The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-12-16
THE KILLING OF KELLY.
What Constable Brown Has to
Say of Toe Hom,clde.

Say of Toe Homicide.
Dispensary Constable, George J. Brown,
who was in charge of the posse that KILLED G-
Ben Kelly at Chesterfield, on Saturday last,
is ia the city to-day. He came from Cheraw
Monday. as he was not needed there, Kelly
b;iop still alive al that time. he lett lnstruc-
lions that ne be notified Immediately II nelly
died of his wouuds, 80 that be might return
for the legal Investigation OF the sttAlr. Con
stable Browns family have lived 10 this city
for year or more, be having been stationeo
here TO watch the blind tigers for long time,
and his presence here at This time is easily
accounted for.
Constable Brown was ordered to Chester
field on December lst, but did not reach
there until the 5th He found the entire
community in state of excitement and To-
dieoa,ion over the contioued defiance of the
laws of the place by the men who made the
town thoroughfare TO and from Highto"er's 8
distillery, which is six miles distant from
the tou c and just across The North Carolina
lioe. The whiskey trafickers were not resi-
dents Of Chesterfield and sold very little
LIQUOR in the place, but they usually came
back from the stil drunk and dlsocderly,
and frequently drove through the town
fcing pistols or rifles in an ludiscrlminate
manner 90 some occasions there would be
four or Eve iu a crowd and they would pro-
ceed 10 make threats and defy the law officers
to interfere with them These men came from
different counties and were generally despe-
rate characters 1t wss this condition OF
affairs that influenced the people of the town
of Chesterfield to request hat an officer be sent
there for the purpose of putting STOP to the
whiskey traffic, and at the sane time free the
place of the annoyance Of being made
thoroughfare by lawess characters.
Constable Brown says he was welcomed by
the town officials, who offered to render him
every assistance possible Tney even went to
the extent of employing Mr. Brantly ss.a
special police TO assist him. On Friday the
constables captured three negroes, two bug
gies, two horses and twenty-seven galons
of contrabaud whiskev. The negroes had
two pistols EACH but made no attempt 10 use
them, as the constables covered ithem brs'
and then ordered them to surrender. These
negroes we're from the vicinity of Lamar,
Darlington County, and were returning from
High,owers distillery with supply of liquor
On FRIDAY morning the coustables learned
that G. Ben Kelley, of Bishopville, had pass
ed through tie town oc his way to the dlsul-
lery aud would probably return during the
afternoon. He was known to be desperate
man and would not surrender without
fight, and it was therefore deemed best 10
have posse of four men present when the at
tempt to arrest hi.i him was made. Mr. Press
Douglass, Ictendent Of Chesterfield, Dr..
Chapmaa, practiciug physician and one of
the wardeus Of the town, and Mr.. Press
Sweeny, formerly depaty sheriff of the coun-
ty, volunteered to 60 with Constable Brown
They stationed themselves By the roadside
10 the edge of the town and waited for
Kelley.
About 430 p m. he was sighted. The
four men were in plain view when be arrived
at poiut opposite where they were station
ed. Constable Brown stepped out into the
road aud commanded Kelley to halt, telling
him that be was State constable snd would
seize the contrabaad liquor ia the buggy.
While Brown 1as speaking be heard one of
his companions call TO Kelley:
stDon't draw! Don't draw ~ And then
one of them fred Kelley was in the act of
shooting Brown, and had almost succeeded IN
leveiog bis pistol on him, when shot himself.
Kelley was shot 10 the forehead apd face With
a shot gun, which was loaded with squirrel
shot. OnIy four shot took effect, but as two
of these penetrated the brain, one entering
just above either eye, it was seen al once that
the wounds would prove fatal Kelly fell
back in his buggy as soon as shot, dropping
his pistol in the foot of the buggy. He was
given prompt attention, but the wounds were
too: serious for any relief to be given hiu.
Kelley had two Eve gallon kegs and three
gallon jug full Of whiskey in his buggy
which the constable seized.
Constable Brown says further that be re-
maiued 10 Chesterfield until he was informed
by physicians that Kelley would probably
lnger for several hours or longer, and be
then went to Cheraw to make report
to headquarters, 1T being impossible
to do so from Chesterfield, there being neither
teegraphic nor telephone communication
with the outside world. He will return TO
Chesterfield within few days. as be received
a telegram from Cheraw yesterday morning
stating that Kelley died Monday night.
There is good deal of curiosity to know
who Kelley is and where be comes. from,
especially, as the first reports made mistake
as to his first name.
0cQ heIey WAS q ESSloCut VI luis COuu'
t., his home being few miles above Bishop
vile, between that place aud the Kelley ytowu
section. Kelley himself had record tha,
was not to his credit, nor one that a good
citizen would seek to rival. About two years
ago be killed negro, for which be was tried
at this place about year ago, &. B.
Stuckey, Esq appearing for him. He was
acquitted after hard fight, but it was an
ugly case against him. A short time ago BIZ
was convicted in Darlington county of vio'
lation of the dispensary law aud was SEN
fenced to the chain gang. The case was ap.
pealed to the Suprene Court and he was re-
leased on bail until the appeal could be de-
c;ded.
He was generally considered desperate
and dangerous man, quick with his piso
and not at all averse to using it at any time.