The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1894-09-05
STATEMENT FROM THE BROTHER
COLONEL MIKE BROWN SAYS THAT
GRrRBIN WAS PRDUDICED.

STATEMENT FROM THE BROTHER
COLONEL MIKE BROWN SAYS THAT
GRIgBIN WAS PREJUDICED.
BLACKyILLE, S. c., August 2S.-At
the request of my friends, J. Wilson
Gibbes and others, Notwithstanding the
bereavement of my family, l cannol
refrain hom giving my views for publ;
cation which caused the cold-blooded
nlurderof my brother, Solomon Brown,
here to-day. For some time, Griboen,
being actuated by per.onal spite, has
never let the opportunity pass to perse-
cute nv family. When Chief Constable
Holly was first appointed. l met him
and explained the un6tness Of Griobln
on his constabulary force for the rea'
son of his personal reputation ID Black
vile.
This occurred on the train coming
from Charleston, and I wrote Governor
Tillman this morning before this TRACE
DIV occurred, requesting Gribben's re-
moval. Clothed with authority, Crib
ben lost no opportunity to tyrannlze
the -Tillmanites and especially the
Brown family, which has been shown
in nv letter to the Governor.
This unfortunate affair can only be
attributed to the appointment OF pre-.
iudiced, unprincipled scoundreis who
are only enlisted for political gain to
the dominant party, regardless OF cffect
or law-abiding citizens, who have every
thing to lose by such appointments by
the administration Of constables acting
for the State. Edo not desire to enter
into the circumstances surrounding the
killing, Tor this. will be shown in the
proper tribunal of justice. Particularly
aggravated has been this affair in the
light of the fact that for political rea-
sops the coroner of this county, b. 2.
Dyehes, a Tilimanite, has so acted as
to be now in the Jail, charged with being
the party who fred the fatal shot which
killed my brother.
In spite of this fact he insisted upon
holding the inquest in the cases, IN the
face of a letter to him by the solicitor OF
the circuit suggesting the impropriety
of his doing so under the circumstances.
He was only deferred from finishing
the inquest begun by him by the sheriff
of the county arresting him upon the
charge of murder and conveying him
TO the county Jail, Notwithstanding his
request to allow him to finish the in
quest before his departure, bis conduct
in this connection being evidently for
the purpose of shielding himself from
the consequences of his act.
-, MIKE BROWN.
WORDS OF SYMPATHY.
COLUMBIA, S. c., August S8.-Solo-
mon Brown was engaged to be married
Bext November to Miss Dora Muhlberg,
of Savannah. Cards had been issued
for the event. A telegram from his
brother, Colonel Mike Brown, of Barn
we'll, states that the funeral services
will be held in Augusta on Thursday
next at noon. Scores of telegrams were
sent to young Browns family tonight
from friends in this city.
THE LETTERS IN THE CASE.
COLUMBIA, August 29.-The sad and
unfortunate tragedy at B!ackville was
the talk of the town. In the card OF
Col. Brown he refers to letter sent to
Governor Tillman requesting the re-
moyal of Constable Gribben. These
letters WIll.be interesting in connection
with the terrible affair. The letter to
Governor Tillman reads:
GRIBBEN's CHARACTER SHOWN Up.
. To his Excellepcy, 3. r. Tillman,
Governor, Columbia, S. C.-My Dear
Sir: regret very much the necessity
Of com planning to you about any mat
ter, bar the recent outrageous and ua-
warranted actions of Con stable Gribben
at Blackville, in seizing and opening q
small box consigned to my wife by ex-
press, is of such aggravating character
thatI feel it my privilege and duty as
a law-abiding citizen to bring the mat
ter to your attention and request the
removal of Gribben. I am advised by
Mr.. Richardson, route agept OF the ex'
press company, that a report OF the
seizure has been sent to you.
am not dealing in whiskey, nor
interested 10 any one who would be dis
posed to violate the dispensary law.
and if was certainly would not de-
grade myself so far as to attempt to
s,nuggle whiskey in my wife's name,
and, I write you in regard to the matter
feeling sure that you would not uphold
or allow any constable in the employ
Of the State to aggravate, insult ano
trample upon the rights of the people
a lady-to crafty personal grudge, un'
der pretenee of carrying cut the law,
This man Gribben is low down scoun
drel without intelligence or judgmen'
and totally unfit for so high position
AS proof on this point I refer to the
following circumstances: Some time
ago he got mad with my father about
some matter, and to vent his spite
stated that on cel tain day at Black
vile he would publicly expose the
Jews. My brother met him on thu
streets and characterized him publicly
with oarhs and curses, and be did no
resent it, (which any respectable mar
as you know would certainly do.) Hi
animosity extends to every member o
the family, and it was to aggravate me
and in spirit cf revenge that be seizee
package addressed to my wife, which
had not the slightest sign Of evidence
of ohtaining whiskey.
7 enclose you letter received from
Mr.. Buckingham this morning, (whlct
please return when yol have read.
While Gribben in this instance ba
been acting within the pale o. the law
I am sure that your Excellency woule
have approved and excused him il
granting Mr.. Buckingham's reques
and allowing the camphor and alcoho
to be forwarded to the sick lady, ant
bis refusal to do so, under the circum
stances, knowing that it was ordered
and needed for sick lady, shows tha
he lacks any feeling, judgment or dis
| cretion and is not qualified for the 20
sition. 7 understand that he is a strag
gler left here by Sberman's raiders
| When be came to Blackville be wa
compelled to leave Aiken. An investi
CATION will satisfy you as to his cnarsc
| ter, and l feel that his removal is du
| in justice to myself and the protection
of the community. I am yours yer.
respectfully, NIKE BROWN.
The expressions of Governor Tillmal
upon the tragedy are given in his repl,
! = ~