The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1900-12-12
PREACHER AND LAWYER
Enact Shocking Tragedy in Weas
Virginia Town.

Hon. s. Davis Stokes shot and in
stansly killed Rev John W. Wohl in .
street duel at Williamson, ". Va, Mr..
Stokes being also dangerously injured.
Thronghous the whole town and even
in the country districts the excitement
is intense.
MIR. Stokes, one Of the most prominent
young lawyers in Mlugo county, left
his c&ce this afternoon Immediately
after dinner and pleasantly greeting
friends on the way, walked up with
quick and firm step in the direction OF
the house occupied by Rev. Mr.. Wohl
and his housckseper, Mrs. Levine, MIR.
Wohls family beirg in Kentucky.
Mr.. Stokes stopped at the gate to tax
With Mrs. Levine, Tho stood in her
doorway. Within few minutes the
ni4ister came out Of the house. He
seemed to be greatly excited about
something, and said 10 Mrs. Levine as
he passed her at the door: you would
be much better at present In the house
She laushinsly replied that the day
was far TOO pretty to be spent entirely
within doors, and Nj. Stokes interrupt
ed by remarking: ''Yes, doa't think
Of leaving US for the house"
Quick az fash Nj. Wohl turned,
and addressing Stokes, said; Leave
the premises. F"
An alteration followed. Both men
ran quickly to the sidewalk directly in
front of the house. Something was
said, almossindislioguishab that drew
from Rev Wohl sharp retors.
You ara liar, and in az instant
the report Of a revolver was heard,
Stokes stumbled, tried to regain
his footing, hes fell in the street.
Wounded as he was, he drew his re.
volver and coveIed the minister, now
within ten feet of his fallen foe Again
Wohl fred. and simultaneously with
tnat shot the gun in the sinking hand
Of Stokes spoke. When the smoke clear
ed away the two men lay n thsir own
blood upon the sidewalk. A crowd
ran to the scene. Rev Wohl was dead.
Chance had carried the bullet from
Stokes pistol through the head If the
minister, killing him as he fell. The
bullet had entered Stokes side below
the heart and passed entirely through
his body.
In the hall Of the minister's home,
facing the fearful duel to the death,
fallen across the doorway, was found
Mrs. Levine. It vas first th' usht she
was dead, and had probably been shot,
but 81 inves;iga showed that she
had only tainted from fright.
Up to late hour this evening Mr..
Stokes has refused to say anything con-
cerning the terrible tragedy, and Mrs.
Levine is in too much of state Of ez.
cltemen ut to tax.
Rev. Wohl was recognized as one cf
the N ost forceful and eloquent Presby-
terian ministers Of this State. Mr..
Stokes isan ez- Virginia university pres
ident and comes from one Of the best
families Of the old dominion.
CAUSE OF TIE TROUBLE.
It be comes more evident that the
shooting Of Rev. John Il. Wohl BY the
Hon. s. D. Stokes was the result Of
the seathing sermon preached By Rev.
Who'll last Sunday. Mr.. Stokes is TO-
night improving and it is now expected
that he will recover.
Mrs. Lewis late this evening made
an afilavit in which she, the only eye
witness of the fight throughout, swears
that the first shot was fred by Rsv.
Who'll after prolonged discussion Of
the sermon and the cartoons and carl
catures that mad been used to empha
size it's more striking passages. The
Rev. Who'll in his sermon depicted in
vivid language tbs terrible results
of the dance and drink, and condemned
without exception every woman, mar
ried or single, who INDUCED in either.