The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1899-03-08
ANOTHER TRAGEDY.
A Dispensary Constable Shot and
Killed in Columbia.
HAD SERVED BUT ONE DAY.
The Fatal Shot Was Fired by
w. B. Meetz Jr., Who
Surrenders to the
Sheriff,
Sheriff.


Sheriff.
Another tragedy was enacted III the
streets Of Columbia on Tuesday night
Of last week. Alex Cartiedge had had
his commission as State constable but
u hours when he was shot by W. B..
Meetze. Jr. The youth of the parties
concerned makes the affair a very sad
one. Cartledge cannot be more than "a
years old and Meetze is even younger.
Both have been raised in Columbia and
are quite we'll known here. The affair
occurred on Gervais street. near, Gates,
in that quarter where there are nun
Der of Tumble. down wooden stores in
which restaurants are conducted. 1t
was just in front Of the store of Tom
Lane, colored, about four doors from
the southeast corner of Gates and
Gervais streets, that young Carsledge
fell.
The State says from all that can
be gathered, Cartledge was going down
Gervis street toward the union depot
In front Of the Negro restaurant kept
by Tom Lane he met Willie Meetzc,
Charlie Stone aud another whose name
cannot be learned.
NIeetze twitted Cartledge with being
dispensary spy. Cartledge replied
that he was not spy. The lie was
passed and they clinched. When they
first grappled, so it is stated by one of
the witnesses, they were on the side
nearest the store. Several shots were
then fired in rapid succession. Cart
ledge fell back and told Meetz that he
had shot him. In the scufie they had
crossed the sidewalk. Stone pulled
Meetze away and started with him
through the Negro's store. They went
out into the back yard. Meetze then
disappeared and Stone walked on back
through the store.
Officers Dowie and Strickland were
on adjoining beats. They fastened to
the scene of the shooting. They found
Cartledge sitting down on the steps Of
the store just above Lanes toward Gates
street. The officers called for carrl-
age, and Ghenit came eudeavored to
assist Cartlege into it. But the boy
was so weak that he fell on the bridge
which crosses the drain. Seeing that
he was desperately hurt and that life
might be extinct in a few moments,
officer Strickland had Cartledge to die
tate an antemort n statement to Mr.
Joe DAILY, who came up at this time.
Cartledge was very weak and his voice
scarcely audible, but he managed to
gasp, Bill Meetze, Charlie Stone and
Joe -- came up and cursed me and
then fred on me. Bill Meetze did all
the shooting. His voice was so weak
that the name of the third party could
not be learned.
1t was fully ten minutes before Drs.
Knowlton and Gibbes could be gotten
to the scene of the shooting, and it was
several minutes later before the patrol
wagon arrived. The wounded man was
placed in the wagon and was taken to
the Columbia hospital. He called fee
bly, for his father, who came up before
they left, and asked his sol who shot
him. 1t is said that his father endea,
vorcd to comfort young Cartledge by
saying that he would be avenged.
This, however, was stated by bat one
witness.
When young Cartledge was placed in
the patrol wagon, pair Of knocks fell
out Of his pocket. and in another pocket
wasa flask of whiskey, according to the
statement ofOficer Dowie Not sin,
gle witness has been found who saw a
pistol on Cartledge person, and several
say that he had none during the whole
affair.
Chief Daily and Sergt. Jones. accom-
panied by Officers Dowie and Strick
land, instituted search for Mectze
but he could not be found. At l0.2t
o'clock young Meetzes father walkec
into the police station to inform the
chief to discontinue the search as hi:
son had surrendered to Sheriff Cath
cart. He says that young Meetze wen
home after the shooting to allay tn,
fears of his mother. He tn 4 startec
to the county Jail to deliver himself
and met his father, who accompanies
him. Mr.. Meetze cautioned his sos
not to open his mouth on the subjec
to anyone. He says that there ar:
four eve witnesses who are not knowt
to the police authorities and who car
give valuable testimony in behalf o
young Meetze.
VIM. Parker and Tom Lane, boil
colored, are the only witnesses frou
whom anything could be obtained las
night. Another Negro. Sim Lorick, i:
said to have been an eye witness, bu
he could not be found. Lane was no
an eye witness. He was in his store
when the shooting occurred. Parke
saw part of the affair, and his story is
substantially that told above. Their
is considerable difference Of opinion a
to the number Of shots fired. Som
say three, others four, and officer Dowi
counted FIVE shots, four in rapid sue
cession, and one few seconds later.
Meetze, Stone aid Cartledge were al
members of company X, First Souti
Carolina regiment. Both are said to b.
impetuous and dangerous. Meetze ha
the reputation of being true to hi
friends but easily excited and danger
Gus to those whom he dislikes. Their
is not known to have been any hare
feeling between them at the time:
Meetze is a son Of Mr.. ". B. Meetz
who conducted an original packeg
store in Columbia before the suprem
court decided against these agencies
Cartledge is son Of ex-Dispenser J
C. CartIedge, and was himself clerk Il
SCOTS dispensary at the time when
was involved in trouble
In the darkness OF the street the ply
s;cians were unable to make but 4 cur