The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1894-09-05
THE RECENT KILLING.
GOV. TlLLMAN EXPRESSES HIS RE
eRET THEsAD OCCURRENCE.

ter Which Was Received Too Late.
| COLUMBIA, S. c., Aug. 30-The terri
bic tragedy of Tuesday at BlackvIlle
was the subject of much talk in Co.
lumbia yesterday, anu general regret
was expressed.
AS the tragedy was the result Of a
personal alteration and not because of
the Dispensary law Governor Tillman
did not get much information about
the affair.
Tie Governor expressed his regrets
When his attention was called to the
criticism of Col. Mike Brown, he said
that If Colonel Brown had notified him
earlier of the personal feeling existing
he would have removed Gribbln to an
other field Inasmuch as Colonel Brown
made public mention of the matter
Governor Tillman at the request of the
newspaper reporters gave to the press
the communication regarding the
affair.
COLONEL BROWNS LETTER.
The following is Colonel Browns
letter and was received yesterday morn
ing by Governor Tillman:
BarnWell, S. c., Aug. 90. 1894.
"To His Excellency B. z. TillmaD,
| Governor, Columbia, S. q.
"My Dear Sir: regret very much
the necessity of complaining to you
about any matter, but the recent out
rageous and unWarranted actions OF
Constable Gribbin at Blackvllle in selZ-
ing and opening small box consigned
to my wife by express is Of such aggra'
waiting character that l feel it my priv
ilege and duty as laW-abiding citizen
to bring the matter to your attention
and request the removal of Gribbin. l
am advised by Mr.. Richardson, route
agent of the express company, that a
report of the seizure has been sent to
you. l am not dealing in Whiskey, nor
interested in any one who would be
disposed to violate the Dtspensary law,
an0 if | was | certainly would not de-
grade myself so far as to attempt to
smuggle whiskey in my wife's name,
and ! write you in regard to the mat
ter, feeling sure that you would not up.
hold or allow any constable 10 the en-
ploy of the State to sggraVate, insult and
trample upon the rights OF the people
"a lady-to gratify personal grudge
under pretense of carrying out the
law. This man Gribbin is low down
scoundrel without intelligence or judg-
ment and totally unfit for 80 high a
position. AS proof on this point, l
refer to the following circumstances:
Some time ago he got mad with my
father about some matter and to vent
| his spite stated that on certain day at
BlackVille be would publicly expose
the Jews. My brother met him on the
streets and characterized him publicly
| with oaths and curses, aud he did not
resent it, (Which any respectable man,
as you know, would certainly do) His
animosity extends to every member Of
the family, and it was to aggravate me
and in spirit of revenge that ne seiz'
ed a package addressed to my wife,
which had not the slightest sign or evi-
dence of containing whiSkey.
81 enclose you letter received from
Mr.. Buckingham this morning (Which
| please return when you have read.)
While Gribbin, in this instance, ap-
pears to have been acting within the
pales of the law, l am sure that your
Excellency would have approved and
excused him, in granting Mr.. Bucktng.
hams request and allowing the cam
ph0r and alcohol to be for Warded to the
sick lady, and his refusal to do so, un-
der the circumstances, knowing that it
was ordered and needed for sick lady,
shows that he lacks any feeling, judg-
ment or discretion, and Is not qualified
for the position. understand that he
is a strageler left here by Sherman's
raiders. When he came to Blackville
he was compelled TO leave Aiken. An
investigation will satisfy you as to his
character, and | feel that his removal
is, In justice to myself and the protec.
| tion of the community. l am yours,
very respectfully, MIKE BROWN"
THE ALCOHOL AFFAIR.
The following is the enclosed letter
referred to:
BarnwelI, S. c., 9th August, 1894.
"Col. Mike Brown, Barnwell, S. G.
''Dear Sir: Complying with your re-
quest of even date, [ herewith furnish
you with a statement Of the seizure Of
a gallon of alcohol and one pound of
gum camphor by Constable Gribbin, at
Blackville, some few weeks ago.
my mother was in dying condition
and her doctor ordered that she be free
ly bathed in alcohol, strongly impreg
mated with camphor.
There was no alcohol to be had in
Barnwell and my father ordered it,
along with some groceries, from his
grocer in Charleston, but instructed the
grocer to ship the alcohol and camphor
by express, thinking that we would re-
ceive it sooner than If it were shipped
with groceries by freight. Toe pack
sge was SelZed at Blackville by Mr..
Gfibbin. l, being unknown to him, and
desiring to get the drugs as soon as
possible, got Mr.. Hammett, the rail.
road agent here, to wire him and state
that the articles were for medicina!
use and were urgently needed. Mr..
Hammett is we'll known to him and |
desired to have the truthfulness and
good faith Of my request for the re-
lease of the stuff Vouched for by some
one Mr.. Gribbin could rely upon, as he
| did not know me.
mir. Hammett explained the case, but
he still refused delivery, claiming 1t
| was rum and has since posted notlc5
of its seizure, as rum, but makes no
mention of the camphcr. | recognized
the fact that it was strickly speaking q
legal seizure, and have no complaint to
make on that score. do hold, though,
that any constable who has sufficient
Judgment to entitle him to an appoint
ment should exercise his Judgment
in case Of this kind and release goods
under circumstances which were
vouched for as in this case, and fur.
ther believe that his superior officer
would have held him harmless for so
using his Judgment.
4 do not write this in hopes Of get,
ting back the SEIZE goods. Commis-
sioner TraXler has already declined de-
livery on the ground that the shipper
marked package Groceries, and there
by attempted an evasion Of the law.
The grocer marked them thus on his
own responsibility and not by any in
structiOns from us Very truly yours,
PERRY NJ. BUCKINGHAM.
GOVERNOR TILLMAN'S ANSWER
Governor Tillman yesterday sent the
following answer to Colonel Brown:
"Columbia, S. C., August %, 1893.