The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-06-12
A WOMAN'S DEATH.
Tired of Life Mrs Chreighton of McCor
mick Kills Herself.

Tired of Life Mrs. Chreighton of Mccor-
mick Kills Herself
Mccormick Times.
One of the most heart rending tragedies
ever known in any community look place I'D
Mccormick at O'Clock THU sday night when
Mrs. Matte Creighton, wife of Mr.. 7. ID.
Creighton. omiDitted suicide by blowing out
her brains with shotgun. The tragedy was
so awful and so unexpected, that II created
the utmost CONSERVATION, and all Thursday
night and yesterday Knots of people were
gathered about the streets discussing the aw-
iul occurrence. Mrs. Creighton was well
known 10 every one IN the place, having oeen
born and reared here. aud was loved and Idol
lied by every one. "rs. Creighton had re-
turned from Il walk over to her fathers. The
negro cook and neignOor, Mrs. Bosworth,
were on the piazza when she returned. She
passed them and went into the house saying
she was tired and would lie down. Mrs. Bos-
worth went on home. and the COOK soon AFTER
ward started on an errand 10 nelghoor 5,
short distance away and had reached the op.
posite side OF the street when the report OF
the gun was heard. Some neighbOrS resp0nu'
ed, and on going into the house found Mrs.
Chreighton lying on the floor, with the gun
across her breast. 1t 1s supposed tnat Sne
cooked the gun and pulled the trigger With
her foot. us he, shoes had been removed. The
contents of the gun entered the forehead just
above the eye and the side oil her head was NJ.
erally blown of. Her death Is made SILL
more sad by the lact that she was soon 10 BE-
come a mother for the the second sine. MT.
Creighton was al the store when the shootlng
occurred. A messenger was sent aller him.
He was completely prostrated when he reach-
ed the house, and a few minutes after being
carried TO his room secured MS razor ana at
tempted to cut his throat, but friends saw
him In time 10 prevent him. He was watch
ed constantly throughout the night TO pre-.
vent him taking his own life.
For sometime past MIR. Creighton has had
in his employ mllllner, MISS lriha anger
son, who came here from Atlanta. Mrs.
Creighton. 1t Is said, was very jealous toward
her. and even went so lar as TO say that her
husbands affections were waning and that
Miss Anderson was the cause OF IL. AS 10
whether or not she had any grounds for this
belief Is not for us to say, but II is known
that she and her husband had ,quarrelled
about the matter several times, and especially
on the day Of the killing
Trial Justice Sanders, acting as coroner.
EN- panneled jury at ii O'Clock Thursday
nigh and viewed the body, and then adjourn
ed until the next morning when the examl-
nation Of witnesses was commenced.
Hannah niece, the cook, sworn: l have
been cooking for Mr. Creighton Tor about
three weeks. On Thursday while we were
quilting she commenced crying. asked her
what she was crying about and she answered
that did not know the trouble she had, that
her husband had mlstreated her for Miss An
derson and that she had as soon 10 die as TO
live. She said she went down 10 the store
and Mr.. Creighton tried TO put her out and
told il she did not 60 out he would have Mr..
Price TO put her out and said If she came back
IL would not be good for her. She said she
took some laudnum several DAYS ago because
ing dishes when Mrs. Creighton went OF and
was on the front porch when she came back
by herself. She did not notice Mrs. Bosworth
or myself but went on into the house ana let
the window down and pulled OIL her shoes.
asked her what was the matter and she re.
piled she was only tired. So | left her and
started home but turned around and went
back and called to her not 10 lake any thing
70 Kill herself. She laughed and said she
would not and went on back In the house.
then started off but In Il few minutes heard
the gun shoot and called TO Hendrlx and toid
not 60 back TO the house until the crowd had
gathered.
per and heard an alarm that Mrs. C.elghton
mad killed herself. | went over there but
there were no lights IN the house. Some one
came with a lamp and took It and we went
in. Found Mrs. Creighton lying on the floor
gun was lying on her with the muZzle poin L
ing to her face and the breech between her
knees. l found the front door latched and
opened IT. Am certain no one went into the
house before did. Mrs. Creighton Was not
dead when we got there but did not speak;
did not zee any one In Ithe house except her
and the baby, which was In another room;
Miss Irma Anderson, testified that she had
three months. have known OF some few
ouarrels he and his wife had. 1 was not In
the house when she killed herself. lett the
house for good last night heard Mrs.
noon and that Mrs. Bosworth had been there.
She coupled my name with his and be told
her not TO do IL again and she repeated II. He
told me could 60 back TO Mr.; Harm0n,s 10
did. I did not hear him make any threats.
Have known OF several quarrels they had be-
lore this. II was only few minutes after ne
left that she also went out.
Mrs. Ann Bosworth testified as follows: l
was al Mr.. Creighton's yesterday evening
when she came home. She looked about as
pale and had been crying. 1 then went on
home and In about tiveS minutes heard the
gun. Went back over there and saw her iy-
Tug on the floor as described by Hendrix.
Mrs. Creighton had told me before tnlS lnaI
she had trouble
Robert Greeson testified that as soon as he
heard Of the shooting be went UP. to the house:
Soon afterwards was on the SIDE walk ana
He could hardly walk and was reeling like
drunken man. He fell on the steps next u
my brothers. house. went to him and took
hold OF him and assisted him TO his gate.
Don't know anything about his troubles.
Mrs. James Whitten said: |, with my hus-
band, was in Chreighton's store last night
tew minutes before the shooting. MIR. Crelsh.
ion seem verv much excited at the store but
QlQ DOL BAY WudG "ds LuC holtCi' A1S WI 10
10 send up after 100 pounds OF sugar we had
bought, as he was going to auction of his
goods on Saturday and move away. Lett Inc
Store aud heard OF the killing about three
minutes later and went on up there. Don't
know which arrived there first ourselves or
MIR. Creighton.
W. G.. Ludwick, father Of the deceased,
made q statement to jury as follows:
Tom and Matte came over TO my house last
night after supper. Tom said, "Come into the
store, Uncle Billy. want 10 see you.'
asked him what he wanted, as saw he was
excited He said: 81 want you TO board
Matte, as ] never expect 10 live with her any
more" About this time Matte came up and
he told her to 60 away. that he did not expect
to live with her again. She begged him Tor
Gods sake not To leave her said she would
never speak harsh to him any more II he
would only let her go back. They had got
around the house by this lime and her moth
er and begged him TO 90 back. They went
10 the end Of the dining room piazza and she
got down on her knees and cried and begged
him for Gods sake TO let her come back, that
she knew he loved theii little boy. He told
her TO 90 away from him, that he did not eX-
pect 10 live with her again, and told her not
10 follow him, That he would cut his throat.
He then went around toward the stable with
his knife in his hand, she following him.
Her mother and Annie then went out and
him, If they did he would cut his throat.
left and came around TO the front OF the store.
Directly Matte came by going toward home,
asked her If she did want some Que TO go
nome with her. She said no, that Inck (their
child) was there and she would have the ne
gro cook us company and would not be afraid
She went on home by herself and in about