The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1893-07-26
SENATOR IRBY SHOWS UP.
Full History of His Connection with the
Laurens Scandal, and Statements from
all the Persons Concerned-A Com
promise Not Advised.
+ From the Greenville News.


AL the Persons Concerned-A Com
promise Not Advised.
From the Greenville News.
On last Saturday your paper coH-
tanned an article on the Davenport.
Fuller scandal of this county, signed
"Carolinian." If I am not mistaken
as to the true author, it would have
been unnecessary for me or any one
else in this county or the Piedmont
section to answer it for he is known OF
all men.
The first of last week, without my
knowing or caring about it, Samuel W.
Fuller, the husband of the woman
concerned in this scandal, sent for me
and said that, as there were so many
lies being told about this matter, be
thought it best for all the parties con-
cerned that he should make written
statement to the public; and asked me
to put in suitable language his idea OF
what had really occurred. He made
his statement, and I wrote out what
was published. read it over to him
and be made several erasures and cor
rections to suit himself. After these
corrections, he said it was exactly as
he wanted it.
I then said to him: "If this is just as
you want it, sign it in the presence OF
these gentlemen" and he signed it IN
the presence of two men-well known
citizens. After that, said, "One more
question before we separate, which 1
wish you to answer in the presence of
these gentlemen: Did I try to in
fuenle you or dictate any of this arti-
Gle to your " He answered: "You did
not"
In Justice to other men, who have
been drawn into this matter, I ask,
Mr.. Editor, that you publish the'fol-
lowing statements and certificates.
Very respectfully,
JOHN NJ. HUDGESs.
S. w. FULLER.
II voluntarily make this statement
to Mr.. Hudgens in reply to criticism of
the article that wrote: you publish
ed word for word what I asked You to
write, and as it appears in the Iaurens-
vile Herald over my signature, I de-
clare it to be the truth and the whole
truth of the matter
II have no idea of writing any piece
to correct it because I have already
said what I believe to be true.
rs. w. FULLER"
SENATOR IRBY's STATEMENT.
On Friday, two or three weeks ago, I
happened to be at Col. J. D. NJ. Shaw's,
six miles in the country. About II
o'clock a. NJ. William S. Benjamin,
the father, and Samuel Fuller, the hus-
band of the woman connected with the
Davenport scandal, came up aqd called
out Colonel Shaw. After talking awhile
Colonel Shaw came to the house and
asked me to JOIN in the conference be-
tween them. I did so, when they un-
folded their grievances and charges
against Mr.. Davenport. They said
they were on their way to see Mr.. Dav-
export and find out what he meant by
insulting Mrs. Fuller.
After going over in detail her state
ment OF fact Colonel Shaw proposed to
send for Mr.. Davenport and have a
talk over the whole matter in the pres
ence of some neighbors and relatives
of the woman. Mr.. Benjamin and Mr..
Fuller invited me to come down with
Mr.. Davenport that afternoon. In the
afternoon about o'clock Mr.. Daven-
port came, aud he and Colonel Shaw
asked me to 60 down with them. Upon
assembling there were present Mrs.
Benjamin, Mrs. Fuller, Watt Cum
ningham, John Fuller, the father OF
Samuel Fuller; Samuel Fuller and
William S. Benjamin. The woman
made her statement, which was not
materially contradicted by Mr.. Daven-
port. At the conference every one pres
ent was of the opinion that there was
no rape or intent to commit rape up
on Mrs. Fuller. stated, as friend to
both parties, that the element of rape
or attempt to rape was absolutely want
ing according to the statement of both
parties and that they would have to do
one of two things: Either on account
of the relationship by blood existing
between Samuel Fuller's wife and Mr..
Davenport's children, to prop the mat
ter after an humble apology from Mr..
Davenport, or prosecute him in the
courts for on assault of an indecent ma
ture. Thereupon, Samuel Fuller, hus-
band ofthe aggrieved woman, said that
he was willing to what his father and
her father should determine upon. The
two fathers retired to the horse lot and
were gone for ten minutes and then
called me and said that they had agreed
that Mr.. Davenport should pay $500
and that the matter should then be
dropped.
I told them that it was one of the
kind Of cases that couldn't be settled
with money, and thatit would be COM
promise of the girl as we'll as of the
whole family, and I advised against
taking it. They, however, insisted and
said that they would not be satisfied