The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1898-04-05
WAR In THE COUNTY.
A DRAWN BATTTE IN NO. IL ON SAT-
URDAY NIGHT.
Constable Werts Coca With Warrant for
Monroe Leltzsey-A Posse Called In.
Lei,xsey Resists snd Shots
arc Exohanged-No-
body Seriously
Wounded.

HhlnP'S section or this county. a
, number of shots were exchanged and
: some on both sides were wounded and
both parties retreated without serious
damage. 1t might have been very &c.
rious affair, but fortunately no lives
wore lost, and so far no serious damage
has been done. The matter will likely
be aired In the court. Therefore, we
hOpe to make plain statement of tho
facts as we have been able to gather
them without prejudice to either side,
and with no intention to misrepresent
! anyone.
The facts leading up to the trouble on
Saturday night are told substantially
the same by both sides. AS to the af-
fair on Saturday night tho negro would
not talk, and we give the statement of
one Of the white men who was present
as related to us yesterday morning, and
also tho statement Of Constable Werts.
Several negroes have been arrested,
and we suppose arrests Of the white
men will follow, as we understand Eli
jah Leitzsey, one Of the negroes in the
case, went to Columbia on the early
train yesterday morning to report the
matter to the Governor.
AS to what took place prior TO Sat-
urday night, 1t is substantially rs fol-
lows, as told by both sides:
Hon. Jno. Il. Banks cattle had pot.
ten on tho lands worked by tho said
Monroe Leitzsey, and he had gone to
Mrs. Banks and the members Of Capt.
Banks family in his (Banks) absence
and spoken insultingly and impudcnt-
ly to them, and had also made insult
ing remarks about Capt. Banks.
On Wednesday Capt. Banks was at
Mr.. w. D. Halfacre's, when Monroe
Leitzsey came along the road. He was
asked about his talk, and not denying
1t, Capt. Banks struck him several
times. Monroe left and went on down
the road and concealed himself in the
woods near the edge Of the public
road. After awhile Capt. Banks and
Mr.. Halfacre drove down the road in q
| buggy, and us they came along whero
Monroe was in hiding he rushed out
from his ambush and struck Capt.
Banks with hig snssnfras stick, knock
ing him out and breaking the buggy
shafts. Monroe then drew his knife,
but Mr.. Halfacre interfered and fur
ther difficulty was avoided, and Monroe
went on down the road to his brother
in-law's and Mr.. Banks drove on
homo.
Capt. Banks then had warrant is,
| sued for the arrest of Monroe Leitzsey.
The warrant Is dated April lot, and
was taken ont before Magistrate Ellie
sor.
Constable Joe w. Werts was appoint
ed to execute the warrant and wont
| over on Saturday to do SO.
When Constable Werts arrived in
the neigh borhood with the warrant, as
we are told by one who was with the
posse Saturday night, he was informed
that the negroes were armed and would
not permit the arrest of Monroe Lcitz-
| sey. Constable Werts thought it would
| not be safe to undertake the arrest
alone, and he pressed in posse from
| the neighborhood to go with him.
So on Saturday night, armed with
his warrant for the arrest OF Monroe
LeitZsey, and accompanied by about
twelve or fifteen white men, he pro.
ceeded to the residence of Monroe to ar
rest him. After placing guards around
| the house the constable vent to the
door OF Monroc's house and raped
upon it and told him to come out and
| consider himself under arrest, that he
had warrant for him. Monroe, SO
| our informant says, answered the rap
Cn the door by cry for help and shot
through the crack in the door at the
| constable and those outside. When he
did that some OF the posse began to re,
| turn the fire and the battle started. At
the signal elijah Leitzsey, the father
OF Monroe, ran out of his house and be.
gan to make threats, and at the same
| time twenty-five or thirty negroes came
running from the adjoining houses hol.
lering, cursing and shooting as they
came. The guards that had been sta,
| toned then came running back to the
| house where Officer Werts was, and
the fire of the negroes was returned
| by the whites. The negroes then left
and things began to quiet down, when
Monroe Lcitzsey ran out of his house
und opened fire again, which was re.
| turned.
| About four Of tho white men were
| slightly wounded and about ns many
negroes
| The negroes captured mule which
had been ridden there by one of the
parties and brought it to Newberry
and turned It over to Sheriff Buford
Elijah Leitzsey took the saddle and
bride with him to Columbia yesterday
morn'ng. The gentleman who rode
tho mule there does not deny being in
the party, but as there have been nc
! arrpSta ~ thp white pnaeo onb Con,,,