Lancaster enterprise. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1891-1905, 1900-09-19
TRAGEDY IN ROCK HILL.
Artist IL. A. Brown Shot to
Death in His Bed. Paul IL.
BrattOn Charged With
the Crime.
The State

BILE tragedy, behind which il is
supposed there lies a scandal,
was enacted here this morning at
about 1870 o'clock. Mr.. ii. a.
Brown Harry Brown) the we'll
known painter, was shot twice
while In his bed at his home.
The deed was done by a we'll
dressed man who called up MIR.
Browns brother in law, MIR. Neel,
and asked to see Brown about
some painting. When the door
Was opened and Mr.. Neel started
back to wake Brown the man
followed him in and as soon as
he caught sight of his victim,
rushed up and at close range
fired two balls into him. The
first shot struck in the side and
ranging down lodged in the bow
els. The second shot was diverted
by Mr. Neel, who caught the as.
sassin's arm and disarranged his
aim. This shot shattered Browns
arm. The man then rushed out,
jumped into the waiting carriage
and was driven rapidly away.
There was another white man in
the carriage. Brown died at 6
o'clock this morning.
Brown was an Englishman
whose family is good. His broth
ers are artists of ability and have
for 20 or more years been con
nected with the "Graphic,"
"Black and White" and other
high class journals. Twelve years
ago he married Miss Jennie Neel
a daughter of Mr.. Preston A.
Neel and a grand daughter of
Gen. VIM. Neel of Mecklenburg
county, N. @, She with four chill.
dren survives him.
The inquest was begun today.
At The adjournment no direct
evidence as to identity of Browns
slayer had come out. The circum.
stantial evidence was such that
Acting Coroner Beckham 'phoned
the sheriff at Yorkville and or.
dered the arrest of Mr.. Paul II.
Bratton and colored driver
named Will Caldwell. 1t came
out that Thursday night Brown
had been in Yorkville and while
there had difficulty with Paul
Bratton's brother, John S. Brat
ton. This morning at l O'Clock
Paul Bratton came across the
country in closed surry, driven
by Caldwell, and upon reaching
here made inquiry for Browns
residence. Caldwell also said Mr..
Bratton came to see Painter
Brown and that he chad to see
him tonight" The carriage con.
tanning MIR. Bratton and another
man, whose identity has not been
ascertained, drove rapidly in the
direction of Browns residence
about the time of the shooting
and in half hour or less return
ed and drove rapidly away from
town towards YorkvIlle. The
witness who had talked with Mr..
Bratton and knew him, also saw
the carriage return and recog
nized it as the same and the
driver to be Caldwell.
The coroner adjourned the in
quest until tomorrow at 10
O'Clock to have the jury hear the
evidence of the colored driver,
Caldwell. In Browns ante NOR.
tenn statement he said the shoot
ing was done by one of three
men, viz: Amry Crockett, Gale
or Bratton himself. (Evidently
referring to Jno. S. Bratton with
whorI it is understood he had a
difficulty Thursday ynight). Later
after those in The room had
spoken of Paul Bratton being in
town, Brown was asked three
times if Paul Bratton shot him.
Each time he made a sound con-
sidered by the witnesses as being
an affirmative answer. Mr.. NeeI
the brother i'll law of Brown, did
not know the man who did the
ahnptinO and hoe NOT eoon Dr,t