The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1895-01-22
THE EDG GHFIEIiD TRAGEDY.
Statement ofOnc oftho Pr;ncipaIa as
---~ - 10 Tho AKrsty.


Mr.. b. b. Evans, QUO ahthe young
men engaged in the shooting scrapc
at Edgetieid, WAS intervie wed by re-
portcr OF the Augusta Chronicle and
gave the following version Of the diff
cutly:
When questioned as to his side of
the affair. Mr.. Evans said that he dis
liked extremely to go in tho public
press, but that since so many accounts
had gone out he would give the true
status of the case.
He said About year ago (Mr.
Tillman gave to one OF my agents two
notes for an insurance policy. One
payable on March 18th, 1894; the
other on November is, 1894. These
notes, of course, had to be accepted by
by my company, (tho Union Mutual
Life), could be issued.
81 discounted these two notes for
my agent and paid for the policy my
self. At the maturity of the notes
neither was paid.
- then placed them in tho hands of
my attorney, Mr.. S. MCGOWAN Sim
kins, for collection. Mr.. Tillman and
/ not being on the best of terms, dis
liked to come in contact with him.
When my attorney served the pa
pers on him he made partial pay
ment on the notes, leaving q small
balance, when ! instructed my attor-
ney to clear up by the first of the year.
On my return from New York last Sat-
urday he reported to me that he had
not yet collected this difference.
"On Monday afternoon he met me
on the street and informed me that
Mr.. Tilltnan stated that he would not
pay him this amount, but wanted to
settle with me in person, and for me to
come to his (Simkins's) office.
- told him that Mr.. Tillman and f
were not on the best Of terms and did
not care to go to his office, as
thought the meeting might end in %
me and said he thought Mir. Tillma;1
would insult me. L said that rat" er
than he insulted, and to avoid d ,ffi-
Guilty in gentleman's Office, refused
to 90; o, a,o,,. ,,,
vent to Mr.. Simkins's Office with other
notes to place. in his hands for collec-
tion. While there NJ. -Simkins stated
| that it would be best to have Mr.. lii
man como in, and that he thought he
could avoid any unpleasantness.
Rather than to be obstinate in the
matter, or to appear to De afraid to
nS6J MT. IlllInan consented. AftOf
waiting some little time MIR. Tillman
came in. Mr.. Simkins stated to him
the amount and said he was ready to
settle this little difference.
"Mr. Tillman made some remark as
to the time given him by my agent. ]
replied that my agent had no authori-
ty to extend any time of any note after
1t had reached my office, and that this
extension had been given solely on my
account. A few words passed in q
business way when he referred to our
personal differences.
1T seems that he was bent on per-
sonal difficulty and told him that the
streets of Edgefleld were wide enough,
] and that my Office was in town where
he could find me at any time he saw At.
| AS had promised Mr.. Simkins not TO
have any difficulty in his Office,
thought that we could find another
place in which TO settle our persoiial.
/ tiles.
He recalled an unpleasant meeting
| that we had and said that had used
remarks behind his back. / replied
that had saidnothing about him that
| would not repeat to his face, told
him that this was strictly q business