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

in Columbia In Search for
Evidence Of Illicit Liquor Deal.
ing-The Effort IL Resisted-In'
suIting Words are Used Blows
are Succeeded ny Pistol Shots
The Pistol Shots Cause Death.
The State, Sunday, Feby. Is.
Last night in Columbia, the capital city ol
the State, man and his wife were shot dow q
in their home by dispensary constables. The
sad affair occurred Just across the street from
the governors mansion.
The people OF Coum bla were much excited
last n ght to learn that Mr.. John Stuart had
been shot in his own home by dispensary
constabes. MIR. Stuart has for number OF
years been Employed as q salesman In
Mimnaugh's cl1thing store. and he has
number Of friends in the city and In LeXlng-
ton, his native county. The report that he
had been shot naturally created strong reel
Ing against those who had made the
made hundred fold more bitter because of
the fact that his wife, too, had been shot In
the door of their home. The cause OF the
accused of running a blind tiger. This Is
quite revelation 10 those who have known
him well. His employer, Mr.. j. L. MIN.
naugh, Mr.. McSorley, head statesmen IN IN Inc
dry goods store, and Mr.. Bennett, head sales
man In the clothing store, all speak 10 high,
est terms of Mr.. Stuart. They were shocked
to hear OF even suspicion against MIN, ano,
as were all the employees In the store
grieved to hear OF the SAD and unfortunate al
MIR. Stuart's wounds are not necessarily
dangerous. The ball, q A calibre, entered his
per left jaw, passing through his tongue and
out of the back OF his neck.
Mrs. Stuart Is hurt more seriously. INDEED
a oabTe Below and
the right of the left nipple, going through tne
body and lodging to the left Of the spinal col
umn, where 1t was extracted by DR.. L. b.
no he frpf nhv n n.
ed. It was apparent from the very first that
her condition was very dangerous. Az II
o'clock she was removed to the hospltal,
where she was attended by Drs. Taylor,
as almost hopeless, as an exceedingly dihcuit
and dangerous operation was performed.
| MRS. Stuart is dead
The home which has been 80 suddenly visit.
ed by this sadness is situated on Laurel
street, lust beyond Shields foundry, and
across the street from the governors man
sion. The family consisted OF the father and
mother. now prostratet from the unexpected
bullets, aud three little children, the Oldest OIL
them girl OF twelve.
Constable Crawford, originally from Lau.
the f,,rce, as he expresses II, ever since Ben.
Tillman was governor. When asked II ne
had been charged with such crime Deiore,
he stated that he had never been directly
implicated, but he had been with raiding
uads which had killed people.
| He was equipped with search warrant, OBJ
tained from Mag strate Clarkson, authorizing
him TO rummage Mr.. Stuarts house In search
OF liquor kept In violation OF the dispen sary
law. In executing this warrant, ne shot
both Mr.. and Mrs. Stuart, and he himself re.
ceived bullet In the left arm.
From all appearances and from those IN
position to know, the constable was drinking,
and this may have added insolence 10 DIS
official off1ciousness.
The narrowing crime occurred yesterday
afternoon at 7 o'clock Mr.. Stuart was un-
able to make statement, as he was shot In
the mouth. Mrs. Stuart was from the FIRST
recognized TO be In very dangerous condl'
see or talk to her. She was so weak that she
could tell no coherent story OF the horrible
affair.
The only eye witnesses were Israel. de-
horses. and Mr.. Stuart's oldest child, girl OF
II years. Putting 1t all together, 1t appears
that Copstables Coleman, Dorm and Crawford
went to the house a6o9t 6So 0cotR 9 10 no nare
Mrs. Stuart refused to let them search tne
house, and sent for her husband. Wnen Nj
Stuart arrived he was very much engaged,
and positively resused TO let the premises be
searched. Crawford Is then said 10 have
slapped Mr.. Stuart's face, and the alteration
ensued. So far as can be learned none OF the
other constables used their firearms.
The constables were accompanied by j.. D.
Cooley, formerly an employe at Mlmnaugh's g
store, and recently guard at the penitentl'
ary. He says that he Is expecting commits
| sion as Ql6penSary cOnstdole.
IsRAEL's STORY.
The defcrmed negro, Israel, stated then
when he brought Mr.. StuaI t home In the hack
Yesterday afternoon they found these con-
stables waiting in the back yard. After put
Mr. ME- Stuart Sp asked What the oonstables wanted,
HE then walkel up the steps 10 the liLtie
porch which runs beside the kitchen. The
constable said: John. we hear you are run.
your your house" MIR. Stuart replied: "Well,
you know am doing no such thing, and you
can't search my house." The constable ex-
claimed that Mr.. Stuart could not ouiidoze
him and the house must and would be
searched. Mr.. Stuart replied that the con-
stables would have to kill him first. The ne
gro says that while the discussion was be-
Coming more heated the constable walked mp
and attempted TO slap MIR. Stuarts face. This
was followed by his drawing revolver.
Bbout this time Mrs. Stuart ran out OF the
shoot shoe him" According to the negro's state.
ment. the constable without further provoca-
tion fired, the ball striking Mrs. Stewart In
the breast and she fell upon me Inc hW zen
constable, and struck Mr.. Stuart In the
' The n negro was still on the ground and Mr..
Stuart was in the kitchen. Israel, therefore.
could not see Mr.. Stuart plainly. and he
could not assert whether or not the latter
fired q shot, but the constable fired several
more before he lett followed by his compa-
He says that the constable who did the
shooting was drunk.
THE CHILDs STORY.
The Oldest child, girl of IL years. was, with
the other children, witness OF the whole
horrible affair. Her story Is that the three
copstables came to the house about 6.30
o'clock yesterday afternoon. They asked for
Israel, the negro who stays on the premises.
and not being able to find him, they told
Mrs. Stuart that they had come TO search the
house. She then refused to let them do SO
and sent for the husband.
The child stated that when Mr.. Stuart came
| he refused to let the constaoles search the
house. There were heated words and the
tall man with the black moustache" fired at
her father, the ball striking her mother, VINO
| had run in between them. The next shot,
She saws, struck her father in the mouth. He
then according to her statement. hred three
times at the now fleeing constables.
When asked II the constables were drunk,
the child said that they were; that when they
first came TO the house the men who did the
shooting attempted 10 ki har 'ne ya1a ooe anu
When the constabes, left the place they
went to their house, the home OF Mrs, Adams.
lust across the street from the agricultural
hall. Here Constable CoIeman's arm was
dressed by DR.. Watson. The wound Is a
slight one, the ball having passed through
the fleshy part of the left arm about two
inches above the wrist: ~
| officer Hedgepath OF the police force inform
ed Deputy II. H. Cathcart of the shooting.
Mr.. Cathcart In turn informed his father,
W. j. Catheart Not haSing rnar warrant, IIns 1ne
Officer Hedgepata and Mr.. II. II. Cathcart,
went to Coleman's room and arrested the
constables, Coleman, Crawford. dorm ana j,
b. Cooley. The arrest was made In the name
of the police authorities and the c'nstables
raised no objection, with the exception OF