Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1894-09-05
SOLOMON BROWN
AND A TILLMAN CONSTABLE
NAMED GRIBBEN
NOW COLD IN DEATH.
Blackville the Scene of a Double
Tragedy-Mr. Browns We'd
ding Invitations are Out.
Account of the Affair.

Augusta Evening News.
State Constable John Gribben
and Solomon Brown were both kill.
cd yesterday afternoon in an alter
cation upon the streets of the
usually quiet town Of Blackville,
s, G. Those in the difficulty on
the Brown side were Solomon
Brown, his father, Mr.. Simon
Brown, and two of his brothers,
Herman and Isadore. and Consta-
ble Gribben and Coroner Fl. P.
Dyches on the other side.
The immediate cause of the
trouble was that Constable Gribben
went into the South Carolina and
Georgia depot and opened box
of clothing consigned to Solomon
Brown, expecting to find contra
band liquor. Brown soon found it
out, and be and Gribten had some
words about it, but they parted,
After an hour or two they met
again upon Main street. This time
Mr.. Simon Brown and his two
younger sons, Herman and Isadore,
were with him. They and Gribben
Immediately got into an alterca-
tion, Gribben striking Isadore
Brown first and Herman shot Crib
ben several shots. Then Gribben
drew his pistol and shot Solomon
Brown several times, two shots
through the chest and one through
the head, and it is claimed that
Dyches shot Solomon from the
rear. Dyches was d disinterested
person and had nothing to do with
the affair, as the Browns had he'd
nothing to say to him, and if he
shot Solomon Brown it was to help
Gribben. Dyches is a political
leader and dispensary man.
Brown died at once and Gribben
died in q few minutes after the
shooting. He walked through 8
store and fell in the yard in the
rear. None of the others were hurt
in the least except Isadore Brown
who Gribben first struck in the
face, but it is not at all serious.
These are about the facts, as fal
as reports indicate. There seems
to have been some old contention
between the Browns and Gribben
At the time when Tillman was first
nominated as Governor, Gribben
then town marshal, was especially
active in his cause; thereby incur
ring the enmity of the Conserva.
tive citizens of the town, who, in
the ensuing municipal election
supported and elected a council
the members of which pledged
themselves in advance not to ap'
point Gribben town marshal.
The influential Brown family
were earnest supporters of the Con.
servative faction, and did much to
bring about the defeat of the men
who favored Gribbeh's continuance
as town marshal.
After his defeat and a short time
prior to the passage of the dispen.
sary act, Gribben posted a letter
rejecting upon Jews, which further
widened the breach. After his ap.
pointment as member of the con-
stabulary upon three occasions be
opened packages consigned to va
rious members of the Brown fam.
lily, which naturally engendered
bitter feelings.
Solomon Brown was the third
son of Simon Brown, and had re-
Gently embarked in the furnishing
goods business on his own account.
He was engaged to be married to
Miss Dora Muhlberg, in Savannah,
Ca, in November and q beautiful
home to which be expected to con-
duct his young bride is now under
construction. He was an especially
shrewd business man, popular and
courteous, and his untimely end is
deeply deplored by all who knew
him.
John Gribben, the dispensary
constable, was a native of Ireland,
about forty years of age, and came
to Blackville as town marshal in
1887, and was regarded as a COM
netent officer. but rather lacking