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

II know It, ne answered WHO
emphasis.
why, I have received kilograms
from all over the State Offering assistance
and | can get as many men as I can
furnish with transportation"
Tillman spoke feelingly of the
disbandiog of the Governors Guards.
"Tbe company is ffty.oue years
DID," be said, ..and this is the first
time they have ever refused to obey
ORDERS"
He says that Capt. Bateman shed
tears over the action Of his company.
What effect will the present distur-
Dances have on the %dispensary Law 2"
the correspondent asked.
1T will strengthen it," be promptly
replied. "Those continued distur-
Dances have been brought on by the
low.down whiskey element and by the
violent opposition to the easur which
the cities have made. The issue is
whether the State is to be turned over
to hoodlums and toughs or be governed
by its intelligent citizenship. The
result will be in favor of the dispen-
sary."
o. Monday at Darlington everything
was perfectly quiet, as all along it has
been since Friday evening. in spite of
the Cars attempts to make the con-
trsry appear. The sole ground alleged
by him for declaring martial law was
that the Sheriff Of Darlington had wired
him that be vas powerless. But power
less for what? Only to prevent the
pursuit Of the constables. But Mayor
Dargan on Saturday sent ont messages
to all the posses to give up the pursuit
and come home, and hence no cause ex.
listed for the declaration of martial law
OF the massing Of troops at Darlington.
The W. U. Telegraph Office at OAR
liugton vas mouopolized by the military,
but the press correspondents managed
to get off their dispatches all the same.
MAYOR BARGAINS STATEMENT.
Among these is given Mayor bargains
statement to the correspondent of the
News and Courier. He says:
1.-The trouble iu this matter is that
Governor Tillman assumes that his con-
| stables eniov privileges or have privi-
leges that are not enjoyed by any other
citizen of this State or of these United
States and not possessed by any Judge
on the Bench or even the President Of
these United States, which is that by
reason of the fact that they are State
constables they a with impunity shoot
down citizens of the Commonwealth and
are exempt from arrest under the law.
I know Of no law in this country that
allows an officer of the State to commit
murder and be exempt from arrest.
Whether these constables are guilty is
not the question. The fact is that they
have shot to death two of the citizens Of
the State of South Carolina and wounded
several others. AS soon as the fact was
known to me. as mayor of this town, ]
undertook to have them apprehended,
believing it my duty to do SO. Such
efforts to arrest escaping murderers were
made, as have ever been done in this
State, or any others under civil govern
ment. Posses were Immediately organ
ICED, as has been done time and again.
and pursuit commenced as soon as pos
sible. They were armed as best they
could be under the circumstances, be-
cause they knew that they had an organ
lied body of desperate men armed with
the most improved weapons to encounter
As a matter of fact I had no idea thai
those constables would be willingly ar.
rested or would be willing to submit tc
the authority of the land. because Gov
ernor Tillman had instructed them &c
shoot down citizens whenever they inter.
fered with them, aud he caused these
instructions to be published to the world
and I did not expect that our posse
would even wish or desire to arrest
them, but that they would if caught W
With have a fight to the finish. There
was no great superior force at first, and
there was considerable uneasiness or
account Of citizens Of u posses who
were sent in all directions aud who we're
armed with only shotguns, some with
pistols and Que or two rifles. The delay
10 getting a posse enabled the Stat
constables to gain considerable time il
getting ahead, aud night soon coming
on they made their escape in the dark
ness, our men following them until the.
got beyond the county lines and wer'
Immediately called in. If Governor
.Tillman has made any attempt tt
arrest these men | am not aware of it
If such a murder had been committed
by anyone else or by any other persoo'
than these State constables | suppose b.
would have issued a proclamation offer
ing a reward for the apprehension of th'
armed hndv of murderers orea