The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1901-07-18

vile in its earlier days, and circum-
stantial accounts are given in which
there arc evident errors and conflicting
statements, but which alc entirely cN-
cusablc owing to the TACT that these
correspondents arc writing from the
memory of others. The killing Of Dr.
Robinson Earle siXty-thrcc years ago
might have been forgotten or at least
very dimly remembered even in Green
vile were ii not that he belonged to
an illustrlous family, whose descend
ants arc very numerous in the COM
munlty, and that his slayer was Will
liam l.. Yanccy, who became Il famous
leader in the secession movement of
1860, more than twenty years after the
unfortunate encounter which ended
DR.. Earlc's life and which doubtless
cubi,lcrcd Mr.. Yancey's existence
long afterwards, Mr.. Yancey's proml-
ncncc as lawyer and politician in
Alabama never diminished the noto-
ricty Of this sad tragedy, and in fact
only added to the pcrpctuity Of the
story III succeeding years.
A correspondent Of the Birmingham
Agc -UeruM, who made Il visit to
Grccnrillc not long ago, has given the
following account of the tragedy:
"Therc still stands ii Main street,
Grecnvillc, s. g., the ancient red brick
court house Of GrcGnvile County, in
which the immortal William J.. Yancey
was tried, convicted and sentenced for
the manslaughtcr Of Robertson Earle,
then the head of the famous Earle fam
lily of South Carolina. That occurred
about fifty years ago, though | forget
the exact date, ana | haven't got Du-
Bosc's Life Of Yanccy' within reach
at thc momcnt," said Il traveller last
night.
"Whilc | was in Grcenvillc recently,
a member Of the Earle family, Il learn
cd young lawy~r modcslly proud Of his
illustrOus race, related to me what |
accepted as a family version of that fa-
nous tragedy, and he said it had never
been in print. AS the story ran, Yam
cey, ihcn a practicinY lawyer, was at
that time a taciturn but somewhat high
tempered and impctuous man when
aroused, and was easily aroused at all
times. His friend Earlc's son, a young
boy, one day offered Yancey very Of
fcnsivc rudeness in the public street,
and Iaficcy thoughtlcssly struck the
boy mild blow.
"ln moment Yaucey regretted the
act, though feeling that he had just
cause for it, and he sought Earle and
told him the circumstances, saying that
he was greatly provoked. His sense of
propricty, he said, required him TO seek
the father Of the boy and tell him the
story in person.
Earle answered in friendly spirit,
and SAID 1t was all right with him; that
he could easily understand how his
sons conduct as related by Yanccy
might provoke a gentleman. The two
men separated on most amiablc terms.
That occurred in the morning.
AT noon Earle went home to his
midday dinner, according to custom
that prevails still in Grccuvillc, and to
his astonshmcnt he found Mrs. Earle
in a high state of excitement. The
boy had gone home and told the mother
about Yanccy having stuck him, and
she was pass;onately angry. 1t seems
that at first Earle sought to soothc his
wife, but she played upon his feelings
and soon got him wrought up in anger
against Yanccy. Finally his wife de-
mandcd that he should 90 down town
and have it out with Yanccy. He
armed himself and went. Nobody
ever YET doubted the courage of an
Earle.
"Earlc found Yanccy at famous
tavern within few PAGES Of the court
V, ,>use, on the site now occupied by
Grcenvillc Daily News building,
an violent quarrel arose at once.
AMT instantly Ianccy drew a pistol
anu hNt Earle dead.
~ ,s one of the greatest sensa-
t'ohs mess,c history Of a State famous
iot l;",o au,.J o1 NJ tragedies. Yanccy was
slaughter, q ana convicted OF man. an
Acknowledgment TO lelm OF
his his trouble Mfftcr getting out OF
sctt)inc in the Naoved to Alabama,
"omcry, aud aim Sborhood OF Mont
extraordinary cars once began that
itv which more thsl, political activ-
dnol force caused b other indivi-
" n"twccn the States, &as,rous wal
no was not to live TO a&.(t of which
II" C ,Thc old courthouse,
= small two.story sti&ccnvilll
hr;ck and with its wallsA of red
prich, Co.'S ''n if is as substanxect in
thicNsVyh ,y',s When built more than W as
ago." ,. os The Ss"r'
statement, which has been cops5 i
large number Of u'e:'"a "ew'p"nT's in,e'
brought out the following no ni"lt, ,".1
article from Prof ", ~ n'oS ,'oS
~ Anderson County, w"" ,~,, ",',u' ,
& ,nnct from DuBosc's history
&6 " yancey's life, which may
S% @ regarded as fairly "nthon.,' :no, AZ N
f4$S The details OF the original "