The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1893-08-02
.ASD SLAPPED HIM OVER"
Irby', Story Of His Attack Upon Shell
he Denies the Report That He At
tempted or Even Desired to
Use His Knife on the
Congressman.


LAUaENs, S. c., July 25.-To the
Editor of The State: I would not have
thought it necessary to make any state
ment in reference to the difficulty be-
tween Congressman Shell and myself
at Col. Shaw's last week, but for the
fact that see in to-day's paper that be
has misrepresented the facts:
To begin with: believe, as well as
many other people in Laurens, that
Farley's article was either prepared at
Shells house or read over to him by
Farley at Shells house, with his en-
dorsement, few nights before its pub
, lication. The piece made reference to
Shells friendship for me and my in
gratitude to him. [ drove up to Shaw's,
smarting under the injuries that Shell
had done me. Shaw came out and told
me that Shell was in the parlor, our
meeting at Shsw's being purely aeci-
dental. got out, went into the parlor,
and asked him if he had anything to
do with the publication of Farley's
piece. He excitcdly replied: "Noth-
ing, except that it was read over to me
by Farley at my house" said, did
you endorse lt?" ard be said, II did, S
part of it." ! naturally thought that
he endorsed that part which charged
that be had found me to be frozen
viper, and slapped him over: w. T.
Cunningham caught me, and l made
no further effort to punish Shell, be-
cause saw he was very much fright
eued and made no effort to resent the
blow.
AS far as eknife is concerned, did
have one in my hand, as have habitu-
ally, a small penknife, which has only
one hlade-the large one-on account
of the small one having been broken
out. There was not the slightest in
tentlon, provocation or reason for the
use OF the knife during the affair, and,
as matter of fact, it was not used or
attempted to be used.
This is the truth of the whola matter.
Right or wrong, / did it. It may be
improper for members of the United
States Senate to resent insults, but we
are all human and liable to err.
J. l.. NJ. IRBY.
REPRESENTATIVE SHELLS STATE
MENT.
LAURENs, S. c., July 26.-I did not
see Colonel Shaw's statement concern
Jog the alteration between Senator
Irby and myself at his house on the
18th inst. until after its appearance in
your issue yesterday. Colonel Shaw
evidently Inexperienced the situa-
ton if he supposed I had any connec-
ton with the intimation that he was
IN any manner guilty of arranging for
any indignlty or insult to me, much
less to have me aseassinated. Shaw
knows me too we'll and would not in
tentionaliy charge me with making
exaggerated statements, much less to
charge innocent people with such
wicked intentions, and don't intend
that any such opinion shall obtain ia
the minds Of the people if it can be
avoided; and whilst I repeat ard reit-
crate his entire innocence, I will "dare"
to ask a generous public to keep in
mind the extraordinary conduct of the
junior senator of South Carolina in a
gentleman's parlor and whilst in the
grasp of a disinterested party, with q
drawn "small pocket knife with but
one small blade" in his hand, and let
! the public judge for themselves what
was his intention.
I have already made q statement
concerning the difficulty between Sen
ator 1rby and myself at Colonel Shaw's
and I will dismiss it by referring to
the following card and further state
ment Of O. G. Cunningham.
Very respectfully,
G. W. She'll.
Having heretofore made a statement
| in reference to the difficulty between
Senator Irby and Captain Shell at
Colonel Shaw's residence, will fur
ther add that was at Colonel Sbaw's
on the 18th inst. with my family when
Captain Shell arrived there. Was
present in the parlor when Senator
irby entered it, heard what was said
between them and fully agree with
Captain Shells statement OF the affair.
Colonel Irby had a long bladed
knife in the same hand with which he
struck at Captain Shell, but not at the
| instant of the striking. / told him not
to cut Captain Shell with that knife,
which he would have done ifhe had not
been prevented, and furthermore 1
added at the time if he had cut Cap
tain shell with the knife l would have
killed him. Colonel Shaw was absent
| at the tune and did not see Whist oc-
CURED, and when acquainted with the
circumstances expressed deep regret.
Colonel Shaw is my personal friend
rs js also Captain Shell.
0. c. CUNNINGHAM.
Inlu 9th 12Q3