The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-08-16
GAFFNEY ROUSES
FIGHTING BLOOD
And Latimer and Hemphi|I
Fly to Arms.
BLOWS FOLLOW WORDS
Latimer Said Five Lawyers Had Been
Jumping on Him.
ASKED THE CROWD TO HEAR HIS REPLY
Wanted All to be Sure and Return. Hemphill
Denied That He and Others Had Been
Jumping On Latin The
Fight Followed.
(By the Associated Press.l

~N~cNN-NN~N
Charleston, S. c.. Aug. 1.-THE News
and Courier's campaign reporter tele-
graphs from Gaffney, S. c., as follows:
There is something either in the
water or the atmosphere that calls forth
difficulty of some sort every time can
didates or officials speak here. 1t will
be remembered that it was at this place
that Senators Tillman and McLaurin
found that arguments availed nothing,
and both rendered their designations to
Governor insolvency, and the incident of
the Jim Tillman- Decamp 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 small. matter. 1t happened in
this way
''At the Senatorial and Congressional
candidates meeting, held here in the
court house today, Congressman Latimer
was the last speaker. When his turn
came, the dinner hour had arrived,
majority of the five hundred in the au-
dience left. Latimer did not want to
SPEAK to the depleted crowd, and asked
permission of the chairman to be allowed
to postpone his speech until after dinner,
the time allotted to the Congressman.
The matter was left to vote and it was
unanimously ordered that the speech be
postponed as requested.
Latimer jumped up and said:
Il want you all to come back here
and hear 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
fer none of us has been jumping ON you
today and you know it. 1t has always
been our rule to end meeting before
we stop and it will not be right to in
fringe upon the time of the Congress
man."
Latimer: You want to make me speak
to empty benches; you care nothing for
the congressman
Hemphill: L do care for the Congress
men, and you know it,"
By this time they were facing each
other, and both very angry
Latimer: 81 know that you don't care
for Them
Hemphtll 'sYou know that is not true
Latimer then drew back and hit Hemp
hill stunning blow on the cheek.
Several men jumped in between them
and the driving blow sent by Hemphill
at his antagonist fell short of it's mark.
Hemphill then grabbed his umbrella and
tried to hit Latimer over the heads of
the intervening men, but he could not
reach him. Several men grabbed hold of
both antagonists, who were making des
perate efforts to get at each other, and
in the scuffie Hemphill was pushed back
between two chairs in the box, but was
Instantly helped to his feet again. This
spondent saw and heard.
1t is reported, however that Hemphill
followed Latimer out of the court room
and asked him why he struck him, and
Latimer replied:
because you cursed me-"
To which Hemphill replied: 81 did not
curse YOU"
Latimer said: "Well. if you did not
curse me. I apologize"
This latter statement is mere hearsay,
but the first part is testimony, and was
heard and witnessed by many.
The whole affair was wholly unexpect-
ed, for, during the entire campaign there
has not been any controversy to amount
to anything between the two gentlemen,
either off or on the stand.
Both Hemphill and Latimer were noti-
fled to appear before Mayor Little to-
morrow and pending an investigation,
both are required to put up ten dollars
each for their appearance.