The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-09-03

House, where carriage was standing.
Just as they came out of the alley he
noticed crowd and Joe Villeneuve
came upand struck two matches in
succession and held them up as il to
see who Mills vas. He was somewhat
between Mills and Villeneuve, and
Mills got into his carriage. He went
around to the other side OF the car
risge on which Mills was sitting and
started to talk to him. Villeneuve
came up and he asked him what he
wanted; said he wanted TO have a
. word with him; told him he was talk
ing to the gentleman in the carriage
then and would see him later.
Villeneuye then said he wanted that
man, meaning Mills, arrested: asked
him what for, he said for hitting him
at the Nixon House. Mills said he
had better be getting out of the crowd
and told the driver to 90 ahead. AS
the carriage started, VilleneuVe jump
ed forward and caught hold Of Mills
and he had to pull him loose,
Villenleve then jumped to the horses.
heads and grabbed the bride OF the
left hand horse. he then caught hold
of Villeneuve md told him to consider
himself under arrest. Leo Miller put
up $40 as bond and Villeneuye was
released. When he looked at the car
rage it was empty, Mills was gone.
Heard he ran through the alley. Later
went TO the depot with Chief Bradford
and Officer McKagen, having heard the
crowd was following Mills up and ex-
pected him to leave on the $50 train.
There was a large crowd at the depot.
Heard Joe Villeneue say all he wanted
was to get his hands on Mills, if they
saw him {Millsl on the train 60 take
something and knock him off or throw
him off and hold him until he could
get his hands on him. Mills did not,
take the train and there was no dis
turbance.
W. J. Mills testified that he went to
the hotel for supper, stopped in Office
to get cigar for himself and friend
who was with him, went to cigar slot
machine to get the cigars Had no
money inshis pocket except bill and
got two niekies from his friend to drop
in the machine. , ust then ViIleneuve
who he had never seen before, offered
to bet a dollar on one throw on the
machine; thought ne was some travel
ing man; saidto him he did not care to
bet bat would try him once; Villeneuve
said, Put mp your dollar, !" felt in his
pocket and had nothing as small as a
dollar, then asked Jack Moses to pay
the dollar for him If he should lose.
Villeneuve said he didn't bet that way
and cursed him for G. d. dirty
s. of b. He looked at Villeneuve
and saw he was drinking and turned
away from him; Mr.. Moses came in
and put Villeneuve out, Villeneuve
continuing to curse him in the same
manner. When he vent out of Office
to go to supper few moments after
wards, VilleneuEe, VINO was standing
on the sidewalk, cursed him again and
he then said to him, You are too low
and common for me to notice and l
won't have a row with you." He
then turned to go to the dining room
7, and Villeneuve rushed up and struck
him from the rear, landing the blow
behind the ear. Mr. Moses and Jack
Moses put Villeneuve ont and be went
on toward the dining room, but O'Neal
! followed, struck and kicked him; !;
Villeneuve in the meanwhile running
aroand to the steps leading TO the
front door and attempted to follow
him, but was stopped by Mr.. Moses
! and Jack. Did NOT strike sVilleneuve
but got.outsof the way. After supper
had to go down street to see Mr.. Bob
Edmuuds on business, as he expected
to leave next morning, and was advised
to get a pistol to protect himself: had
never owned one SO tried to borrow
one from Mr.. Moses, but failed. Got
into carriage with his friend, Mr..
| Hartley. end drove down street to see
| Mr. Edmunds; on the way down when
/ opposite the Racket Store passed
through considerable crowd in which
he. recognized Villeneuve and O'Neal
the only one he knew by name Heard
some one in the crowd curse him and
make threats. Therefore went to
police Office to ask for pro lection saw
Officer Smith who promised him full
projections His further testimony
! merely confirmed Smiths testimony,
| except that he stated that crowd sur
rounded the hotel and he heard some
one in the crowd cursing him.
| Otto Teicher, George McKagen and
Leo Miller, testified in reference to the
trouble in front of Opera House, the
arrest of Villeneuve and the fight of
Mills through the alley. They con-
tradicted the statements of Officer
Smith in several particulars, saying
that Villeneuve did not try to pull
| Mills out of the carriage, did not
catch hold Of the horses, and that he
was arrested as soon as he asked Smith
to arrest Mills.
O'Neal's and Villeneuve's testimony
differed from that Of Mills and Jack
Moses. They said that Mills opposed
the bet in the first instance, that he
insulted Villineuve by telling him he
was too low to associate with aim
! when Villeneuve refused to bet with
him unless the money was put up, that
Mills struck Villsneuve when he was