The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1894-02-15
TIE WEXFORD TRAGEDY
AN OFFICIAE AESTATEMENT FROM CHEF
CONSTABLE FAINT.
He Makes Out Apparently Clear Case
of slf-Defense-The Whole Story OF the
Shooting ao Told Befo'e the Co'ores'h

Shooting a0 Told Befo'e the Co'ore'b
Jury.
COLUMBIA, S. G.. Feb. 8.-Governor
+ Whitman received yesterday the follow
Ing statement from Chief Constable
FAINT In reference to the Wexford
tOagedy:
cit had been reported to me for the
last two weeks by different parties
that a crowd of men from CLASSY
Mountain had established themselves
aG trestle, nine miles from this place,
and were selling whiskey to ANYBODY
who would buy,openly defying the law,
and swearing that they would not be
arrested and that any officer who at
tempted 1T would bite the dust. Hay
Ing obtained sufficient evidence to con
Wet these parties of selling whiskey,
warrants were sworn out against five
OF them and placed in the hands of the
Sheriff. His deputy summoned me and
my constables as a posse and we went
where It was reported the whiskey was
being sold, but found no ono there.
we met a party who informed ns that
ne had just bought from them at a
mouse near by. He told us that the
Whiskey was not at the house, but If
we would go to the house and give
them the money, one Of the men would
get the whiskey. We got this man and
Two others to 20 back to the house and
make another purchase. We secreted
ourselves near the swamp where the
Wnlskey was supposed to be. In a few
minutes man came toward us with q
lamp, but on the opposite side of the
swamp. He disappeared awhile and
tnen started back toward the house.
we Followed but could not cross the
swamp. We then went up the swamp
70 the railroad above us, when we saw
Inc lamp coming toward US. Dean,
Massey and Jackson were ahead of me
few PAGES. They made rush at the
man. He ran and fired back at the
ofhcers. Dean and myself returned the
nre. Inc man fell, crying for help,an
calling for Ballew. Ballew responded:
les, ~, lam coming" and he came
nrlng. There were not less than half a
dozen 1r1ng on us before he came.
shot six times with my double barrel
shot gun at the flashes of their guns
After the firing ceased, we got a lalr
tern at g house near by, and went to
look after the man who was wounded
at the first of the fight. We could not
lind him but found his, lantern with
blood on 1t, denoting that the man was
wounded. Hearing hollering at house
near ny, we went up the path toward
the noise and saw man coming to-
ward US with a pistol In each hand.
we told him to drop his pistols. He
lowered them to his side but kept the
muzzles toward us and halted within
Twelve feet Of us. We again told him
to drop his pistols. lie would not do
80 but raised the one In his right hand,
and Massey shot him, killing him in.
stantly. lie fell, holding on to his pis-
tolls until Jackson took them from
him."
TIE TESTIMONY AT THE INQUEST.
The Spartanburg Herald gives the
1olloW1ng account of the testimony at
the Coroner's inquest at Wexford.
Spartanburg County:
a. Boyce Dean: l came in, COMPANY
with posse Of State constables to this
place. We came first into the swans
just below this place. We stayed there
faoouG half an hour; saw a man coming
down there with lantern. He stayed
there about five minutes. We were
apout twenty-five yards from him. We
| was In front; saw man coming back
this way from the branch with Ian.
Tern: jackson %was just behind me.
rant was behind Jackson. l called on
the man with the lantern to halt two
or three times. He went off partly to.
ward the hollow. lie turned around
ana Tired at me. l was about fifteen
0rtWenty yards from him at the time.
When be fired at me l shot at him. I
would not have fired at all if he had not
fired at me. His shot was the first shot
Of all. In a short time he bollowed
then the firing began all around,
could not tell exactly which way It was.
then went back to Mr.. Greaory's
house on the railroad; told MIR. GRECO
ry to get light, | thought some one
was shot or killed. He said he, was
sick and could not go, but gave mo a
lantern. L gave it to Jackson. Then
me, rant, jackson, Massey came down
10 look TOR the man we thought was
wounded or killed. When near this
house we met Balew coming out of
me corn held. We were close together
Mr.. Ballew had "a pistol In each hand.
We ordered him to drop his pistols two
or three times. had my gun leveled
at him at that time. L did not lire at
MIN at all. We stopped, he stopped.
Massey was little t my right. Bal
low lowered one hand and raised The
Other In a position to shoot. Massev
ilred on him. That was the only shot
hred m at the time. He was killed. Jaw
w. ~. oapD, who was in house
ciose TO the smoothing. says hesheard a
NNAog ~ ~ oo NIh CWO SliOUS D9tWpaD
and '12 o'clock. at third e1n SHOT snno 81
body followed IL am shot" The oar.
ties either two or three ran back to.
wards the railroad something like q
dozen flres In about u minute. / was
IN Mr.. Gregory's building during shoot.
Ing. About tho time Boyce Dean came
TO the door and L asked" for q light. I
looked out and saw number of men.
about fifteen. | saw the shot fired,
then L went to the back door. l never
heard anything until the woman began
to scream. One Of the women said
This Is my man, don't kill him." After
this one man came towards the house
and said "come on boys" they came.
): IL. Fant: | came here last night
With WT a posse to serve papers on Mr..
moore with Sheriff DEAN. Also had
PROBABLY another. Deputy Sheriff Dean
hb mad the papers. We intercepted man
GRarrying Ralyg light near Grogory's house.
I,eLt In,epaty Dean and Jackson followed the
dlgnt. They ran up behind the man
ana we ordered him to halt The man
carrying the light started running and