The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-04-17
The Killing Of J*J*Grifffin
Evidence at the Inquest==Verdict Of the Jury==
B. B. Evans in Jail, Charged With
Murder
Interesting Account Of Sad Occurrence Griffin We
Knov,n-Evans Related to Many Prominent People,
rhe State. Sunday, April :.


Can't. John James Griffin, lies dead in this
city with a bullet hole through his left
breast, Just above the heart and in the Rich
land county jail, Maj. Barnard Bee Evans. is
confined, awaiting the result OF the coroner's
investigation into the cause OF Capt. Griftin's
death. Capt. Griffin met his death In Maj.
Evans room. the corner room on the second
floor of the building at the corner OF Main
and Lady streets. There he died in the pre-.
sence of officers Of the law, and the circum-
stances are most peculiar; pa,.s me fatal u bullet
came from 44callore pstol, saia 10
the room, with one chamber empty. There
is no evidence that any other persons were
about the room. Capt Griffin died with his
clothes on, in Maj. Evans bed.
The first news Of the tragedy caused a pro-
found sensation throughout the city. All
knew the two men SoSeG enew 81 that a. they were
ment, Crowds gathered In front OF the build
Ing, and many tried to get past the police
officers stationed at the entrance. All kinds
of stories were afioat as TO the sad tragedy
which had ended the life of a popular man
and sent another man-the son Of a Confed-
crate general and the brother Of an ex-
governor-to jail, to be held pending inves-
The tragedy occurred about o'clock, it is
supposed. or possibly little later. AT about
Is minutes of 4 o'clock the victim was stiff in
death, and the crowd was in search of in
He and Maj. Evans were seen together
during the afternoon, and seemed to be per-
fectiy friendly. Yesterday, Capt Griffin was
about his business as usual. AT o'clock he
was seen entering the building in which Maj.
Evans roomed. and those who saw n nip say
he was not apparently drinking. That was
the last seen OF him until he Was found un.
conscious and dying in the room. About S:i5
O'Clock Maj. Evans came down into Muller's
grocery below and used the phone, saying
that a man had been hurt in the building,
and calling up several doctors. Finally he
got DR.. Gibbes over the wire and asked him
to come. Omitting Tor the present DIR.
Gibbes' trying experiences, this summary OF
what he found Is given: There was pool OF
blood on the floor some feet from the foot OF
the outside with blood; in the bed, with the
head resting naturally on the pillow, about
ten feet from the blood pool, was the dying
form OF Capt Grhn. bcrs Doctors S SS,. say me hs
shirt front was saturated with blood. On the
corner OF the table most distant from the bed
was thel pistol 4a:SaoTe & Win e,n,e one
hat, derby. with the crown ipdented as II
struck by stick. Some eight or ten feet
from the bed, near the corner angle OF the
blood. On the table sat pitcher containing
corn whiskey cocktail and glass nearby
contained q stin drink. On Capt Grltnns .
face and forehead there were number OF
bruises, and later examination showed
powder burns on his breast and on the back
OF his right hand. In the farthest corner oi
the room was keg OF corn whlskey cockta
II seems that no one heard the shot. The
first intimation OF anything wrong was when
Mai Evans came down into Muller's store to
use the phone in calling physician to
attend some one who was hurt, giving no
names and not stating the trouble.
Dr. Gibbes was finally reached at his ONCE.
He answered the phone himself, and when
he asked what the character Of the case war
he was told to wait till he came; 1t was M
matter then. When DR.. Gibbes got TO the
building he could find no one about. He
went down to Muller's, where he was told
that Msj. Evans had been telephoning for D
doctor. Knowing where MIR. Evans room
was, he went there and Knocked; He went
and Capt. Griffin therein, the conditions be
ing as described above. He was told by Mr.
Evans to "do what you can for him, doctor"
MIR. Evans seemed to be under the influence
OF liquor. Mr. Griffin was breathing heavily.
Doctor Gibbes felt his pulse and realized that
he was dying. He. however, gave him a
hypodermic injection; In doing so he broke
his needle. When Maj. Evans asked what
the doctor thought DIR. Gibbes told him that
Mr.. Griffin was dying. Mr.. Evans said that
ut was d-n lie," that DIR. Gibbes was like
all other doctors. and as the doctor expressed
it, seemed TO become a madman. DIR. Gtbbes
passed over the abuse with the remark that
ne would attend to that later, but now he had
to attend to the wounded man. DR.. Gibbes.
believing the situation dangerous, then
attempted to get clear the room for few
moments by throwing ms broken aaa n, syringe M & IN
and saying he would have TO get another.
Mr.. EvSns told him he could not leave the
room. DR.. Gibbes then felt the pulse OF the
sufferer again and reiterated his statement
that Capt. Griffin was dying. Mr.. Evans
then in q frenzied manner said that the man
had hS h hse sbe doe
tor not to touch him again. DIR. Gibbes
finally went near the fireplace to get the
broken syringe, hoping TO get closest to the
pistol on the table, then covered with piece
of chamois skin.
Finally he coolly faced Maj. Evans told
him he was going out, and went. He went
direct to police headquarters. and came back
with Officers James Dunning and Willing
ham. On the way, Judge Ernest Gary d
cousin of MIR. Evans, who rooms next, was
met and informed OF the tragedy. The Off
GERS, headed by Judge Gary, and accompani-
ed by DR.. Gibbes. went TO the door. Judge
Gary knocked. Mr. Evans opened the door.
TO anyone. Finally Officer Dunning wake
up to Mr.. Evans and told him he had to
to come In, and was going to do SO. He had
out his club. Mr. Evans then said "all right
and the officers entered.
Mr.. Evans, when DR.. Glbbes started in. or
dered both the doctor and Judge Gary from
the room. Finally DIR. Gibbes was permitted
to enter by the police After lively time
Mr.. Evans consented for DR.. Philpot to be
summoned. Officer Scott who had come In,
simply said that DR.. Gibbes was right; Capt
Griffin would soon be dead Then the police,
after a lively discussion with Mr.. Evans
managed to get him out; They took him
took him to Jail. They said be was frenzi-
ed. apparently from drink, but they treated
MIN klnQly.
Death finally came to Capt. Griffin at about
3:45. thirty minutes after DIR. Gibbes first
reached b is side.
At no time while anyone was In the room
with him, so far as Is known, did he utter a
word, but remained unconscious to the end.
After taking the prisoner TO the JAIL the
two officers returned to the room where
shortly afterwards Lieut.. Swearingen ar.
rived. A careful examination of things in
the room and everything was left as IT was
Officer Wtlllngham stated that Mr.. Evans
had said to him entering the Jail that Capt.
Griffin had shot himself; had gone 10 tue
bureau drawer, got out the pistol and had
done SO. Mr.. Evans has made no otner
statement to anyone. He declined to see any
who called at the Jail to zee him.
Telegrams were sent by friends at once to
Maj. Evans brotbers-Ex.Gov. Evans at
Spartanburg and MIR. Geo. Evans at Edge
field.
Coroner Green was summoned. He or
ganized Jury and the body and surround
ings were Viewed. Then the body was turn
ed over to Undertaken Mccormick, and
carried to his establishment whence, shortly
after o'clock IL was removed to Capt.
Grftin's home on 1918 College street.
The State, Monday, April,S
Nothing has happened In Columbia in years
that has created such profound sensation as
the killing of Capt. j. j. Griffin. Nowhere In
the city yesterday could there be found as