The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1904-11-16
BAD TRAGEDY
I'm RICHLAND.
Il. L. Irby After Being Fatally Wounded
Shoots His SIayer-Mr. Irby
Buried Here.

| caStoVer, RlcnIand county, about
twenty miles from Columbia. late Wed
nesday evening when two dispensary
copstables, r.. Lyles Irby Of Laurens
and s. A. Phillips OF fRichland, shot and
killed each other. The news OF the
terrible affair reached Laurens alb
III O'Clock Wednesday night.
Mr.. Irby's body was bought here
Thursday and on Friday morning the
interment took place at the city ceme-
terry, the burial services being con-
Quoted by the members of Laurens
Lodge, No. 43, K. of p.
According to accounts the
the fatal shooting was the result of
quarrel between Irby and Phillips
about the formers overcoat. The two
men had driven to Eastover in q buggy.
Irby left the buggy to visit store for
the purpose of making an inspection
He left his overcoat in the buggy with
Phillips who drove off down the street. :.
AS he was driving the coat fell out in
the street. Phillips soon returned and
Irby came out and said there was no
whskey to be found and proposed that
| they go back to Columbia.
Irby got in the buggy and they drove
off in the direction OF Columbia After
they had gone negro entered the store
with an overcoat. The proprietor
| said he knew whose coat it was and
took 1t in charge. Presently Irby and
Phillips drove back to this store. AS
they came up Mr.. Karsee, the pro-
prietor, asked them ii they had lost an
overcoat and Irby answered, Eyes,
that's my owe coat"
Philli,s 5 jump out of the buggy
and said 10 Irby, Now, you've got
your coat. That will prove 1 did not
steal you coat You have got to give me
satisfaction for saying that 1 did steal
your overcoat."
II did not say you sole my coat. 1
left 1t in your keeping. You ought to
have known something about it, Come
let's 60 back to Columbia. There is
nothing here"
"No am not going before 1 get sat
isfaction. You said 1 stole your over
coat and 1 am not going untii get
satisfac ion" replied PHILLIPS.
Seeing that there was to bs trouble
Mr.. Ksrsee. took hold of Phillips aud
told him to get in the buggy. He did
so and the men drove over to another
store. Phillips got out and entered
the store. He told Mckenzie, the pro
prietor, That Irby had insulted him and
that be WAS not going b,ck in the
buggy with him. The two men then
won't out to the buggy and Phillips told
lrby that he would not return with
him. Irby insisted. Finally he caught
Phillips In the collar and told him he
had to go, at the same time slapping
his face.
M'Kepzie got between The men and
proposed that one 60 in the buggy ard
the other retucn on the train. Irby
again caught Phillips In the collar,
saying he must go with him. AT this
juno ure Phillips drew his pistol and
shot Ir''y and was running away when
Irby pulled his revolver and fred sew
eral times at Phillips. Phillips fell
dead, shot through the back. Irby
walked about q little, then went ia the
store, where he sat down in a chair.
He lived about twenty minutes, dying
In the chair.
Those who knew Mr.. Irby believe his
purpose in insisting on Phillips return
Ing to o. lumbia with him was to pro-
tect fellow officer and save him pos
sibly from reprimand from his super
iors. If he left him the matter would
have to be explained, and doubtless
Irby wanted to avoid this on eccount of
his friend.
Following is taken from the Colum-
bia States account next morning of
the tragedy:
r. Ly les Irby was from Laurens
county and was nephew of the late
Senator John l.. M. Irby. He was cne
OF the best known constables on the
force and was one of the oldest in SER
vic,, having been appointed seven years
ago and having been stationed here
several years. He was regarded as
b ave and fearless aud when in: tructed
to do thing he always obeyed orders.
lie leaves wife in this city, living at
| 1928 Lady street. His brother, James
Fl Irby, corporal OF toe guard at the
penitentiary, left for Eastover driving
through the country. He will return
with the body this morning, taking it
to Laurens. Irby was insured for $500
In the knights of Pythias, being a
member Of Capitsl Lodge.
Samuel A. Phillips wss appointed
from Eastover 1S months ago by Gov.
| Hayward on the recommendation of
several prominent citizens. He had
always given splendid satisfaction in
his position. He leaves wife and
several children, who reside at 1,1O4
Pine street.
| CHIEF HAMMET'S STATEMENT.
| Ohief Constable Hammet when asked
for a statement last night said that
while he deplored the shocking occur
renee Ii seemed to have been purely q
personal matter between the two men.
II, as reported, they had been drinking
IL was in violation of one Of the strict
est rules governing the constabulary,
e. l.. Irby, said Mr.. Hammett, was the
best man In this division, and had no