The morning news., 1894-08-30
ALIrTLE TOO LATE.
The Blackville Tragedy Might Easily
Have Been Averted.

Columbia, s. c.. Aug. 29.-Y Yesterday
morning before the shooting and killing
of Constable Gribben and MIR. Solomon
Brown at BIackville, Col. Mike Brown, a
brother of Solomon Rrown, wrote the
governor and asked for the removal from
Blackville of Constable Gribben This
letter was not received by the governor
until after the tragedy at Blackville.
The letter of Col. Brown was made public
by the governor to-day. In it Col. Brown
said:
The recent outrageous and unwarranted
action Of Constable Grlbheu at BlaCkViue, in
selzlng and opening a small OK consigned TO
my wife by express is Of such an aggravated
character that ! feel it my privilege and duty
as a law abiding citizen, TO bring the matter
to YOUR attention and request the removal of
Gribben. l am not dealing in whisky nor in
terested in any one who would be disposed TO
violate the dispensary law, and il l was. /
certainly would not degrade myself so far as
10 attempt to smuggle whisky In my wlfe's
name, and write you in regard to the mat
ter feeling sure that you would not uphold or
allow any constable in the employ of the
state to aggravate, insult and trample upon
the rights of the peOple-a lady-to
crafty personal grudge, under
pretense OF carrying out the law.
This man Grtbben is q low down seoundrel
without intelligence or judgment and totally
unfit for so high position. AS a proof on
this point | refer to the following circum-
sbduCeS. some time ago ne got MAD with NV
rather about some matter and to vent his
spite stated that on q certain day at Black
vile he would publicly expose the Jews. MY
brother met him on the streets and de
nounced him publicly, with oaths and curses,
ana he did not resent IL (which any respect
able man, as you know, would certainly have
done. His animosity extends to every
member of the family, and It was to aggra-
vate me and in a spirit Of revenge that he
seized package addressed to my wife which
had not the slightest sign or evidence Of con
tanning whisky.
Col. Brown also sent the governor a
letter from Mr.. Perry M. Buckingham
stating that Constable Gribben had
seized package addressed to him
labelled, Groceries" but containing
alcohol and camphor for the use of his
mother who was in a dying condition.
That Gribben had refused to allow the
package TO be delivered even when in
formed Of the exigency Of the case.
Gov. Iillman sent the following reply
to Col. Brown to-day:
Columbia s. C., Aug. 20. 1sof.-Mr. Mike
Brown, Barnwell, $. G. Dear Sir-Your let
ter of Aug. % has been received. Had YOU
written sooner, whether your complaint is
Just or not, 1 would nave seen to il that YOU
mad no cause for censure by removing Mr..
Gribben TO another field aad thus the lamen-
table tragedy. which has darkened your own
home, and left widow with four children to
struggle alone with the world might have
been aYerted. As a usual thing, constables
are always sent from home, and had / known
mat there was any cause OF friction, Mr..
| Grlbben would have been detailed for duty
outside OF Barnwell county. 1t is needless
Tor me to say that l regret the sad catas-
throphe, which could so easily have been
averted had you written your letter sooner
Very respectfully. Z n TIIIAIAN,
-r+ Governor.
p. SIN regard TO the alcohol belonging to
! Mr.. Buckingham his own letter is a suficient
answer. Alcohol is kept for sale by all the
| dispensers and the package in question was
! marked groceries Mr. Buckingham could
! have gotten the alcohol legitimately and
| when he risked smuggling it instead Of buy
| ing from dtspensary, he has no Just cause Of
| complaint Constables have nodiscretion in
| such cases. To release contraband liquor
under such circumstances would mean instant
removal Mr.. buckingham should have had
the camphor and alcohol mixed in Charles
ton. IL was not medicinal until it was mixed
b. Il. T.