Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-09-19

ted, and the presumption Is that there
was no damage there.
SCANDAL AND BLOODSHED.
Mr.. H. A. Brown, an Englishman
well-known throughout this section as
journeyman painter, and as an artist
of no mean ability, was shot to death
in the home of his father-in-law, Mr.
P. A. Neel, in Rock Hill, last Saturday
morning, and Messrs. John S. and Pau
R. Bratton, of Yorkville, are in thu
county Jail, charged with his murder
The tragedy was the sequel Of shock.
ing domestic scandal that developed ir
| the home Of Mr.. John S. Bratton last
Thursday night.
The story is as unsavory as it Is trag.
ic. During Thursday night, Mr.. JohI
S. Bratton heard voices in the room oc.
cupied by his wife, and upon attempt.
ing to enter the room, found the door
locked. Admission being delayed, he
ran around to side window and found
Mr.. H. A. Brown trying to escape. He
seized Brown and a struggle ensued
but as Brown was much the stronger
man. Bratton called for help. Severa
of the neighbors came to the rescue
and seized hold of Brown. Mr.. Brattor
then picked up a stone and struck
Brown a terrible blow over the eye
Brown was dazed, but not quite insen.
sible. Requesting the other men tC
Bratton went into the house. The 9TH
er men, however, not caring to take
any further responsibility, allowed
Brown to leave. He took himself of
with considerable difficulty and made
his way back to Rock HILL
| This may be taken as a reasonably
comprehensive condensation Of the
many rumors that were afloat through
out Yorkville during Friday. There
was no attempt on the part of friends
of the Bratton family to deny any
thing. Those directly connected with
the family had but little to say. Pub
lie interest, Of course. ran high, as II
always does under such circumstances;
but there was little excitement. People
generally realized that the situation
was serious, and when, on Saturday
morning, there came a phone message
from Rock Hill saying that Mr.. H. A.
| Brown had just been killed in that
town. few expressed surprise. There
was only a deep curiosity to know the
details-just how it happened. And this
curiosity, too. was remarkably undem-
onstrative. The people were content to
| await developments, take in what they
heard, and withhold unnecessary COM
ment.
The first development of Saturday
morning WAS the arrest Of Mr.. P. r.
Bratton. Sheriff Logan received his
instructions from Rock HILL both by
| telephone and telegraph. They were
in effect, ARREST Paul r. Bratton and
Will Caldwell" It was explained that
Will Caldwell, a young Negro man, had
driven Mr.. Bratton to Rock Hill. 1t
| was about $50 o'clock when the mes
sage came. Sheriff Logan went imme-
| diately to the residence at which Mr..
Bratton was boarding. He met Mr..
Bratton coming out Of the house. Moth
| ing was said. Fully cognizant Of the
situation, Mr.. Bratton had come out to
surrender. He went quietly with the
sheriff to the Jail. The Negro hack
driver was arrested shortly afterward.
The inquest over Browns body was
held in Rock Hill. It was commenced
on Saturday and concluded on Sunday.
| Magistrate T. G. Beckham acted as
coroner and the following citizens of
Rock Hill served as jurors: G. w. Frew,
foreman; ]. M. McFadden, S. M. Cash,
]. B. Fudge. w. S. Nicholson. T. P.
Roddey, W. w. Alexander, J. F.. Isom,
j. N. Clountz. r. A. Morrison, G. B.
Sandifer and ]. c.. Sandifer.
The first witness examined was Mr..
Preston A. Neel, father-in-law Of the
deceased, and In whose home Brown
was killed. Mr. Neel testified that he
was walked up by the barking Of a dog
and knock at the door. He opened
the door slightly, and a man standing
| there asked for Brown. He did not
give his name, but said he wanted
Brown to paint a sign at Victoria
mills. which must be done tomorrow.
Mr.. Neel, in the course of the conversa-
| ton, went to Browns room twice to
consult him. AS he went the third time
the stranger followed without his
knowledge, thrust his arm around wit
ness and fired at Brown. AS Brown
tried to rise he fired a second time.
Brown fell out of bed and the stranger
left the room. Mr.. Neel followed and
found Negro standing on the left Of
the walk. The stranger put his arm
around the Negro saying: Don't you
tell" Mr.. Neel further described the
dress of both the white man and the
Negro. He knew neither Of them. Mrs.
Brown, her infant, and a 4-year-old
daughter were in the room with Brown.
Mr.. Neel asked Brown If he knew who
ollol Uul 6OI iloh Ci tiiehI iiC
could understand.
Mr.. Emery Holler testified that he
was returning from party and saw on
the street a carriage drawn by two
grey horses. In it were two white men
and a Negro driver. They inquired the
way to Browns house. He gave the
information and they left so hastily ne
had not time to get any information.
The exact time was 10 minutes past 1.
He noticed the driver closely and
thought he could recognize the man
who did the talking. Half an hour af-
forwards heard a carriage driven very
rapidly on the Yorkvile road going by
his house; looked out and saw that 1T
was the same one he had seen. He des-
cribed the appearance of the men.
]. H. B. Jenkins, a. policeman on
duty at night, testified as follows:
About l o'clock was in front OF the
Carolina Hotel. Mr.. Paul Bratton, OF
Yorkville came down the stairway and
out of the hotel. He knows Bratton
we'll and recognized him distinctly.
Bratton was much under the influence
of liquor. He spoke pleasantly to wilt
ness and went I'D street, A few min