The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1898-03-08
A HORRIBLE TRAGEDY IN SPARTANBURG.
HAD INsULrED MY WIFE"
DIR. Bivipgs Shot and Killed Mr., II.

oHaTlduUuTR mas "lJUNS SGu Onc VI
the mcsj horrible tragedies OF recent
times, which was enacted on Tuesday
afternoon, March LIST, at 2.45 o'clock.
MIR. Thomas j. TRIMMER, the well
known and popular book store man,
and one OF the leading and most in
huential men of S~partanburg, was shot
and instantly killed by DR.. Sidney j.
Bivings, a young dentist, universally
popular with every one who knows
bin, and one OF the kindest and most
tbliging of gentlemen.
ana to add to the horror of the
affair, the two gentlemen were the
closest and most Intimate frtcr ds,
and for several years past were cyu-
stantly seen together. In fact. Their
friendship WIS almost that OF Damon
and Pytl las, n d subject OF general
comment.
For abouta year, owing to iii health,
DR.. swings had retired from I'll,
practice of his prof. ssion ana spent
most Of his leisure time at ME-. Trim
mier's book store. The Doctor in
herited quite "a handsome property
from his father, and was n very large
landowner. The morning OF the kill
ing DR.. Bivings, about & o'c oCk ib the
mcrnlng, came in MIR. Trimm RS book
store, TO read the morning papers, ~
he had beer in the habit of doing for
SS''S Si'hC pooN ~ Soiii
planned Of feeling badly, and said he
had not slept well the night before.
His health, for some time, had been
poor, and his friends noted his chang
I'd appearance.
Tuesday afternoon, while Mr.. Trim
mier WAS at his deck preparing a letter
head to have printed Tor Mr.. w. l..
Graz OF Glenua,e, DR.. Bivings waikeu
into JrimmlCr'e private Office. NJ
(rrny WA SFunIinU Ar thn IpSk with
Mr.. TrimntCr, dictitating copy for
letter head. Mr.. Cam Trimmier, son
OF Mr.. T.. j. Irlmmler, was IN front Of
store walt'uS on IL customer. Mr..
George AvAut had Just stepped into
the lDb vlliGc, which WAS an al joining
room.
The tragedy occurred so quickly
that even LuUsc who witnessed it diu
not hayN time TO remOnstrYte befor.
the latai = Ote were fired. Or. Blvings
had y listul III eacn hand concealed
under his coat. Waking to where
Mr.. TRIMMER was at work, without a
~Or0 az warulug, he opened fire or
limit gentleman, tirIng three shots, tw,
itkk!oS cnect, III ais shoulder add
y...r 70! Gucse balls would have prOyct
fatal.
Alter firing these shots Dr.. B.ving.
remarked ~ will teach you buttcl
Than TO talk insult!ngly Of my wife"
Ar. IrImm'cr in Il surprised tone
exclaimed, WHAT is the matter viii
you r Making u step forward ne thel
sunk TO the fl OR and expired withou
uttering another word. Dr.. Bivipg
turned out OF the private ,ficc int,
the store room and started out, meet
ing Mr.. Cam Trimmier who upon hear
ing the shots rushed towards tn,
private office. DR.. Bivings fred on,
shot at Cam which too effect in hi
left hand ranging towards the wis
making IL serious wound.
DIR. BivingS walked out Of the stOr
with the remark that his wife ha
been insulted, and he intended to pr,
tect her He met Policeman McAba,
near the national bank and su%rrenderc
to that officer, giving up his pistols. Ii
was taken to jail.
a jury Of Inquest was held in tn
Office Of Magistrate KIRBY, and th
principal facts were brought out re.
alive 10 the killing. Dr.. Wilso
testified as to his examination Of til
deau body, and he found three wounds
all near the region Of the LETT shoulder
two going in and one coming out
either of which was sufficient 10 XII
him. The material wItnesses CAV
their testimony rs follows:
w. |. Gray, sworn, says: 81 live 9
Nlcuud.e, o~pdTldnUuFS county. i wa
at Il. j Trimmicr's book store who
the d.tiaulty took place, March Is
1898. | entered MIR. Trimmler's siOr
at about 20 minutes OF 3 u'cio k IN th
afternoon for the purpose Of payiGg
bill for printing matter which | owe
SMr. TRIMMER. Having settled til
acc )uGt then proposed for the al
raugement OF some additional work
printing. He replied, Please ste
back here with me and we will fix
up He then led the way to the sma
office in the e end of the store. ii
selected d blank letter head and bega
to write to my dictation. | stood fax
Ing MIN and partly with biCh 10 til
entrance OF the enclosure. | saw
young man enter the enclosure, pas
by me and then enter tue printin
room, a moment later | saw anothe
gentleman enter and pass by. | SUP
posed he was going TO the printin,
room also and paid no attention to hin
The next Instant | caught Il GLIMPSE d
tue m, &c OF Il pistot in ci0se range q
my lief. coeek. Then csfne Il fash an
report. NLlnking- shot was fire,
at myself / SWING back, add as | did 5,
tue can stcplIo forward TO the plac
i had occupied and FREQ two NOR,
shots in quick succession. Mr.. Trim
mier stcppen Backward, dropped hi
bAnGS to u,S SIZE aGu DGnt signify Tor
ward. Tho man tuen said, Il will teacl
you better than to speak insuitingiy 0
my wife He then turned and left tn,
Office enclosure and pas. ed to the from
OF the stole. l then heard him say
Keep as ay ron me, Scrap, | don
want to hui, you Then | heard an
other shJJ fred. AS the man turned
to leave M flee enclosure Mr.. II. j
Trimmicr walked forward after him
As be pa. CD me | heard him say,
what 70 the matter with you p As
he reached the entrance OF the en-.
closure he fol forward upon his knees
and elbows In that position he re-
maineo unLtl with the assistance Of
another gentleman, raised him up and
placed him ia "a chair. | supported
him w th9right arm while my as.
sistaEt turnfl TO the telephone. MIR.
TRIMMER rised bis head, which had
been hendig forward, and thinking
he was abou to speak, | bent down TO
his face, buue only drew u long breath
and his hea, fell backward. then
assisted IN !aNng him on the floor ana
and left the etciosure."
Q We're th,re three shots made be-
fore tbergwerN any words spoken.
a.. Th4e wire.
ldo ~ think Mr.. Trimmer noticed
the entrase of thls man, because he
did not rae his head until after the