nichols is in the jail
and will remain there tonight.
The sympathy Of the whole commun.
ity goes ont the stricken family in this
| hour OF aliiictiop. Mayor Henneman
came here from Norfolk about the year
1889, and started the jewelry business
In that ne has been quite successful
| Two years ago hs was elected mayor OF
the city. He leaves wife, two daugh.
ters and his son George at home. Rut.
ledge Henneman, the oldest son, Is al
Greenwood, and Dr. John 3. Hennemau
is a professor at Hampden Sydney Col.
lege The coroner empanelled jury,
which viewed the body aid then ad-
journed to meet tomorrow at 9 O'Clock
10 hear the eyidence.-The State.