The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-01-02
Three Men Killed
in AbbevilIe.
ONE BEING SHERIFFJUST
SWORN IN.

vile last night, az . result of q
drunken mans spleen and malice,
three men wero killed, one of whom
was the sheriff of the county.
The story of the triple tragedy
sounds moro like an account Of an
occurrence in some western border
town than anything that has occurred
in South Carolina within recent years.
About O'Clock last night 10 the
onice OF the Miller hotel, several
gentlemen were having q social
game of cards One of the players
was William Kyle. q northerner,
who has been experimenting the
building Of the addition to the Able
vile cotton mill: While the game
was in progress John Dansby, q
somewbst notorious character. enter
ed the room He WAS drinking and
in . quarrelsome mood 1t is said
that he bad . difficulty With Kyle in
the afternoon In . few moments
Dansby managed to have some words
With Kyle and applied vile epi.het
to him 3
KYLE DEMONSTRATED
According to the story Of witness.
60. Kyle got up from his chair and
demonstrated with Dansby. but with.
out making any demonstration of
violence. Dansby drew bic pis,al. .
45. 5.calibfe Colts. and when . by.
stander grabbed his arm he quickly
changed tho gun to the other hand
and fred, tho ball striking Kyle in
the abdomen. The shooting occurred
so quickly that those present hardly
realized who had happened
DANsBY DEFIANT.
Dansby then backed out of the
room, declaring be would shoot any
man Who attempted to stop him, and
started to the home of his father in.
law. Tom Cresswell. who lives nesr
the cotton mill.
The news of the shooting quickly
spread. and Policemen johnson and
O'Brien started iu pursuit of the
murderer. They overlook him .ear
Cresswell's house, but Dansby stop.
ped them with his pistol and ssid be
would shoot If they advanced. The
police then went to nearby house
and telephoned up town for assist
snoe.
In short time Sheriff r L Kan
nedy With several citizens responded
to The sumnons They surrounded
the house. the policemen being
stationed st the windows and Ken.
nedy going to the front door. Ken
sedy called TO Dansby to come out
and surrender.
r. DESPERATE ENCOUNTER
Dsnsby .csme out. closing the door
behind him, aud with the remark
"Well, we'll 60 to. hell together"
commenced firing Danshy was shot
twice, once in the leg and once full
in the chest Kennedy was struck
once 10 the left brenst near the heart
Both men emptied their pistols
Kennedy fell as soon as he was hit,
but Dsnsby walked, some SO steps
and was reloading his pistol when
one OF the policemen ran up aud
grabbed him, and took the gun ou.
Of his hand Several others OF the
party were firing at Dsnsby ct the
time and there is some uncertainty as
to who fred the shots that struck
him. but it 10 thought ths. they we're
fred by Kennedy
HandcuAs were placed on Dausby
and he wss carried to the Jail. but
died soon after reaching there, about
an hour after the shooting ae did
not epesk after being shot Kennedy
vac carried to the jsil and expired
within = few minutes after Dsnsby,
Kyle, who was Hrst shot. lived until
2 o'clock today. when be bres.hed
bic Isst.
This, 10 brief. is the story of the
The coroner today held On inquest
and the jary returned . formal verdict
ia accordance with the facts
HAD KILLED OTHERS
bloodiest tragedy Abbsville county
has ever known. John Dsnsby. who
precipitated the sffsir. vas a motor
ious character in Abbeville county.
He waa about IS years old aud has
always been . reckless man He
was q noted gambler and has killed
two or three men before HE seso.
cistes were principally negroes He
was tried for the murder Of Q negro
several years ago but came clear.
he was for several years q deputy
United States msrshAl His wife
and one child survive him
KENNEDY A NOOn MAN