The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-01-23
Strange lmpromptp Duel.
Evans Brother And Till
mans Nephew.


1t does seem strange to hear of
members of the Tillman and Evans
families popping away at each other
with revolvers at short range in an
impromtu duel, especially when one
considers how intimate Ex-Governor
Tillman and Governor Evans have
been in their political life 1t was
therefore matter of ofkeenest surprise
to many yesterday when the news
reached Columbia that Capt. James
H Tillman, the nephew ofex- Govern
i or Tillman, and son of exCongress-
man Geo. D. Tillman, and Mr.. Bar
nard B. Evans, the youngest brother
of Governor Evans, had had such a
duel in the law Office of Attorney S.
MCGOWAN Simpkins, in Edgefeld,
and that both the combatants had
been wounded. The shooting had
taken place on Monday afternoon
about $50 o'clock, yet no news of it
was sent out from Edge6eld by wire
None could be obtained yesterday in
that way.
The first news of the affair was i'm
pated to Governer Evans by a rela-
tive, who came from Edgefeld on
Monday night, aud the Governor
went over on the early train yester
day morning.
During the day several gentlemen
went came in from Edgefie'd-friends
Of Doth parties and from them sew
eral stories of the affair were obtained.
The stories on opposite sides conflict
in most material particulars Last
night Tile State received story by
wire from Edgeield, the information
in which is incorporated below. The
State endeav ors to present below the
substance Of all these stories, with
out prejudice to either side 1t is a
difficult undertaking, but then if
there be shortcomings, none but
those in the room when the shooting
took place can give true version,
and doubtless the version of each
man present would vary greatly
For long time there has been bad
blood between the two young men
1t originated during the holiday sea-
son l893-94, over year ago, at a
German given in Edge6eld by the
club of which Mr.. Evans was the
president and Capt. Tillman a mem
Der. This trouble was purely Of
personal nature. And it was
the direct cause of the shooting, the
feeling having grown more intense
on account Of utterances on the part
each, since the affair occurred
The young men were brought to-
gether thus: Prior to the affair
mentioned above Capt TiIlnan had
! entered into financial obligation to
Mr.. Evans He had very nearly
discharged the obligation it seems,
when he failed to meet certain date
Mr.. Evans then placed the matter in
Attorney Simpkins' hands, instruct
ing him to bring suit. Capt Tillman
signi6ed his desire to discharge the
obligation and end the matter, pro-
vided Mr. Evans were present Mr.
Simpkins on Monday afternoon went
to Dir. Evans and informed him that
Capt Tillman was at his Office and
said he was ready to end the matter,
but insisted on Mr.. Evans being
present. SO far all the stories agree,
except that one says that Capt Till
man twas asked" to meet Evans in
Mr Simpkins' office.
Several stories agree that when
Mr. Simpkins went to Evans and told
him of Capt Tillman's statement,
Evans said that there was bad blood
between them. and it would be best
that they shonld not meet. They
say, too, that Mr.. Simpkins said that
it was only a business matter and
that alone was concerned. Anyway
Mr. Evans went to the office. While
Mr.. Simpkins and Capt Tillman were
talking, it seems, Capt Tillman. SO
one story goes. remarked that the
thing would have been settled sooner,
but Evans had insulted him a year
ago and had acted the d-n scoundrel
all the way through. This story then
goes that Mr.. Evans, who was behind
Tillman, fired, the ball entering the
cheek and coming out at the chin.
Other stories say that Tillman
brought in the reference of the old
difference, when Mr.. Simpkins said