The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1901-04-17
A Sad Homicide.
dn,'s 5 Columbia Evening Record

Saturday afternoon in Msj Barnard
B. Evans's room. whereby Capt
John J. Griffin lost his life. The
two men were the only occupants of
the room and there is but one man
who can tell the true story and that
man is Mr. Evans. The coronel's
jnry rendered verdict that to the
beat of their belief Mr. Evans fred
the fatal shot. Uudcr these circum
stances be will not talk about bis case
of his own yolition aud on order Of
his counsel. Not until be goes upon
the stand on trial will his story of the
terrible tragedy be definitely known.
In the meantime any e1plaustion
Cf'red for The shooting can only be
theory, and the public is tbeorizipg
much in view OF the absence Of def
mite information.
As stated above, the testimony
naturally was absolutely blank as to
the actual shooting, but Maj Evans's
conduct afterwards and tie condition
in which tho row dead man was
found, were pretty we'll established.
1t will not bo necessary to give iu
detail the testimony Of each iudivid-
ual in order that the public may
understand clearly the conditions
before and soon after the homicide,
and the facts may be stated as fol.
lows:
II was in the Deighborhood Of two
o'clock when Capt. Griffir went to
Mr.. Evans's room. They had always
been good friends and so for as the
friends of either know, these pleas
ant relations had never been broken.
That the men were enjoying with
each other social glass was quite
evident, for a keg of corn wbiskey
which friend had sent Maj Evans
had been tapped, and the glassep,
the whiskey and the water were on
the large center table in the room
How many drinks were taken is not
knowp. but later Developments show
ed that probably both had taken too
much for the good of either.
1t was between 2 and 2:30 o'clock
that Mr.. Rufus Muller, in bis store
immediately below Maj. Evanss
room, beard pistol shot. Dr.. Phil
pots family also heard the report.
Mr.. Muller and Dr.. Philpot and his
family awaited developments, but
seeing no commotion on the streets
concluded that something else had
made the noise. A few minutes
after Mr. Evans went to Muller's
store and in very excited manner
asked Mr.. Rufus Muller to phone
DR., Taylor This was done. but DR..
Taylor could not come. Mr.. Evans
went up stairs again, but not before
Mr.. Muller had asked him whether
be was in trouble. The reply was in
the affirmative, and Mr. Evans asked
Mr.. Muller twice to 60 to bin room.
Mr.. Muller refused, pleading the
pressure of business just at the time.
Remaining up stairs several minutes,
Mr.. Evaps again came down and
called up DR.. Gibbes, who soou after
responded, going to Mr.. Evans's
room to which be was admitted Mr
Evans told DR.. Gibbes to do what be
could for Capt. Griffin. The doctor
felt the pulse and told Mr.. Evans
that the gentleman was dying. Mr.
Evans, who before was very much
excited, now became frepzied, &C,
cordipg to DR.. Gibbes, and accused
bin of baripg killed Capt. Griffin by
poisoning bin with the hyperdermic
ipisctiop, which bad been admins
tered. DIR. G;bbes realized that Mr..
Evans WAS not responsible for what
be said or did, IS his mind at that
time was thoroughly unbalanced
Mr.. Evans forbade Dr.. Gibbes to
leave the room, but after some par
lev be did 50. he went TO the police
station and accompanied by Oficerers
Willinghsm ard Dunning, returned
TO the Greenfield building.
They met Judge Gary, who was
on the way to bis room. He accom-,
panied them and told Mr.. Evans, who
had opened the door, that officers of
the law were present and TO let them
in. Mr.. Evans was still iu the high
est state Of excitement and positively
rcfused auy of them admission, but
on the contrary ordered them away.
Finally the police entered anyway
without further trouble and Dr.
G,bbes was with them. Again Mr..
Evans Denounced DR.. G,bbes and Or
dered him away, but that gentleman,
realiz ng Mr.. Evans mental condi-
tiop, not only did not go, but by firm
uess succeeded in pacifying the raw
ing young man to the extent that the
doctor could remain with compare.
tive peace
Mr.. Eyaps wanted DR.. Pbilpot'
called in, and this was agreed to,
policeman going to the doctors resi-
dence for him. When be arrived,
| Mr.. Evans said "Dr. Gibbes says
this man is dying. don't believe
it. 1t cant be so "
Dr. Philpot saw at glance that
| life was rapidly departing, and so in.
formed Mr. Evans. who again began
to rave like madman, rushing to
the bed: grabbing Captain Grifin's
bloody hand in his own, rubbing the
hand vigorously, declaring at the
same time, His hand is warm. He
is not dying. Can't you do some
thing for bim?"
DR.. Philpot. with due reverence,
Informed Mr.. Evans that no one ex-
cept Almighty God could save Capt.
Griffin. All the time Mr. Evans was
raving like luDatic and it became