The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-06-23
MEN ARE WELL KNOWN
Result of Failure and Bank
 ruptcy Proceedings.
Both Men Were Formerly Prosperous Merchants at Roanoke and Were Friends-Trouble Reach
 ed Acute Stage and
 Tragedy Expected.

Charles E. Taylor of Roanoke, form erly a prominent merchant there, was shot and instantly killed by Deputy United States Marshall Byron Trammeli at s:2o o'clock last night on the sidewalk in front of the Exchange Hotel.
 It is said that an old feud had in the past week, become infiamed to perilous point and the friends of the two men were expecting trouble. Taylor and Trammeli met last night on Commerce Street in front of the Exchange Hotel, and a fight followed the accidental encoun- ter. Trammell whipped his pistol from his pocket and emptied it almost point blank at his antagonist As Taylor lay dead upon the sidewalk a new pearl-han- dled Smith and Wesson pistol was taken from his front trousers pocket, apparent ly ready for instant use.
 Two shots fired by TrammelI pierced Taylors heart and he sank lifeless to the sidewalk without a word. Ten feet away, at the edge of the sidewalk, Tram mell stood with the smoking p,siel in his hand looking at the body of his vic- tim. As the officers rushed 10 disarm him he said: Damn him, he's been threatening me. He went for nIs gun, but he never got chance to use it."
 Trammell Surrendered.
 Trammell surrendered without a strug- gle. He was carried to police headquar- ters. but a few miputes later ,s was re- moved to the county 1ail, where he spent last night. He declined to discuss the tragedy.
 Several physicians were at the scene of the difficulty within few minutes, but , that lay with the stark face upturned in the white electric light.
 For d full thirty minutes the body lay upon the pavement in a small pool of congealing blood, and with the white shirt front stained a dark red morbid, curious crowd of several hundred per sons pushed to and fro, each msn in 1t striving to get view of the insensate figure upon the pavement. The Dody was later removed to an underta king estao- Mshment where an autopsy was keld to determine the exact nature aud location of the wounds.
 Trammell and Taylor had at one time been close friends. They lived in Roan- oke then and both were merchants. Tay- Tor failed in 1901 with liabilities of more than $55, 900 and assets less than 5000 The failure of Taylor was one of the biggest sensations that ever stirred East Ala bama Other business men of Roanoke were more or less concerned in the fail- ure Among them, 1t is said. was Tram mell having an interest in 1t either as a creditor or a debtor. To this failure is ascribed the enmity that eliminated in a tragedy.
 Caused by Testimony.
 Tn an inquiry to ascertain the status of Tavlor's estate which has been in prog ress for several days before the Referee in Bankruptcy of the United States Court here both men have testified. It is gen. erally believed that this conflict in tes- timony infamed the enmity to the danger point.
 The exact testimony and its bearing up- ar tbe killing have been extremely hard +o ascertain. When the smoke of the pis- toI had cleared away last night, the men 1,bo knew the facts that led up to the tragedy sealed their lips All those who knew the facts in the bankruptcy pro- ceedings became too captious to discuss the affair The case developed myste- rious features which have not yet been made clear.
 Tavlor. 1t is said. had threatened Tram ueu He has been in the city several days. having been brought here by an officer from Texas and released on bond. He has been drinking, 1t is said. and when in his cups is said to have discussed the probability of trouble with Tram" mell, and to have made threats against him.
 Expected an Attack.
 Trammelrs friends say that he has been expecting an attack from Taylor. He feared it is said. that Taylor would at- tack him while he was at work in the of- flee of United States Marshal Lee T.. Bryan friend of Trammell said last night that while Taylor was in the Fed eral building Trammell would go about in his shirt sleeves to show Taylor that he was unarmed. believing Taylor too brave to attack an unarmed man.
 On the other hand the friends of Taylor allege that Taylor has been the object of bitter hostility, not only from Trammell. but from others who were interested in his failure His testimony in the bank ruptcy proceedings is alleged to have been extremely sensational, charging severad parties with being the beneficiaries by his failure. number of the citizens of Randolph County have been In the city for several days and trouble of some sort has been feared.
 Taylor Was Drinking.
 Taylor in tie early part of last night had been drinking and playing pool in the Silver Dollar saloon. At s:20 o'clock he walked out of the saloon and started up 'Commerce Street towards Court