The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-04-04
THE THREE SPIES.

COLUMBIA, S. c., March 31.-UD-
known to but few people three con-
stables who were in the fight at OAR
llugton arrived in Columbia tonight on
a special train from Sumter and are
now safely housed 10 the peoiteutiary.
They tell the most thrilling aud graphic
story Of the tragedy which has yet been
heard. The three men who arrived
here we're G. B.. Mcdonald, j. l..
Nunnamaker aud W. D. Owings.
Mcdonald vas in command of the
others aud talked to The Register
reporter who went to the penitentiary a
few minutes after the men were safely
landed there. They came here. as
stated, on a special train owe the Coast
Line Road. The train did not stop at
the depot as is customary. but went to
Plain Street and stopped, the constabies
and the squad which had accompanied
them for protection disembarkiDg there.
A squad Of military men were at the
crossing to protect them if any demon
stratiou should be made against them.
Fortunately so few knew that the
coos.ables were coming that not three
people saw them when they got off the
train.
Constable Mcdonald is a dark-haired,
dark-eyed young man who seems to
5ave plenty of nerve. When asked BY
the reporter to tell the story from the
beginning Of the fight to his arrival
here, be said
THE sPY's STORY.
Five of us had been detailed to stay
in Darlington while the others went to
Charleston. When the squad which
was going to Charleston went to the
depot, where the fight took place, we
went with them. While We were there
Billy Floyd aud Rogers, the nan who
started the whole thing, got into an
alteration. They had a fight and
Floyd got the best of it. About that
time a negro driver Of the bus for the En-
terprise Hotel attempted to strike Floyd.
Constable McLendon. refused to let the
negro attack Floyd, who had done the
constables several good turns and they
liked bin. McLendon told the negro
to stand back. Then the telegraph
opera or at the depot ran ont Of his
Office ard asked what McLendon had to
do with it. McLendon said that be
did not have anything particular to do
With it, but be did not propose to see
Floyd crowded.
1.-The operator went back into the
Office aud Rogers got in the bus and
went up town.
1 suppose he went there to get q
crowd. for in a short time be came back
with fifteen or twenty men. Rogers
renewed the difficulty with Floyd aud
cursed the latter fearfully. He went
toward Floyd, bus Chief of Police OAR
gan inierfered and commanded the
crowd to dispense. The crowd refused
to do so. aud Rogers again cursed
Floyd for the most vile things Floyd
said be would not stand it and went
toward Rogers. The chief of police
separated them. Rogers then turned
to McLendon and said. There is the
--- who caused me to get whip.
ped McLendon said that was a lie.
Then Frank Norment. who was killed.
stepped forward and pointed to McLen-
don saying, There is the G.
= there
McLendon refused to stand this and
cursed Norment in return. was
standing right between McLendon and
Norment. Before I knew it one of
them reached over my shoulder and
fired a pistol. l do not know who fred
the first shot. The shot started the
battle The citizens were armed with
pistols aud Immediately began firing at
the constables. The officers we're
standing in a body and were targets for
the whole party. The coostables re-
turned the fire."
"Did the constables use rides or pis-
tolls p asked the reporter.
"Only eight Of the men were arm
ed With Winchesters. I did not have
Que. I do not know how many Of them
used rifles. do know, however, that
Constables Pepper and McLendon did
not have rifles and used pistols. Nc
Lendon emptied his pistol before he
seemed to know he was shot. Pepper
was killed 5000 after the firing began.
l do not know how many times he 6r-
ed, or whether be fired at all. l do
not know who shot Pepper. The shoot
ing was over in q few seconds. The