The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-01-02
Shsr Kennedy Attempting Arrest Ks Slayer Receives Mortal Wound
He in InfEts Deadly Wound John Dansby

and He In Tul
On Saturday night, when all mankind
seemed al peace with the rest OF the world,
and when none feared evil, or anticipated
danger, q man was mortallv wounued In the
two young men on Factory Hill lay bleeding
As We understand the situation. there was
no real ground for the assault on Kyle. II ia
who can give a satisfactory account, that
Dansby and Kyle bad had words during the
day, and that when Dansby thought a recon-
'ciliation had been effected he offered Kyle
bis hand, which was refused, Kyle saying
that he didn't want 10 have anything more
to do with him.
Brooding over this. Dansby is supposed to
onmstanees sHs s inspired II him inv With spirit OF re-
sentiment. Feeling thus he went e the SIT
ting room OF the CaroIi1a dorei,. where Kyle
and some other semen .S,a wsTs In drisIdly
Of all ,o6parties, and the good name Of the
hotel There were neither gambling nor gam
hlSrs present. There never has been any bet
Eng In the Carolina Hotel)
The First Shooting.
Mr.. Payne makes the following statement: {:
Mr.. Dansby came into the hotel with Mr..
Watkins about nine O'Clock Saturday night.
Hhsre ss ne psRn R ana and @ sa
why don't You bet money here 10 Two dol
lars bet that" laying two silver dollars on
the table. The money was not accepted, and
as psn5Sy Ryy stood Ts Ssnind Kyle and Kyle said
"Stand In front Of me, not behind me-" Nov
ing around In front, Dsnsby said: II come
here for business and AN am @ going 70 haye It,"
thing more TO DO with YOU" Dansby applied
Q most offensive epithet to him. Kyle rose
from his feet, made step or two. and began
Dansby drew his pistol out OF bis pocket
when his hand was caught. He passed IL
behind bis back to the other hand. The pistol
was fred, and Kyle received the fatal wound.
the door, saying that he would shoot any
man who attempted to arrest him.
From another, we learn that he made no
effort 70 escape but told man whom he nn, met
kill any man who attempted TO arrest him.
At eleven O'Clock the arrest was made:
Densby killed the Sheriff, and the Sheriff
after the shooting. both men were dead.
Kyle was still living when Kennedy's and
DAnsby's life went out. Kennedy and Dams
by sleep In the same cemetery, Uower Long
On Saturday night they fought with pistols
To- the bitter end. Their warfare was soon
ing shades enveloped Gods acre! the men
other. They were left together on the last
night OF the century. resting In that Great
Sleep, which men call Death, and which
must sooner or later come to rs all.
After the Shooting.
Physicians were called, kind friends assem-
BILE TO save Kyle's life. While President Ball
ey Of the Cotton Mill, In whose servics Kyle
had been engaged at the mills, had been sick
in bed for two weeks, yet he wss represented
by bis book. keeper, Mr.. John 8. Harris, who
is also q director IN the Cotton Mill. He went
to bis bedside Immediately, and remained
with him TO the end. ministering to his every
want in the most tender manner. He staid
with him from twelve O'Clock at night until
two O'Clock the afternoon, never leaving him.
The fact that Kyle was q stranger, with no
one to care for him except new made friends
among his fellows, was touching incident,
and excited the most devoted attention not
only from Mr. Harris, superintendent Thom-
son, Mr.. Harper, but from Others.
Mr.. Harper Of the Cotton Mill could not
have been truer or more constant to q broth
er. They came here at the same time from
sus they Secame hs
friends. He sat up during the long weary
watch Of the night. and duringthe next day,
he staid by the bedside. He wrote and tele.
friend was dead, he and Mr.. Harris secur-
ed the services OF an undertaken, the body
was embalmed, nice casket was brought,
and the BODY laid In IT, EXsrything Tas IN
Only little while before the departure OF the
noon train over the Southern the instruct
ions came. Both hearses were awsy bnrying
friends 70 act as pail Bearers, with the REQ nest
that they carry the casket TO the train. This
they did, and number Of our people accom-
panied the remains TO the station. Flowers
would have paid the tribute oftheir presence
in honor and sympathy for the dead stranger,
II the time Of departure had been known to
william Kyle was E years old, q man of
slender build. His kindly manner won the
affection OF all who came In contact with
him. Mr.. Harris spoke most beautifully OF
him to US. and be seemed much touched by
A peculiarly sad circumstance connected
with MIR. Kyle lies in the fact that he had
finished his work in the Cotton Mill, and was
about to take the cars at noon OF the same day
that be received the fatal wound at night.
But halting between two opinions, he re-
mained over for the day, with the intention OF
going 70 another mill on the day upon which
Although his wounds were mortal and be-
yond the best sugical skill in the world. yet
for q time on Sunday morning, he seemed to
chance for life. His pulse was good, and, his
temperature was not far from normal. he
seemed bright, and talked freely. But
after midday there was an evident sinking.
ing. But, up to within three minutes OF the
last, he spoke freely and nationally. Ali was
over at two O'clock. The soul of the sufferer
had taken It's departure, and the stranger
within our gates was dead.
The Arrest and its Consequences.
At eleven O'Clock. the house in which
Dansby was stopping was surrounded. He
Sheriff, and after some words OF not an un.
kindly nature, sharp report OF a pistol
seemed to be signal for much firing, Perhaps
not less than twenty shots were fired. When
the firing ceased, Dansby and Kennedy were
W%ortaliy wounded, ami lying on the ground.
friends, and promptly cared for. A storm Of
indignation ragged against Dansby, and
threats were made, but Chief Of Police Riley
commanded the peace. and said that he and
his force would protect Dansby from further
violence. The night was an Indictment one, q
ture not far from the freezing point. While
Dansby never spoke after he was wounded
the look from his eyes indicated that be was
conscious, and at one time when he heard
words which were Offensive to him, in q
supreme effort to get up, he turned and rose
TO his knees while bis hands we're still on the
ground: II ne suffered at all, be gave no
Kennedy. suffered greatly, but he was con-
scious, and soon realized the gravity OF the
situation. His first question was as to
whether Dansby had been arrested. In a
with him, and from that scene we would not
lift the veil. We could not, II we would,
portray the grief Of the devoted wife, as she
beheld the fading light In the eyes of him
who was dearer to her than all else in the
world
The Burials.
AT an early hour on Monday Rev. r.. w,