The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-03-01

to take them to the county jail Wnen tne oe
he did not deem 1t best to make the attempt
While the constables were held In waiting
| statements were obtained from each OF tnem
Chief w. R. Crawford, who. according 10 M M
lowing statement:
Constable Crawford. who was the principal
actor in the tragedy, gives the following YER
sion OF the affair:
CRAwFoRDs STATEMENT.
"Morehead was discharged or resigned here
about two weeks ago and was sent up here
last Saturday TO take his place, know moth
ing about him or why he quilt the service
Well. for about week have had whlskey
bought from off the premises there. That
was my grounds for searching the premises
had had whiskey bought there all the week.
and men that was here before has had
twhiskey bought from there. We went there
this evening properly armed with warrant
(Tbere ia the warrant over there) Mr.. Stuart
was not there. Mrs. Stuart met me and
not search the premises without Mr.. Stuart
was there. She said she would get him there
In Is minutes. I told her to go ahead that
would wait, and I did walt until he came.
'"When he came I was In the yard He
went up on the veranda and was talking
to some of the other men, Coleman, think,
when Coleman called me and said Stuart
~ went up on the veranda where Mr..
Stuart was and told him that had warrant
to search bis premises, and he said you'll nev.
er search my premises. warrant or no war.
rant"
"Then I explained to him that we were
State officers who had come there properly
armed with warrant"
"He said be didn't give damn, warrant or
shouldn't search his house for whiskey."
| I said to him, "You are rather unreasona-
BILE. You are excited, cool down and let me
reason with you a little about this matter"
And then 1 explained 10 him that we were
officers and his action placed US in an
awkward position. We didn't come there TO
fight nor to fuss with htm, but to search
He said he didn't give damn what we were
nor for what we anne, we'd never search bis
prem ises without killing him."
"Wsl, ths9" 5oo, 'aid' you must be an
.He said you are G-d-fool, G-d-you,
| get out of my house."
LAS he said that slapped him In the face.''
hold o. ,ps and
said, let's get away from here, there's going To
I said. "Rather than have killing scrape I
Coleman stepped down the steps and /
started after him. lust as got opposite the
door somebody fired on me and shot me
In the arm. I staggered back against the
banisters. My arm felt numb. AS stagger-
ed back they fired again and the fire few In
my face. 1t blinded me and thought was
shot in the ear. AS the second shot / fred
right into the door from where the fire
was coming from. couldn't see who was In
there"
"Then 1 went on out, down the steps and
went about 10 steps from the bottom steps and
somebody fired at me twice again. wheeled
then and fired three times. then went out OF
the yard and left By that time my arm was
bloody and almost dead, I said boys I am
shot in the arm and I don't know where
In onawar IN tho nuestion ~ ha strnck
struck Stuart with his pistol Immediately
after slappipg him, Crawford said that he did
not hit him with the pistol at all.
CONSTABLE DoRN's STATEMENT.
"Capt. Crawford. J. M. Cooley, J. B. Cole.
man and went up this evening to search the
house of Jno. Stuart. When we got there
do with the search. because he had just
received his commission as constable. He
said he would wait out on the sidewalk.
Went to second gate, which was fastened, and
started In. Mrs Stuart suppose 1t was,
large, fleshy lady. appeared on the portico.
She asked: What do you gentlemen want?"
Mr.. Crawford told her: we are State consta-
bles, nam. We have a search warrant.
She lady said to him: II that is your business
you needn't come any further We were
then standing at the second gate Mr.. Craw.
ford reasoned with her and told her that
| OOOh
selling whiskey there as officers of the law he
wanted to search the premises.
"She remarked to. him: 'You can't do it,
"He (Crawford) asked; Where is Mr..
StuarL?'
"She told him he was at Mimnaugh's store.
ale said: ,"Wll you send for him. mann p
and she said that she wouldn't He (Craw:
ford) told her he had rather she would send
for him; that he was going to search the
house and had rather he'd (stuart) be there.
"She remarked again that she wouldn't
! send for him ; that a search Of her house had
never been made In her life. I disremember
the words, but she said we were low down
things or we wouldn't want TO search a
it rather fired Crawford a little, Mr.. Crawford
said If you won't send for him and you say
we can't search the house, will show you
that will do It,"
open, which was temporarily latched, and
walked to the piazza. Mrs. Stuart was in IT,.
He (Craw ford) went up on the piazza and
SOY MAN. I am a gentleman and am an
officer ofthe law and have a search warrant
TO search this house; have authority by law,
and am going to do it.
'she still protested and said: You shant
'He said IN have 1t to do
"She then demanded his authority.
"He pulled out the warrant. 1t was some
time before he found 1t; he had put it In bis
pants pocket but had forgotten where he had
mt It, He ran his hand In his inside coat
pocket and pulled out handful OF papers,
but didn't find It In them. He (Crawford)
said: 'Iknow have warrant
"Coleman said: Captain, you put the war.
| rant In your pants pocket.
"He felt in his pants pocket and got the
warrant and handed 1t to Mrs. stuart. MIS-.
minute. and handed 1t, I think, back to him.
right to A search the house He then said
to her to send for Mr.. Stuart
"she said Wei, I'll send for him.
.Crawford said to her you accused me OF
being low down; you accused me OF being
w s6s ssss said doc NO sir; dldnt tell you that
'HI He said: You as good as said was a dog
"she said on! no, sir' She then added ::
"He said "Well, send for him |; / am going
TO search this house.
Crawford and l walked down the steps
We were on the steps W hen the conversation
took place. He was at head OF steps; was
about middle ofthem. He walked on down
and said: Dorm and me will search the back
yard until Stuart comes. he ana walked
into the back yard and looked INTO the chlGK-
en- bouse anG stable. but saw nothing. He
walked around the stable and when he start
ed to the back side plank was IN the way:
He jerked 1t out Of the way and Mrs. Stuart
remarked to him' Don't JERK doWn. tne
"He made no answer but went around the
place. I went TO the front of the stable
where they kept buggy, or carriage. The
II was rather dark. so walked back to the
plaza and asked Mr.. Coleman for match.
He gave me a match. Coleman was on the
piazza. ! had q candle and alter l got the
match Mrs Stuart cautioned me 10 be careful
about fires l lit the candle. Mr.. Crawford
got by the door. 1 went in and look ed, but
| found nothing except few empty beer bot
ties. Crawford and 1 started back to the
r"About that time carriage drove up.
Stuart came In hastily and said: