The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1902-08-20
/ SMALL SCRAP.
Messrs. Eemphill and Latimer Do
the Unexpected.
BUT IT AMOUNTED TO NOTHING
Little GeSticulation, With One
Or Two Blows. That's All.

The Columbia States correspondent
says there is something either in the
water or the atmosphere that calls
forth difficulty OF some sort every
time candidates or officials speak at
GatTney. 1t will be remembered that
it was at that place that Senators
Tillman and McLaurin found that ar
gumenJS availed nothing and both
rendered their designations to Gov.
McSweeney, and the incident OF the
Jim" Tillman-DeCamp episode, d
few weeks ago, is still fresh in the
minds Of the people. But Thursday
two would-be senators came to actual
blows: and all about small matter.
1t happened this way:
At the senatorial and congressional
candidates meeting held at Gatfney
in the court house, Thursday, Con
gresham Latimer was the first speaker
for the United States senate. When
his turn came, the dinner hour having
arrived, 4 majority OF the 500 audi
ence left. Latimer did not want to
speak to the depleted crowd and asked
permission of the chairman to be al
lowed to postpone his speech until
after dinner, the time allotted to the
congressman. The matter was left TO
a vote, and it was unanimously de-
cided that the speech be postponed as
requested.
Latimer jumped up and said: Il
t YOU all to come back here and
,.ear me, for these five lawyers have
been jumping on one poor farmer, and
! am going to answer them"
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 jump
ing on you today, and you know it.
It has always been our rule to end a
meeting before we stop, and it will
not be right to infringe upon the time
of the congressman.
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.
BY this time they were facing each
other and both very angry.
Latimer-I know that you don't
care for them.
Hemphill-G-d d-n you, you
know that is not true.
BLOW ON TPE CHEEK.
Latimer then drew back and hit
Hemphill severe, stunning blow on
the cheek. Several men jumped in
between them and the driving blow
sent by Hemphill at his antagonist fell
short of its mark. Hemphill then
grabbed his umbrella and tried to hit
Latimer over the head Of the inter
fering men, but he could not reach
him. Several men grabbed hold Of
both antagonists, who were making
desperate efforts to get at each other,
and in the scufie Hemphill was pushed
back between 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. 1t
is rumored that Hemphill followed
Latimer out Of the court room and
asked him why he struck him. and
Latimer replied, Because you cursed
me-"
I DID NOT CURSE YOU.
To which Hemphill rejoined: Il did
not curse you"
Latimer said: We'll, if you diu 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 tc
amount to anything between these
two gentlemen. either off or on the
stand.
BEFORE THE MAYOR.
Both Hemphill and Latimer were
notified to appear before Mayor Little
the same evening, and pending an N
vestigation both were required to put
up $40 each for their appearance.
Alta late hour the same night Mayor
Little decided to allow MeSSrS. Hemp
hill and Latimer to forfeit their deposit
Of SO until morning.
They Want Him.