The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1902-08-20
GAFFNEY AT LAST
ENJOYS A SCRAP.

Hcmphi11 and. Latimer Come
Together And Are Soon
Parted.
Special to The State.
GAFFNEY, Aug. 14.-There is some
thing either IN the water or the atmos-
phere that calls forth a difficulty of
some sort every time candidates or
officials speak here. 1t will be remem-
bered that it was at this place SEN
ators Tillman and McLaurin found
that arguments availed nothing and
both rendered their designations to
Gov. McSweeney and the incident of
the Z" Jim" Tillman-D eCamp episode,
a few weeks ago, is still fresh in the
minds of the people. But today two
would-be senators came to actual blows,
and all about a small matter. 1t hap.
pened this way:
AT the senatorial and congressional
candidates. meeting held here in the
court house today, Congressman Latl-
mer was the last speaker for the
United States senate. When his turn
came, the dinner hour having arrived,
a majority of the 500 audience left.
Latimer did not want to speak to the
depleted crowd and asked permission
OF the chairman TO be allowed to post-
pone his speech until after dinner, the
time allotted to the congressman. The
matter was left to a vote, and it was
unanimously ordered that the speech
be postponed as requested.
Latimer jumped up and said: {"
want you all to come back here and
hear me, for these five LAWYERS have
been jumping on n poor farmer, and
L am going to answer them.o
AS they were leaving the bar of the
court room, Hemphill said:
"Latimer, you ought not to say that,
for none of us have been jumping on
you today, and you know it. 1t has
always been IL rule to end a meeting
before We stop, and it will not be right
to infringe upon the time of the con-
~gressmen."
Latimer-You want to make me
speak to empty benches; you care
nothing for the congressman.
Hemphill-I do care for the con-
gressmen, and you know it.
"Hi'ihho ohoJ Woic ldCihS eaCn
other, and both very angry.
Latimer-L know that you don't
care for them.
Hemphill-G-d d-n you, you know
that is not true.
Latimer then drew back and hit
Hemphill a severe, stunning blow on
the cheek. Several men jumped in be-
tween them and the driving blow sent
by Hemphill at his antagonist fell
short OF It's mark. Hemphill then
grabbed his umbrella and tried 10 hit
Latimer over the head of the interior.
ing men, hut he could not reach him.
Several men grabbed hold of both an
tagonists, who were making desperate
efforts to get at each other, and in the
scufle Hemphill was pushed back be-
tween two chairs in the jury box, but
was instantly helped to his feet again.
This ended the incident as far as this
correspondent saw and heard. It ia
rumored that Hemphill followed Lati.
mer out OF the court room and asked
him why he struck him, and Latimer
replied F" because you cursed me.n
To which Hemphill rejoined: 81
did not curse you"
Latimer said: "Well,if you did not
curse me, / apologize"
This latter statement is mere hear
say, but the first part is testimony and
was heard and witnessed by many.
The Whole affair was totally unex.
pected, for during the entire campaign
there has not been any controversy to
amount to anything between these two
gentlemen, either off or on the stand.
Both Hemphill and Latimer were
notified to appear before Mayor Little
tn: evening, and, pending an investi-
CATION, both were required TO put up
$40 each for their appearances.