The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1899-10-25
One Brother Stays Another.

4 sad tragedy occurred in the Hotel Cal
houn in Charleston last "Wednesday. The
victim was n. I. Pttman Of Gourdins and
his murderer was Alviu J. Pittman his
Youngest brother n 7. and Alvin j Pitt
man had been associated in business II
Charleston under the firm name Of Plttman
Brothers; they did cotton tactoiage and
naval store business. Not long after TIE
withdrawal of \. L Pittnlan from the firm,
the concern suspended payment and \. l..
Pittman was severe loser, and since, he
has lost considerably by endorsing paper
for Alvin PIttman. This together with
Alvin's dissipation eStrauged the brothers
to such an extent that they refra:ned from
having anything to do with each other.
Alvin Pittman continued his dissipation,
aad went down, down into the depths OF
degradation until his associates We're peo-
pie of the lowest order. y. 7. Pittman We
are told went to Charleston for the purpose
of trying to hit his erring brother from
this mire Of degradation, and in accordance
with an arrangement, ther met IN the Ho-
tel Calhoun. The two brothers went into
the reading room and talked in a manner
as not 10 create the slightest suspicion that
bad blood existed; those n the Office close
by, did not hear anything but the tone OF
voices ID ordinary conversation, and all at
once they were startled by the rapid fire OF
pistol shots coming from the reading room
where the Pittman brothers were the sole
occupants, and Immediately after, Alvin
PIttman came ou: putting q pistol ID his
pocket Mr Stoner the proprietor rushed
up to him and said my God what have
YOU done?" Pittman replied by cool!y ask
ing Stoner to give him a nlckle tor car
fare. Mr. Stoner held on to the man until
be could get an officer who took HIM to the
guard house. n. T. Pittman was shot five
times, three balls taking effect and two
missing. He was sitting in an arm chair
and was struck IN the back, death ensued
almost Immediately. The writer reached
the city few hours after the depIorable
tragedy, and knowing the deceased was
we'll Known in this county, be took special
pains to get information. We were told
that n. 7. Pittman on the train the Dleht
before, confded to a travelling man whom
he was intimately acquainted with, that the
Object OF his visit to the city was to ;reet
an appointment he had made by telegram
with Alvin, and he was going to give him
another show if he could get him 10 prom
lse to mend his ways When the deceased
Pittman was searched by the coroner
large sum of money was on this person.
also an unsigned note made payable to
himself for $1,000, no weapons, little pearl
handle pen knife which be used for cutting
tobacco, of which he was an incessant user,
and this little knife was on the floor, with
the blade freshly stained with tobacco.
Our theory is, that n. T. Pittman in his
talk with his brother exacted certain prom
ises before he would give him the money,
or the amount he was willing to let Alvin
have did not suit A demand was made for
a larger sum, and when refused. it angered
Alvin who resorted to murder. Our rea-
son for theorizing thus is, that \. I. Pitt
man was business man who would not
20 about with large sum Of money on his
person unless he had immediate use for It,
and the fact that he had an unsigned note
PAYABLE to himself convnces US, he was
going to give Alvin l,000 and take his
note therefor.
The tragedy is most deplorable one, a
useful citizen meets an untlmely end at
the hands Of a brother, whom he had sent
to schoo! and spent q fortune on, and who
by riosous living threw away his manhood
and becamca degraded wretch. no use to
society and burden to himself. He IS
now in Jail to await his trial, and although
whea first put in the guard house he set
up plea of self defense, we would be
surprised if, at his trial he does moi plead
insanity.
The remains were brought to Manning
last Friday and inferred by the side Of his
first wife ID the Manning cemetery. The
body was accompanied by large number
of friends from Williamsburg county, aud
quite number from this place met the
funeral party at the train and attended the
burial
The deceased was married twice; his first
wife was Miss Eugeria Rich, and his So
cond was Miss Emma Rich, both Of them
raised q few miles from Manning and at
tended school in this town.