The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1901-04-17
A Shocking Tragedy.

To say that the news from Columbia
of the fearful tragedy which was enact
ed in the Greenfield building last Sat-
urGay afternoon was shocking would
not begin tc express it. There are no
words in the English language at our
command that can express it.. The de-
ceased Capt. John J. Griffin was re-
garded a genial, warm-hearted, high
toned gentleman, an enthusiastic Con-
federate veteran, and the last man 70
give offenss. Maj. Barney Evans who
IS charged with the killing and is now
in the Richland jail, is a young man OF
prominence and has many friends
throughout the State. The facts as we
gather them are about as follows: Maj.
Evans kept bachelor quarters in the
Greenfield building, and Captain Griffin
and himself were supposed to be friends.
The Captain having just arrived IN the
city from a trip to Greenwood, went up
to Evans room: shortly after a shot
was heard, it being about the time,
those who occupy rooms in that build
ing, were at dinner, and those who
heard the shot downstairs We're not at
tracted by it, other than to look out
into the street to see what was the mat
ter, and not seeing anything unusual,
they dismissed the matter. About a
quarter of an hour later, Major Evans
went into the grocery store in the same
building and asked Mr.. Rufus Muller
to 60 upstairs to his room with him,
without telling him of what had hap
penened, Mr.. Muller was busy and de-
clined to go, Evans insisted somewhat
and Muller not going with him he went
out, and some minutes later he came
back and summoned doctors by tele-
phone, saving that some one was hurt
in the Greenfield building without say
ing who Or where, or giving the nature
of the hurt. DR.. Gibbes answered the
summons, and at the Muller store he
learned that Major Evans wanted him.
The doctor went up to Evans rooms
and there found Capt. John. J. Griffin
on Evans bed, with A. calibre bullet
in his breast and in dying condition.
When he told Major Evans that the
man was dying, the announcement SEEM
ed to frenzy Evans and he used insult
ing language to the doctor, and charged
him with killing the man.
DR.. Gibbes reported the case to the
police and Evans was arrested and
taken to jail; on the way to the jail he
said that Captain Griffin took pistol
from Evans bureau drawer and shot
himself. An examination of the room
and body showed that the body was
dragged from where it fell to the bed,
that there were bruises on the dead
mans face and powder burns on his
right forearm, his hat dented and trails
of blood on the floor. The Corcner's
Jury returned a verdict. charging Evans
with the killing. There were no eye
witnesses to the tragedy, but the sui
eide theory advanced by Evans was not
accepted by the jury and he will have
to stand his trial on the charge OF muir
der. It is now said that Evans will not
claim that Captain Griffin committed
suicide, but that Evans admits the Kill
| ling and will make self defense his de-
fense. The prominence of Major Evans
family, he being a son of the late Gen.
Nathaniel Evans, and a brother Of eN-
Gov. John Gary Evans, makes his de-
plorable predicament OF intense inter-
est to people all over the State, and the
outcome will be watched with eager
ness. There are no eye witnesses to
testify, but there are a number OF 81
| lent witnesses which Will impress deep
| ly fair and an impartial jury.