The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1903-01-15
DEFENDED HER NAME.
Mrs. Effie Carson Stays Robert
Rigsby at Macon, ia.
ALLEGED DEFAMATION CHARGED
DepIorabIe Tragedy the Result OF
Bitter Quarrel Wherein Young
Man Refused to Make
Retraction.

Mrs. Ella carson, teacneF VI lele-
grapny in the Georgia-Alabama Busi-
ness college at Macon, Ga, shot and
instantly killed R. A. Rigsby, professor
of penmanship in Lanier's Business
college in the same city Monday morn
ing ct II o'clock.
The shooting occurred in the law
office of NJ. G. Bayne. The cause OF
the shooting is said to be that RlgsDy
was circulating among the students OF
Lanier's college that Mrs. Carson was
not of good character and that she
had come to Macon from New York.
Mrs. Carson emptied all the five
chambers of her revolver, all Of which
took effect with one exception. one
shot entered the left temple, one be-
hind the right ear, one on the cheek
and the other the left side, going
through the heart.
The dead man was found in the mid
die of the room, lying face downward,
in a pool CT blood and brains, present
ing a CHASTITY spectacle.
Mrs. Carson Immediately surrend-
cred and was taken TO Jail, where she
was later released on $1,000 bond.
Immediately after the shooting, she
ran out of the room, unlocking the
door and met Col. BayIe, with smok-
ing pistol in hand and asked:
Where is the sheriif's Office, have
killed him. want to give up
She was told, and then went running
across the street and entered the sheT-
ifs Office. Mrs Carson said to Mr..
Westcott:
Il have killed man in Mr.. Bayne's
office. ! have come to give up"
The trouble had been brewing for
some time; it was stated that Rigsby
had spoken disparagingly Of Mrs. Car
son to two of the students, and they
reported what had been said at the
Georgia and Alabama college, so that
it reached Mrs. Carson.
The matter also became generally
known at Lanier college.
Saturday evening last there was a
meeting of both faculties and all Of the
parties at the Office of Mr.. Bayne with
view Of arranging a settlement. At
that time Rigsby defed the whole COM
pany and refused either to retract or
to divulge the source of mis- informa-
ton. although several friends Of Mrs.
carson, who were present, told him
that they would kill him if he did not.
Nothing further happened until Mon
day morning, when Mrs. Carson went
up to Mr.. Bayne's Office and got him to
draw up a paper of retraction.
She then went to the telephone
and rang up Rigsby and asked him to
come to the office. He consulted with
DR.. Lanier, and was advised not to
go. He said he would, however, and
would have a personal interview with
Mrs. Carson.
Before going to the Office Mrs.
Carson had purchased 32-calibre pis-
tol. Rigsby was also armed. When Rigs
BIZ arrived, he was shown the paper
Of retraction and was told that Mrs.
Carson said that she would let the mat
ter go go if he would sign ~.
Rigsby tnen said in the presence OF
Colonel Bayne and his stenographer:
81 will not sign it, and will not re-
tract word
Rigsby then said that he would like
to have an interview with Mrs. Carson
alone. Colonel Bayne consented, va.
Gated the Office and Rigsby locked the
door,
Colonel Bayne was waiting by the
heater in the hallway, and in a few
minutes the firing commenced.
Mrs. Carson then unlocked the door
and ran out. She said to the sheriff
with reference to what happened in
the room:
81 asked him to sign the paper and
he said that he would not and told me
that I was bad woman. I then began
firing and shot him five times"