Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-03-01
DISPENSARY TRAGEDY.
Constables Have q Bloody Time at the
House Of John Stuart.

Constables Have bIoody Ilme at the
House OF John Stuart.
The blind tiger business and the
dispensary constables have brought
about another bloody tragedy. This
time the scene was a private home in
Columbia, within hundred yards oi
the governors mansion. The victims
are Mr.. John Stuart, Mrs. Isabella
Stuart, his wife, and State Constable
w. R. Crawford. The tragedy occur.
red last Saturday evening at about
$50 o'clock.
1t seems that at the hour mention
ed, or a short time before, w. R. Craw'
ford, the new chief constable, accom-.
panied by Constables J. B. Coleman
and a penitentiary guard named J. B.
Cooley, presented themselves at the
house of Mr.. John Stuart, and not
finding Mr.. Stuart at home, Informed
Mrs. Stuart that they had come to
search the premises. Mrs. Stuart pro-
tested against this proposed search
but after Crawford, who acted as
spokesman, showed his authority, it
was agreed that no steps be taken un'
til the arrival of Mr.. Stuart, who was
sent for Immediately.
While awaiting the arrival of Mr..
Stuart, the constables made search
of the yard and barn. 1t is stated also
that Crawford had some talk with
Mrs. Stuart as the result of a remark
that had been made by her to the effect
that dispensary constables were not
gentlemen. Crawford defended the
gentle qualities of himself and COM
panions in language that was very ex'
pressive, if not elegant, and Mrs.
Stuart deemed it advisable, under the
circumstances, to withdraw what she
had said. In fact she denied that she
had said that dispensary constables
were no better than dogs, or that she
had used any other words to that eff.
feet. Witnesses stated that Crawford
showed evidence all along of being un-
der the influence of liquor, and the
circumstances all 60 to show that so
far as he was concerned, the converse
ton referred to was entirely unneces-
sary.
Within Is minutes, or such mat
ter, Mr.. John Stuart arrived on the
scene. Constable Crawford explained
the object of his visit and announced
his intention to search the house. MIR.
Stuart said that the house should not
be searched except over his dead body.
Crawford told Stuart that he was talk
ing like a fool, and Stuart said to
Crawford, "You are a
fool" Upon this Crawford slapped
Stuart in the face, and Stuart began
trying to draw a pistol. Shooting
commenced almost Immediately. Who
fred first is a question of conflicting
statement. Stuart's daughter and a
Negro servant say that Crawford fired
first. The other constables do not
agree in their stories. Anyhow, the
first shot fired by Crawford struck Mrs
Stuart, who was standing in her door,
just below and to the right of the left
nipple, and passing through her body,
lodged to the left of her spinal column:
She fell to the floor, to all intents and
purposes, dead. Mr.. Stuart was shot
in the mouth. The ball, which was of
A calibre, knocked out several teeth
and came out ut the back of the neck.
Constable Crawford received bullet
wound in the arm but it was not es-
pecially dangerous. All the shooting
was done by Crawford and Stuart.
The affair created terrible excite
ment, and soon all Columbia was
aroused. The constables left the prem
ises without completing the search OF
Mr.. Stuart's house. They were arrest
ell shortly afterward aud were event.
ually taken to the Office of Magistrate