Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1901-04-17
B. B. EVANS. CHARGED WITH MURDER.
0ffin Shot
Evans he Committed Suicide,
to Bear Out the Theoy-Looks Bad rEvans

Colnmbia,sApril l3.--Capt. John J.
Griffin, Commercial Agent Of the Norfolk
& Western Railroad, with headquarters
in this city, was killed THE afternoon III
the room Of Major b. b. Evans. Evans
was arrested and placed in Jail to await
tho verdict of the oornor's jury.
INCIDENTS OF THE TRAGEDY.
Capt. Griffin and Major Evans wore In
tho lattor's room aud had evidently been
drinking togethor. Tho first known of
the tragedy was when Major Evans
rushed out of his room and won't to tolc-
phone for n physician. Meeting one on
tho street lie carried him to tho room.
There on tho floor lay Capt. Griffin
breathing his last, with 44-calibro pis-
tol bullet, fired from Major Evans pistol,
in his left breast. Tho physician, DIR.
Gibbes, informed Major Evans that tho
wound was mortal, and tho latter turned
upon him In n fronzy. Tho physician
attributes his escaping to his GOODNESS.
IIo went to tho street and sent a police
man to tho room. There it was found
|
and it was only after friendly persuasion
that ho opened tho door and submitted
to arrest.
Capt. Griffin died about the time tho
police gained admittance to the room.
The appearance of tho room indicated n
struggle, tho dead mans face being
bruised, and thoro was blood upon his
stick. Tho shot was fired from Major
Evans pistol, but Evans claims that
Griffin killed himself. Major Evans ro-
fused to talk aftcr being taken to Jail.
IIo is a brother Of former Governor John
Gary Evans, and his family is one of tho
most prominent in South Carolina. Tho
arrest of Major Evans subsequently Gre
ated pronounced sensation.
The two men were alonc and occu-
pants of adjoining apartments were at
dinner. Major Evans summoned q
physician, saying that man was hurt
in his rooms. DR.. II. w. Gibbcs found
Capt. Griffin lying in u dying condition
and specchlcss on Major Evans bed. A
44.calbro Colts revolver bullet had
entered just above tho left nipple
! When DR.. Gibbcs announced that
Griffin was dying, ho declares that Evans,
who had been drinking heavily, became
wildly excited and exclaimed that Dir.
Gbbcs lied; that Dr. Gibbcs and not he
himself had killed Griffin. Tho physi-
elan, under pretcxt of replacing a broken
instrument, managed to got out Of the
room, although Evans declared that he
should not do SO.
DR.. Gibbcs summoned police and they
were refused admittancc until Judge
Ernest Gary, a cousin of Evans, arrived
and demanded admittancc and submis-
sion to the officers. Evans struck Judge
Gary and was taken to Jail in a state of
hystcra, having declared that Griffin
had taken his own lfo.
THEY HAD BEEN DRINKING.
In the room wcrc evidences of the
fact that one or both of the mon had
been drinking Aside from this there is
no reason why Griffin should have killed
himself or that Evans should have shot
him
The dead mans face was bruised or
both sides and there was an abrasion of
the skin on the bridge of the nose His
walking cane, clottcd with blood, was
several feet from where blood marks
indicated that the fatal shot had taken
effect. The right forearm of the dead
man showed powder burns, but none
were visible in the ncighborhood of the
wound. These circumstances would
seem damaging to the theory of self
destruction
SHORT HISTORY OF THE TWO MEN.
Capt. Griffin served in the Confederate
army with company from Macon, Ga,
and after the war entered the railroad
service. lie had held tho position of
General Freight Agent of the East Ten
ncsscc, Virginia and Georgia and subsc-
qucntly went to the Norfolk and West
crn. Two years ago he was assigned to
this territory. lie had quite large
family. lie is survived by wife and
seven children, four sons and three
daughters.
Major Evans is n son Of Brigadcr Gen
cral n. G. Evans and a nephew of Major
General Mart w. Gary, Of the late Con-
fcderato army. He is Il brother of for
mcr Governor John Gary Evans, who
was Adiutant General in 1898, and was
himself in the Havana post Office depart
mcnt at that time. lie is we'll known in
militia and political circles, having twice
received large vote for Railroad Com
missioner. ale and the present I.icutcn-
ant Governor, James IL. Tillman, fought
a bloodlcss duel in EdgcGcd some years