The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1904-11-18
KILLED EACH OTHER.
Two Disper sary Constables Have a
Fatal Fight at Eastover.
FOUGHT ABOUT AN ovsRcoAT.
Both Non Said to Have Been Drink
ing. Before the Shooting They
Were on the Best
of Terms.

4
of Terms.
The State sayr one of the most
shocking tragedies that has ever
been known In Richland occurred late
Wednesday afternoon IL peaceful
Elstover, when two dispensary con.
stables shot and killed each other. As
is usual In the reign of crime and car.
nival Of carnage that now holds SWAY
over South Carolina, the affair was
precipitated by quarrel over trivial
thing-an overcOat. Whiskey also
evidently played its part. The dea
men are j. L. Irby and S. A. Phillips.
The two men had been sent to East
over and had left this city about 2
o'clock in the afternoon In buggy
drawn by two horses. They reached
the pretty village late in the after.
noon and evidently spent some little
time there.
1t was soon after dark when they
stopped at Karsee's store, and Irby
got out of the buggy and went into
The store to search 1T. He left his
overcoat In the buggy with Phillips,
who drove off down the street. AS he
was driving the coat dropped out Of
the buggy to the ground. Irby soon
came out Of the store, having found
no whiskey and was standing in the
door when Phillips drove back on the
other side OF the street. Irby called
to him to come over, and when he did
Irby told him that there was nothing
(no whiskey) there. Let's 60 back
TO Columbia" T" said Lrhy
1rby got into the buggy, and the
two drove # in the direction Of Co.
lumbia. In the meantime a negro
came back to Karsee's store with an
Overcoat which he had picked up In
the road. Mr.. Karsee said that be
knew whose the coat was and took it
into the store. After about Is min
u e5 the buggy, with the two con.
stables, drove back through the street
and to KarseeFs store. Mr.. Karsee
asked the men If coat had been lost
and Irby answered, Yes, that's my
overcoat.'
Phillips jumped from the buggy ahd
said to l by, Now you've. got your
coat. That will prove did not steal
your coat. You have got to give me
satisfaction for saying that did steal
your overccat."
II did not say you stole my coat. 1
left it In your keeping. You ought to
have known something about it.
Come Oh, let's go back to Columbia, :,
ra,---.. .tki:,sy hava. IL -
No I'm not going before 1 get sat-
isfaction. You said I stole your over
coat and I'm not going until 1 get
satisfaction" retorted Phillips.
THE SCENE CnANeEp.
Mr.. Karsee, seeing that there was
to be trouble, took hold o. Phillips
and told him toget In the buggy. He
did so, and Irby started to drive OF,
but his companion snatched the rein,
and said Let me drive" Phillips
drove the buggy over to McKenzie's
store.
From here the account Of the
tragedy is given by another witness.
Phillips came into the store of MIR.
Ed Mckenzie, and taking him back
luto the rear OF the establishment
said: "Mr. Irby has insulted me and
I'm not going back In the buggy with
him." Phillips then went out 10 the
buggy with Mr.. Mckenzie and told
Irby he would not go with him. Irby
Insisted on his going but he still re-
fused. 1rby pulled off his over
coat and laid 1t in the buggy,
taking from 1t his revolver, which he
$ uck in his hip pocket He caught
Phillips by the collar and told him he
had to go, at the same time slappiny
his face.
Mckenzie got between the men
and tried to part them, proposirr
that 1iby should go in the buggy and
Phillips on the train, or vice versa.
1rby caught Phillips by the collar
again, saying he must go in the bug
gy. Then 1T was that Phillips drew
his pistol and SHOT Irby. at the same
time running away. IIby drew his
own revolver and began to shoot at
Phillips, firing several shots, so it is
understood. Mckenzie, to get cut Of
the guntirc, ran into his store.
Phillips fell dead, shot through the
back just where the suspenders cross
Irby walked about q few moments
and then went into the store and was
told To sit down. He lived possibly
% or 80 minutes but died in the chair
where he was sitting. DR.. L. n.
Hook, the nearest physician, was sent
for but as he was some distance In the
country at the Time OF the homicide
he did not reach Irby until he was
almost dead. DR.. Hook said that the
wounded man breathed twice after his
arrival and then expired. AS far as
ascertaine1 Wednesday night he made
no statement after the shooting, ex
ccpt that ne said Hes got ne" Just
after Phillips fired at him. He was
shot about midway tetween the breast
and abdomen aud practically in the
median line. He probably had an In
ternal hemorrhage.
BOTH WERE DRINKING.
1t is said that Phillips had been
drinking heavily and was in fact In.
toxlcated, willie Irby, who had also
been drinking, was still able to know
what he was doing.
The news OF tne deplorable affair
soon reached Columbia and Chief Con
stable U. B. Hammet Immediately
communicated with Eas:oyer by tele-
phone and obtained the particulars.
lie notified Coroner Green, who tod
him to communicate with Magistrate
John 5, Scott at Eastover. Mr.. Ham
met did 80 and asked that the inouest
he held as soon Thursday morning as