The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-02-07
Constable Fant's Story.
From the State Feb. Z.

From the State Feb. I.
Governor Tillman did not hear any.
thing yesterday from Chief Constable
Fant in regard to the Spartanburg
liquor killing till late in the afternoon,
when Fant's official report Of the affair
came in. 1t was impossible to secure
full copy of the report, but the fol-
lowing extracts from it, bearing directly
upon the affair. were banded the press
by the Governor. They are given for
what they are worth:
st had been reported to me for the
last two weeks by different parties that
a crowd of men from CLASSY Mountain
had established themselves at trestle,
nine miles from this place, and we're
selling wbiskey to anybody who would
buy, openly defyipg the law and swearing
that they would not be arrested, and
that any officer who attempted it would
bite the dust. Having obtained
sufficient evidence to convict these
parties of selling wbiskey. warrants
we're sworn out against FIVE of them aud
placed in the hands of the sheriff His
deputy summoned me and my con-
stables, as posse, aud we went where
it was reported the whiskey was
being sold, but found 10 one there.
We meta party who Informed us
that he had just bought from them.
at house uear by. He told US that
the wbiskey was not at the house, but
if we would 60 to the house and give
them the money, one Of the men would
take lantern, 20 to the swamp and
get the whiskey. We got this man
and two others to 60 back to the house
and make another purchase We
secrcted ourselves near the swamp
where the wbiskey was supposed to be.
In few minutes man came toward US
with lamp. but on the opposite side Of
the swamp. He disappeared awhile
and then started back toward the
house. We followed, but could not
cross the swamp. We then went up
the swamp to the railroad above US,
when we saw the lamp coming toward
us. Dean, Massey and jackson we're
ahead of me few PAGES. They made
rush at the man. He ran, and
fired back at the officers. Dean and
myself returned the fire. The man
fell, crying for help and calling for
Ballew. Ballew responded Yes, -
=. am coming and be came firing.
There we're not less than half dozen
firing 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 lam
tern alta house near by aud went to
look after the man who was wounded
at the first Of the fight We could not
6ud him, but found his lantern with
blood on it. denotiug that the man was
wounded. Hearing holleriIg at a
house near by, We went up the path
toward the noise, and saw man COM
ing toward US with 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. He
would not do so, but raised the one in
his right hand, and Massey shot him,
killing him instantly He fell, holding
on to his pistols until jackson took
them from him"
Governor Tilman during the fore
uoon received a dispatch from Fant
stating that Constable Massey. who
was charged with murder, was to be
taken to Newberry yesterday aud car
red before the presiding judge of :he
court now in session in that county
to make application for bond, Massey
is charged by the corouer's jury with
the murder OF Baliew
Men who for wears have been suffering with