The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1894-02-07
THRILLING STREET DUEL!
First Blood Here Over the Liquor Lnw.
Columbia State, Feb.

For the first time since the dispensary
law became law, blood was shed on its
account in the capital Of the State yester-
day afternoon. Mr.. w. B. Meetze, the
man who shot and killed Clark a few
years ago, and the man who detied Gov
ernor Tillman and his constables at the
fair grounds last November, got into
street aifray near Columbia's famous
street fighting ground, the corner of
Main and Washington streets, where
every serious affair of any importance
that has happened in recent years in
Columbia has taken place, with Davis
Miller, stock dealar hailing from North
Carolina, and the former fell with
bullet in his side within one hundred
yards from the spot where Clark fell and
expired when he shot him. The extent
of his injuries cannot yet be ascertained.
Never before has pistol fight occurred
here in which so many shots were fired
Elephants. The street was filled With
people at the time, and Miller, knowing
be had cool sure shot to deal with,
emptied two pistols, save one bullet, in
less time than it takes to tell it. 1t was
perfect fusilade, and created the widest
excitement, especially when Mr.. Meetze
was seen to reel and fall to the ground.
All day long serious trouble OF some
kind had been anticipated, but no one
knew from what quarter it would come,
or at what hour.
Miller had been witness in the first
blind tiger case and his testimony goaded
some of the liquor men and their friends
to desperation. Long before ne had con-
cluded the giving of his testimony, 1t
could be seen that he would have to an
swer in one way or another to somebody
for some Of his statements. Some OF the
men looked very angry. Miller evidently
knew too that be was to be talked to-"
for he had come to the court house armed
with two pistols, both self-cocking,
which he carried in his outside overcoat
pockets. At any rate, just as the recess
was taken things looked pretty squally.
Miller went back into one of the jury
| rooms and serious trouble came very
| near resulting in there, two men Gackling
him and cursing him pretty severely.
| Justice Clarkson went in there, however,
and pulled Miller out, taking him down
stairs. Mr.. Meetze and others who were
very much incensed came on around on
Main street, and they talked very bitterly
about Miller. Several parties urged
them to go on home, hut somehow they
got around on Law Range again. They
went to point in front of McMaster's
law Office and stood there talking.
Among them were Messrs. William
Sheppard, Meetze, Fry and Herriot:.
Miller was standing up in front OF
Shand's law Office at this time. talking to
some young men: Fry evidently wanted
| to tackle Miller, for some one heard Mr..
Herriott say to him: 'No you ought not
to do it,n Just about this time Mr..
Charles Hendrix, the defendant in
another case, pulled out pistol near the
corner and appeared to be very angry.
Police Sergeant MOrehead and Bell Tow
erman Dunning saw him, grappled with
him and took the pistol from him, send
| ing him away to the station house. just
about this time Mr.. Miller came on down
towards Main street.
Eye witnesses all agree on the rest of
the story. They say Miller came on
down the sidewalk, and tried to pass
around the crowd standing there. AS he
did so Fry stepped up to him and said !:
"Did you say T swore to damned lie
to-day ?" Miller replied: "No, l did
not" Fry said: "Well, these fellows
tell me So" Miller said; "Well whoever
said so told Cd id lie." Mr..
Meetze, who was standing behind Fry,
ran around and came up before Miller,
| u
On the side of his head.
Trial Justice Stack, who happened to
be near, rushed in between the two men
and pulled them apart. Mr.. Fry pulled
| Mr.. Stack to one side. Mr.. Stack, in the
| name Of the law, commanded the men to
keep the peace and called on others to
| help him handle the two men. He
grappled Miller and started off across the
| drain with him. Meetze, being released,
! followed Miller up to the middle of the
| street daring him 10 draw his pistol, and
saying cd d-n you draw. I
dare you to pull out your pistol"
| In the meantime Justice Stack was
still wrestling with Miller, and had got
ten him ten PAGES away from Meetze in
the middle of the street. Finally Miller
squared himself, shook Stack off and ran
| his hands into each oyercoat pocket.
When his hands came out there was a
shining weapon in each. He pointed one
at Justice Stack, who left, seeing he could
do nothing more. Miller leveled both
his pistols and shouted: "Come on, all
you people,"
at this time Meetze was still advancing
upon him still shaking his loft hand at
him and pulling his pistol from his hip
pocket with his right. Then, so several
eye witnesses say, Miller let fire at MIR.
Meetze. In quicker time than it,takes to
tell it Mr.. Miller proceeded tn fire nine
bullets at Mr.. Meetze. Mr.. Meetze re-
sounded like an infantry company -prac-
ticing company firing" Mr.. Meetse
nearly emptied his pistol. After the
first fire Mr.. Meelze was hit iu the side
and was seen to reel back wards and fall
to the ground like dead man. He tried
to rise, but COULD not. Sergt. Moreaead
of the police force, rushed at Miller with
his club raised. Miller still had both Of
| his pistols leveed. AS the officer came
no to him he raised both hands and said !:
vi surrender" Then Meetzes friends,
seeing that Meetze was badly wounded
and thinking that he was killed, cried
s'kill the scoundre)v' and were about to
make for him. Then it was that Sergt.
Morehead displayed wonderful courage
He placed the prisoner behind him, lev.
eled his pistol OH the crowd and told
them that the first man who came at
Miller he would shoot dead in his tracks.
AS soon rs possible he turned Miller
around, and being joined BY other Off
GERS, went as quickly as possible with
him to the station house. Miller laft
thinking that he had killed Meetze, and
S6uU lOI SupGs JUN SoPO9o w wv ~
his attorney for him..
AS soon as the firing ceased many Of
the bystanders rushed to Mr.. Meetze's
side. When asked if he was hurt much
be said: 'EI think my leg is broke.' A
hasty examination revealed bullet hole
in Mr.. Meetze's right side, it being located
lust about the center of his vest pocket.
The blood poured from the wound:
Several gentlemen lifted the wounded
,nan and dispatched messengers for
ply ysician. They we're about to take him
into DR.. Rays office, but he said: mo,
take me around home." He was per-
fectly cool and collected, but was power
less to move muscle. He was placed IN
carriage and taken home. He asked
for his hat Just as he was driven OF. The
people all along Main street heard the
fusilade and came running to the scene OF
the trouble. In few moments the ex-
element was intense, and the streets
were filled for two hours with excited
men. Drs. Talley, Folk and Taylor were
soon at Mr.. Meetze's side. They exam
ined the wound and looked for the bullet,
but failed to find it. Itranged backward.
The physicians say it may have entered
the abdominal cavity, but they cannot
yet toll. In this case the wound is
very serious one indeed. They soon
inclined to think, however, from the
symptoms and tho fact that it was
small bullet that it ranged around to-
wards the back, and in that case will not
have serious results.