The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1894-09-05
A BLOODY TRAGEDY.
SOLOMON BROWN AND CONSTABLE
GRISSlN KILLED.

Snl0OllN F>lAICC'
A Double Homicide the Result CT Feud
Pre- eipitated by Gribbin Selling Pack
age OF Goods While Searching for Con
trabaDd whiskey.
BLACKvILLE, S. c.. Aug. 28.-Thi'
afternoon at baif past 2 O'Clock, th'
bloodiest tragedy ever enacted in this
Quiet little village occurred on the mar
street of the town, directly opposite ths
passenger station, and Solomon Blown,
the % year old son of SIMON Brown
and John Gribbiu, of the State D:spen'
sarY constabulasy force. lie cold il
death.
This double murder is the result Of +
teud of long standing. At the time
when Tillman was first nominated as
Governor, Grihbin, then the town mar
shai, was especially active in his cause,
thereby incurring the enmitY Of the Con
serYative citzens Of the town, who in
the ensuing municipal election supported
and elected council, the members OF
which pledged themselves in advance
not to appoint Gribbin town marshal.
The influential Brown family were ear
nest supporters of the Conservative
faction and did much 10 bring about
the defeat of men who favored Griobin' g
continuance as town marshal. After his
defeat, and short time prior to the
passage of the Dispensary Act, Crib
bun posted letter refsctlng upon, Jews
which further widened the breach.
After lis appointment as a member Of
the State constabulary, upon three oc-
casions he opened packages consigned to
various members OF Lhe Brown family,
which naturally sngendsred bitter feel
ings.
Today, about p. M, he entered the
freight shed and opened case OF CLOTH
ing from Baltimore consigned to Solomon
Brown, ostensibly to search tor liquor
brought into the State iu violation OF
the Dispensary Act. Shortly before 2
o'clock Simon Brown, the father, meet
ing Gribbir on the street reproached him
for opening this particular package, &C.
cusing MIN of persecution. The argu-
ment waxed warm and Simon Brown
was joined by his three sons. Solomon,
Isadore and Herman. Gribbjn offered
to fight any one OF them and Isadore
Brown, youth ofabout 20 years of age,
promptly accepted the challenge, asking
bim to remove his coat and official
badge. Gribbin struck in the direction
of Isadore Brown, who parried the bow,
knocking Grlbbin against the wall of
George A. Stitt's store.
At this junctn-e pistols were drawn
by Solomon Brown, herman Brown and
Grlbbin and Six Or seven shots were
fred in rapid succession. Gribbin was
shot through the left shoulder, aud near
the heart, the ball entering the left
lung. He staggered into MIR. Stitt's
store, firing at Solomon Brown, who fell
half way 10 the ground at the first shot,
which was quickly followed by two or
three others, one of which took effect
in his head, penetrating the brain. An
other went in the right side and third
entered at the back, psrforating the
heart, causing almost instant death.
Young Browns remains were carried
to his home by friends who quickly
reached the scene of the awful tragedy.
Gribbin after beng shot walked
through Mr.. Stitt's store to the bscS
yard, where ne fell and died within ten
minutes.
Solomon Brown was the third son Of
Simon Brown and had recently en-
batked in the furnishing goods business
On his own account. He was engaged
to be married TO young lady in Savsn-
nah and beautiful home to which he
expected TO conduct his young bride is
now under construction. He was an
especially shreTd business man, popular
and courteous, and his untimely end is
deeply deplored by all who knew him.
John Gribbin, the Dlspeussry copsta.
bic, was a native of Ireland, about 40
years of age, and came to Bisckville as
town marshal N 1887, and was regarded
q competent officer, but rather lacking
in judgment. This position he retained
uader several administrations, losing it
when he espouseG the Tlllman cause.
Before coming to Blackville Re had
been successlVely private ID the Bri.
fish army, in the United States Marine
corps, from which he deserted, and was
afterwards in the Fifth United States
ARTILLERY from which he was discharged.
He was an especially active member of
the constabulary force, and though es-
teCmed by the supporters OF the Ds-
pensary Act, his course had made him
very obnoxious 10 those not in sYmpa-
thy Herewith. He leaves wIdoE and
four children.
About p, m. Coroner H. P. Dyches,
who it is asserLed fired the shot which
killed youEg Brown from inside his
store, empaneled jury to view the re-
mains CT the dead constable and pro-
Ceeded 10 q grove neal by TO hold the
inquest. After examining Fl. D. John
soa, j. G. Strobel and partially exam
ming Geo. A. Stitt, as witnesses TO
more or less of the unfortunate atfiray,
q communication from Solicitor q. Dun
can Bellnger was placed in his hands
suggesting that IN view OF the fact 1t
was openly charged he had fired at least
one shot during the melee, it would be
better that he should not preside at The
inquest. In this opinien, however, the
jury did not concur AID insisted upon
concluding It's duties.
The examination of Mr.. S.itt was re-
sumed when bailiff from the sherifi's
office notified the coroner that the sher.
If was on his way to the inquest which
he desired should be held by Trial Jus.
:ice Hammet. Notwithstanding this Of
fetal message, however, the jury per-
sisted IN the performance of its duties.
Coroner Dyckes, who had interrogated
tho witnesses as to whether OF not they
had seen him fire a shot at Solomon
Brown and, also, if it was possible for
Gribbin to have shot voung Blown IL
the back in the position they occupied
respectively, TO which he received mega
live replies ip both cases, was not at all
loath to conduct the inquest TO an end,
and evinced no desire TO exercise his
prercgAtive to adjourn the proceedings.
The examination OF Mr.. Slit was