The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1894-01-03
TIE DIsPENskRY WAR BEGUN.
Spies Make q Raid on the House OF a
Negro and One OF the Spies is Acct
dentally Shot by Another Tho
Negro Shot to Death.
[special to News and Courier.l

l
SPARTANBURG, December 27.-Th
dispensary war has opened in earnes
in Spartanburg. Some Of the Tillmal
spies secured warrants for the arrest 0
Henry Palmer for violating the dispen
sary law. They also had search war
rant to examine his house. Last nigh
about 8 o'clock they went to his house
When they asked for entrance the doc
was opened and john Blayton, a tw'
hundred pound whiskey spy, arrested
Palmer. A scuffle ensued, and Sp,
Jackson says that woman brought I
shotgun aud Palmer told her to shoot
but she did not fire. The gun was taker
from her. During the scufae Blaytor
was shot with load of small shot
The charge entered the small OF tht
| back in the rear. The wound is no
considered dangerous, unless the shot
penetrated the abdominal cavity.
| Jackson says that Palmer shot Blay
ton, bnt his shotgun was still loaded
after the fray, and he never had his
hands on it. Besides that he had nc
| pistol about his person or house. He
also had some silver in his hand when
the spies arrested him. He held on to
that until he was killed.
After Blsyton was shot be began to
fire on Palmer with his pistol. The
second shot crushed through his temple,
killing him instantly. A spy by the
name Of Pearson was also in the crowd.
Some Of the women in the house say
that they saw two men outsideand one
ofthem had gun in his hand. It was
evidently one of these that shot Bfay-
ton. =. - 81
| This is one Of the results to be ex-
| pected. When the constables begin to
invade private houses there will be
trouble. Hundreds of people in this
county are going to keep whiskey in
their houses. They are not going to get
labels to put on the packages. They
| are also going to get whiskey from
North Carolina in any quantity they.
desire. They declare that the first spy
that tcrosses the threshold otheir houses
they will kill him.
The coroner has been investigating
the dispensary killing case all day and
the jury are ia session tonight. He.
seemsto betrying thecase on its merits.
It is evident that Henry Palmer. was
unarmed and that ne made no resis-
tance except to break away from the.
constables. he was ten or thirty feet
from his house. Biayton must have
been shot by one of his own men, n,,who
was armed with a shotgun. The load
was intended for Palmer. but the
greater portion of it entered Biayton's
side. q 49,.
Some coiored men went Before Trial
Justice Kirby and swore out warrants
for Constables Blayton and Jackson.
Blayton's wound dprevents hisimprison-
ment. Jackson is In Jail tonight. The
negroes are not excited, but they are.
taking the matter very seriously. They
think they have little protection under
the law as administered. 81.
THE coRoNER's INVESTIGATION.
Especial to News and Courier
.SPARTANBURG, December 29.-The.
coroner's jury remained in session last
night until about II o'clock, when they
rendered verdict that Henry Palmer
came to his death bya gunshot wound
inflicted by Constable Blayton while,
resisting arrest. There was a division
Of opinion among the juryGen and it.
was difficult for them to reach a verdict.
The facts Of the case are about as
follows: Henry Palmer had been sell
ing whiskey. Constable Pearson in-
duced man to 60 and purchase pack
age from him. On that knowledge he
had two warrants taken out, one to ar
rest Henry Palmer and his sister and
the, other to search the house. Instead
OF making the arrest in the day time
three constables, Pearson, Jackson and
Blayton, accompanied by two or three
other persons, one of whom said he
was constable, went to make the ar
rest about s O'Clock at night. Palmer
was in the house. Two women and
small boy were also there. A loaded
shotgun was on the bed. The arrest
was made. Palmer made an attempt
to escape. A scutfie ensued. The con-
stables sH ear that one Of the women
tried to use the shotgun, but Jackson
captured it. One witness swore that
BIsyton or one of the constables said
"Shoot him." Soon after that gun
was fred from the outside or about the
door while Palmer and Blayton were
scufding. Some Of the constables say
that the first firing was done in the
house. The testimony conflicts. None
of them saw any gun in the house ex-
cept Palmer's which was loaded when
captured. One man outside had gun.
The impression prevails that he aimed
to shoot Palmer when he was attempt
ing to rush from the door and by mis-
take shot Blayton. That is the only
plausible theory. Then Blayton says
he fred twice as Palmer was getting
away. The second shot that brought
him down was some distance from the
house. -.~.
These are the facts of the case. Four
constables with one or swo others, went
there fully armed to arrest q man who
had no arms. There was no evidence
to show that he was using any violence
except the force necessary to get away
from the armed force. He was using