The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1901-07-03
The Story of an Old Gseeeeaiys;;!s,s Tragedy.

/
"There still stands in Main street,
Greenvillo, s. c., the ancient red
brick court house of Greenville coun.
ty, in which the immortal William L.
Yancey was tried, convicted and SEN
fenced FOR the manslaughter Of Rob-
ertson Earle, then the head OK the
famous Earle family of South Caro-.
line. Th=: occurred about fifty years
ago. though 1 forget the exact date,
and 1 haven't got DuBose's Life Of
Yancey' within reach at the moment"
said traveller last night.
"While was in Greenville recently
member Of the Earle family, learn.
ed young lawyer modestly proud Of
his illustrious race, related to me
wnat L accepted as family version
Of that famous tragedy, and he said it
had never been in print. AS the
story ran, Yancey, then a practicing
lawyer, was at that time taciturn but
somewhet high-tempe-ca aud impetu-
GUS man when aroused, and was easily
aroused at all times. His friend
Earle's son, young boy, one day
offered Yancey very offensive rude
ness in the public street, and Yam
cey thoughtlessly struck the boy o
mild blow.
In moment Yancey regretted the
act, though feeling that he had just
cause for it, and he sought Earle and
told him the circumstances, saying
that he was greatly provoked. His
sense Of propriety, he said, required
him to seek the father of the boy and
tell him the story in person.
Earle answered in friendly spirit
and said it was all right with him;
that he could easily understand how
his sons conduct as related by Yam
cey might provoke gentleman. The
two men separated on most amiable
terms. That occurred in the morn
ing.
SAT noon Earle went home to his
midday dinner, according to custom
that prevails still in Greenville, and
to his astonishment he found Mrs.
Earle in high state Of excitement.
The boy had gone home and told the
mother about Yancey having struck
him, and she was passionately angry.
It seems that at first Earle sought to
soothe his wife, but she played upon
his feelings and soon got him wrought
up in anger against Yancey. Finally
his wife demanded that he should go
down town and have it out with Yam
cey. He armed himself and went.
Nobody ever yet doubted the eour-
age of an Earle.
earle found Yancey at famous
tavern within few PAGES of the court
house, on the site now occupied by
the Greenville Daily News building,
and violent quarrel arose at once
Almost instantly Yancey drew pis-
tol and shot Earle dead.
"It was one Of the greatest sensa-
tions in the history OF State famous
for sensational tragedies. Yancey
was indicted, tried and convicted Of
manslaughter, and sentenced to term
Of imprisonment. After getting out
Of his trouble he removed to Alabama,
settling in the neighborhood of Mont
gomery, and almost at once began that
extraordinary career Of political activ-
ity which more than any other indivi-
dual force caused the disastrous war
between the States. the result OF which
he was not to live to seel
1.-The old courthouse in Greenville
is small two-story structure of red
brick, and with it's walls four feet in
thickness it is as substantial now as
it was when built more than century
ago. ."-Birn,inghan, Age Herald.
The Best Remedy for Stomach and
Royvn1 Tranhlea