The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1894-09-04
THE DUEL TO DEATH.
The COroner's Inquest Over Young
Brown-Three Ofthe Browns Are In
diCted for rMurder-The Coroner Did
Not Fire His Pistol

The COroncr's Inquest Over Young
Brown-Three Ofthe Browns Are In
dicted for Murder-The Coroner Did
Not Fire His Pistol.
BLACKvILLE, Aug. 29.-Trial Jus.
tice Hammet, acting coroner, this
morning proceeded tC hold an inquest
over the remains of Solomon Brown,
killed yesterday afternoon in the
Brown-Gribbin affray. A number of
witnesses were examined who testified
that Herman Brown, the II year old
son of Simon Brown, and youngest
brother of the deceased, fired the first
two shots directly at Gribbin. He dis
charged his pistol in withdrawing it
from the case, the ball penetrating his
left hand. No testimony was adduced
to prove that Solomon Brown fired u
single shot, although one witness tes-
tilted that Isadore Brown commenced
firing simultaneously with Gribbin.
Young Browns remains were carried
to his homo by friends who quickly
reached the scene of the awful tragedy.
The witnesses agreed in the state
mcnt that in the positions occupied by
Gribbin and young Brown it was i'm
possible for the former to have shot
the latter in the back. 1t is claimed
th at both Simon and Isadore Brown
were unarmed.
1t was proved that II. p. Dyches, the
coroner, who was arrested on the
charge of murder whilo holding the
inquest over the remains of Gribbin,
entered the store, secured pistol and
returned to the street during the fight.
Several witnesses SwOre point blank
that Dyches did not fire. but another
testified that a shot was fired from
Dyches' store, after which Solomon
Brown fell. This is supposed to be the
shot which entered at the back, pene-
trating Browns heart
The jury returned verdict that
Solomon Browns death was caused
by pistol shot wounds indicted by John
Gribbin and other parties or party un-
known to the jury. Warrants have
been issued for the arrest of Messrs.
Simon, Isadore and Hermon Brown,
but will probably not be served until
after the funeral of Solomon Brown,
which will occur in Augusta tomorrow
upon arrival of the South Carolina and
Georgia train. The remains of this
lamented young man will be accompa-
MED to their final resting place by the
members of his large family and many
citizens, and q detachment from the
Gordon Volunteers of which he was a
member.
The autopsies reveal that Brown was
shot six times,and Gribbin four. The
witnesses testified to the firing of but
seven or eight shots, two by Hermon
Brown, five by Gribbin and the shot
fired from Dyches' store. One bullet
impinged against the brick wall and
another crushed through the glass of
display window in Dyches' store.
From this it appears that not less than
twelve shots were fred. It is known
that great many people witnessed the
shooting who were not brought for
ward as witnesses at the inquests.
These parties will be called upon to
testify at the trials which will ensue
and the discrepancy will doubtless be
cleared up.
am advised that Gribbin was con-
tinued as marshal of Blackville until
October, 1893, and that his removal
was brought about by his arbitrary
| treatment of citizens and overbearing
and overzealous manner in the dis.
charge of his just and imaginary duties
and that his political affiliations had
nothing to do with the opposition.
Gribbins' remains were inferred in
the city cemetery this morning, the
services being conducted by the
Knights of Pythias, of which he was 8
member.