The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-10-17
ALMOST A RIOT.
Constables Attempt Search But ar
Arrested by tho Police.

C Constables Attempt q Search But are
Arrested by the Police.
GREENvILLE, Oct. 8.-Much excite
ment was caused here today by the at
tempt of State constables to raid the
private premises of Sol. Edel. who kept
bar at the Manson House, where he had
been pulled half a dozen times. His
residence Is five or six blocks from the
bar and is q very handsome cottage
with vines and flowers about the piazza
and In the front yard. 1t WIS the
scene of a very exciting situation, which
naro Rly missed eliminating In bloody
riot.
Constables this morning seized a
trunk being hauled from Edel's resi-
dence to the Manson House and found
iJ full of export beer. They were in
formed by the driver that there was
other liquors at Eiel's house. They OBJ
tanned 8 warrant to search, but the
Sheriff refused to execute 1t. The con.
stables then went to his house. E1el
had heard of the affair and had gone
home, sending the negro ahead of him
with q double-barreled shotgun. A
crowd had gathered in front Of the
house when the constables reached
there. The chief of police fearing trou-
BILE, concentrated the whole force on
the scene. Edel from his piazza an
nounced that he would blow out the
brains of the first man who tried to en-
ter. People who by this time had filled
the streets cheered him wildly.
On going back into the house Edel
found his wife, who is nearing contine.
ment, In faint and got the idea she
was dying. Some of his friends had
hid his gun and he rushed from his
house empty. handed, but apparently
half filled with rage. He struggled des-
perately with some Of his friends who
were on the piazza and who seized him.
Constable EichelbeIger, who was on the
outside of the fence waiting for Consta-
BILE Workman, who had gone to have
an error in the warrant corrected, sup
posed Edel was coming with his gun
and drew his pistol. The crowd i'm.
mediately closed In on him aud many
men were prepared to shoot the consta-
BILE if he made a move. The police
gathered about him, however, and the
chief put him under arrest charged with
drawing pistol on citizen. This ac-
tion prevented trouble. When the
people saw the constables In charge of
the police they dispersed. Eichelberger
gave $50 bail for his appearance In the
Mayors Court tomorrow. The Sheriff
offered to make search II allowed to go
to Edel's alone, but the constables insist
ed that one of them should accompany
him and he refused to consent, claiming
that he needed no help, and that the
presence of the constable would cause
riot unnecessarily. The Mayor also
declined to give the constables police
assistance. The constables reported to
the Governor and are awaiting instruc.
tions.
There Is a good deal of suppressed ex-
citement. Some people say that the
searGh of Edel's house should be SUBJ
mitted to on the ground that he was
using 1t as storage place for liquors
to be sold at his bar. A great majority
contend that all searches of private
houses Of respectable people should be
resisted to the last extremity. Consta-
BILE Workman seems to think he could
have made the search If he had been
allowed to go alone and quietly as he
intended and that Constable Eichelberg-
er's going to the house spoiled his
plans. The determination to resist
searches of residences by constables
seems to be very general.-ReglSter.