The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-02-07

Court House, where he remained for some
minutes. In the meantime the court had ad
Journed. Miller went down the rear steps
and into Washington street. When near the
office of Melton Melton he met a number o.
men. among them Meetze, Burt Fry and Char
lie Hendrix. who Is also accused of selling
whiskey and who is under indictment bel fore
the court OF Judge CIarkson.
Burt Fry, according to the testimony of eye
witnesses. stopped Miller and said to him
"Did yOn say (or swear) that told lie ?" To
understand this question II is necessary to ex.
plain that Fry had been u witness In the case
against Seal and had sworn that Seal had not
sod him any whiskey. and he did not know
that Seal had sold anybody else any. When
Miller was put on the stand he swore that
Fry was present with several others on one
occasion when Seal had sold whiskey to one
of he party. This was calculated 10 cast q re-
Election upon Fry's testimony, and Fry was
provoked.
What followed this question of Fry is told
by Trial Justice Stack who was present when
The trouble begun and who came near being
shot i'm his endeavor to keep the peace. He
said that when Fry asked Miller the question
Miller answered: mo, did not sayyou told
a lie and the man who says did tells a
--lie." Meetze rushed in, saying: 81
Whether lie hit him those present are not
able TO say. Judge Stack. who is powerful
man. and who saw that serious trouble was
brewing, rushed into the compact crowd and,
pushed them apart, saying: "As peace Of
ficer command you both 10 keep the peace" "
Judge Stack pushed Miller into the gutter and
several persons tried 10 hold Meetze. Miller
Judge Stack still holding him. MeelZe sue.
ceeded In getting away from those who were
holding him and walked swiftly toward Mil
Ter an Il the Justice. MeeZes hat had fallen
off in the melee aud he WAS bareheaded as he
advanced toward Miller. Approaching, he
several times yelled to Miller to pull and
shoot, accompanying these words with those
of more basphemous order. When Miller
saw that be would have 10 shoot or do some
thing else he wrested himself from the grasp
Of Judge Stack and pulled his hands from his
overcoat pockets, where he had them for some
time. A pistol flashed 10 each hand, and, lev
cling them in The direction OF MeefZe, he
quickly fired. Judge Stack did not get out OF
the way until the weapons were drawn. Al
ler, Meetze pulled a pistol from his right hip
pocket and the three weapons belched forth,
each sending missile intended 10 be or
deadly character. There was SO much smoke
that the precise positions OF the men could
not be seen. Miller was beyond the middle
of the street, toward the Southern sidewalk,
with his back In the direction OF Levin's auc-
lion store. MeetZe was walking from the
Northern sidewalk toward Miller, firing as he
went. His pistol was In his right hand and
he appeared TO be cool and collected. His OPP
pouent was obscured from him by the dense
ocste Ss man and get IN his WORK nA'
There Is a wide divergence of opin lon as TO
the number Of shots fired. The prevailing
idea, however, Is that Miller fired three times
and Meetze twice. This is contradicted BY
ny the empty chambers In the two revolvers.
Only one bullet remained in Miller's two
weapons, while there were three in Meetze's.
II Is said, though, that some OF the cartridges
of Miller's pistols were empty before the
shooting.
At what shot Meetze was struck is In doubt.
but Meetze himself, 1t Is said. thinks that II
the second he fell as csaies Msr pn9 6ad res
Meetze fell, but Meetze attempted 10
shoot while on the ground. The ball had en-
tered his right side and made that portion OF
the body partially useless.
WANTED TO KILL MILLER.
Sergeant Moorhead, OF the police force, was
the irst man TO get to the two combatants.
He had been attempting TO quell some trou-
K new Of the shooting was when he heal the
shots. He ran In the direction OF the men
just rs Meetze fell. Miller had stopped firing
and was pding with his hands raised above
his head. He said to the Sergeant that he
was ready to surrender. The Sergeant took
possession Of him and started toward Main
street with the prisoner. An angry crowd
surrounned the prisoner and seemed bent on
ed. Sergeant Moorehead was the caltnesi
man in this excited crowd. He realized thai
Miller was In danger and, like all brave men,
knew that prompt and decisive action was
necessary TO save his man. He pulled his pis-
tol and pointing IT toward the crowd shouted:
~ will Kill the first man who tries 10 harm
this prisoner" His words were uttered In
tone which was not to be mistaken, and had
their effect. Charles Hendrix Is alleged 10
have been one of the men who pulled pistol
and who made hostile dem onstratlons toward
the prisoner. He was arrested and taken
to the station house and his pistol onf1scated
by the officers. Burt Fry was also arrested.
PICKED UP BY FRIENDS.
Friends quickly ran to the assistance of
Meetze when he fell. They were glad 10 mud
that he was able 10 talk and to move. A car
rlage was called and the wounded man was
placed in IT. He was taken 10 his home on
the East side Of Washington street about two
o oIocks from where be was shot. He did not
complain and showed the courage fol-, which
he is noted. Physicians were hurriedly sent
Tor and Drs. Talley, Taylor and FOLK were
soon In attendance. They did all they could
to relieve Meetze. DR.. Kendall! ls the family
ph ysician. but was out Of the city when sent
for. He took charge OF the, patient last night.
For over an hour after the shooting lille
ouads of people stoud around the home o:
the wounded man trying to pick up some IN
form alton from persons who came out of the
house. In front OF every house all the way
down the street were TO be seen number OF
persons talking In whispers, Two or three In
u nuneh, or leaning over the fences n ana SateS @
every pasSer who was supposed to know any
thing OF the tragedy.
SERIOUS WOUND.
The stories on the streets Of the nature OF
the wound were numerous. Some said that
IL was only flesh wound, while Others said
that 1t was fatal. DR.. Kendall was seen by
Register reporter last night. MeetZe was
str9ck by only one ball. Doctor Kendall
said 81 probed for the ball and found 1t.
II entered the right side, near the centre OF
the body, and ranged slightly downward
The ball entered between the tenth ana
eleventh ribs Striking the upper pra,oTt IoTIef nIo
the abdominal cavity and buried Itself In the
fat of the cavity, near the liver. found that
could not remove it,
the reporter.
while DO not apprehend any immediate
danger" was the answer, 1.-THE wound is
serious one. Mr.. Meetze Is healthy man
and Of course this Is In his favor In Woanu
Of this kind.
STATEMENT OF WITNESSES.
Judge Stacks account OF the tragedy Is
by that OF NUMBER OF eye.
witnesses. Thomas Shelton, says that just
before the shooting MeetZe walked 10 the
corner of Main street. where squad OF men
were standing, and asked If Miller had passed.
He was told that he had NOT. Shep nays
but MeetZe said he wanted to see him.
Meetze went on to where he met and had tue
trouble with Miller Mr. Shelton says ne
could not tell which man hred the nrs'
shot. ,. |
L. C. Levin saw the quarrel and the shoot
Ing. He heard Meetze say: Draw, yon "
n rst with 1irht hand, and alternating with |
right and left until Meetze fell. Miller SAID
Yes. I'll draw, Tm not afraid OF all OF
yOu.' cu,t,o,