The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1904-06-17
CANDIDATES FIGHT.
Messrs. J, g. Mobley and W. B. Evans
HAVE an Encounter.
NEITHER MAN Is MUCH HURT.

1uE' AoOfSy AttaCAS mr. ESdnS, ~ nO
d. feIds Himself. The Two
Gentlemen Are Scpa-
ratod by Friends.
The Columbia State says after hav-
Ing received an unsatisfactory reply to
certain demands made by himself
upon Mr!W Boyd Evans, Mr.. Jno. G.
Mobley Of Fairfield Thursday attacked
Mr.. Evans with a rawhide. The
affair created a decided sensation, for
1t occurred almost In front of the
court house at a busy hour Of the
morning / and before the two men
could be parted large crowd had co..
lected.
It was evident that no mere politi-
cal disagreement caused the affair, for
Mr. Mobley, though a man Of high
spirit, has always been regarded as
very amiable and kindly IN his nature.
He and AIr. Evans are candidates for
the Office OF railroad commissioner,
and were contestants for the same po-
Sition two years ago. 1t was said
Wednesday that at a political meet
Ing at Hampton an encounter of this
kind was narrowly averted.
Mr.. Mobley, witnesses say, struck
Mr.. Evans at least four blows with
his horsewhlp which he had purchased
for the purpose. Mr.. Mobley was un-
armed and offered this, he says, as the
deepest insult which he could to one
who, he believed, had invaded his pri-
yate life In making political cam
paign. The two clinched after the
first few passionate bio VS. from the
rawhide. and friends rushed up. Mr.
Mobley tore himself away from those
who were trying to calm him and
there was another short encounter be-
fore Sheriff Coleman appeared and
separated the belligerent parties.
Each ~.as @.ass put under d peace bond for
$500 and summoned to appear in the
recorders court Friday morning.
MIR. Mobley stated Thursday that in
the last campaign stories damaging to
his character we're circulated. Not
withstanding the fact that he has
court records and atlidavits from hon
Orable men to show that the attack
upon himself was unjust, the same
stories have been put into circulation
recently. When he came to Columbia
Wednesday from his farm in Fairfield,
he was told that Mr. Evans was re-
sponsibB for the circulation of these
damaging reports. He Immediately
determined to demand an explanation
Of Mr.. Evans, and failing to get sat
isfactogy statement, he would apply
the horSewhip.
Thursday morning Mr.. Mobley, ac-
compaused by his counsin, Mr.. f. Nj.
Mobleys Sw11ted on Law Range until
Mc.sE neesars:.s.Ss.ss,seri introduc-
Ing f's.i7 7couslnSto Mr.. Evans, Mr.. Mob
ley stated the object Of his interview.
Mr.. Evans denied MI. Mobley's accu.
sation, whereupon Mr.. Mobley, 1t is
said, drew his rawhide from the pa ger
In which 1T was wrapped and struck
at MIR. Evans face. The latter, ward
ing off the blow, received the stroke
on his shoulder. In an instant several
blows with the whip were struck,
when Mr.. Evans closed in upon his as
sailant.
Before serious hurt was received by
either party friends interfered and
pushed them 10 or 20 feet apart. Upor
both demanding to be released ant
freeing themselves, they rushed to
gether and several blows were passed
| before the sheriff arrived.
The sheriff Immediately telephoned
for Magistrate Moorman and as sooI
as the papers could be executed MIR
Evans aud Mr.. Mobley we're put under
peace bonds. Mr.. Mobley stated tha
as far as he was concerned he wa!
satisfied and that he would not offc
any further personal violence to Mr.
Evans. Later both were summoned
to appear before the recorders cour
Friday morning on the charge o
"disordtrly conduct. l. is probable
tnat flll account OF the whole atfai
and circumstances leading up Il
Thursdays announcement may b
brought out. Mr.. Evans, when asket
by reporter if he desired to make
Il statement of the affair, said he was
reluctant at this time TO go into tn
whole matter and only cared for tht
present to make the foil owing state
ment.
Il have been summoned to appea
before the recorder tom)r morn
ing, being charged with disorderl
conduct, and | presume that Mr.
Mobley Is also to be tried. at th
trial l will testify, and do not thin
1t proper for me to make statemen
prior to that time"
Mr.. Mobley was also asked for an
Statement that he voluntarily cared t
make public. His position as charac
cried by himself is as follows:
Having been Informed 10y gentle
man OF high standing that Mr.. Evan
was using unfair methods to damag
my character | gave him an oppor
tunlty to deny or confirm this, whicl
he evaded in an insulting manner,
then applied horsewhip to him.
Il was totally unarmed, not hav
Ing even d pocket knife on my person
at the time Of the encounter. A
much as | regret having to do this
have no excuse TO offer for havin
thus protected my honor, which
hold dearer than my life."
The State says the affair between
Mr.. Jno. G.. Mobley and Mr.. w. Boy
Evans was not aired in the recorder
court Friday. 1t had been expects
from the statements of the two partie
concerning that interesting matte
would be presented. Mr.. Noble
pleaded guilty to the charge of dis
orderly { nduct and the case agains
Mr.. w. b pyd Evans was dismissed a
the charges could not be proved Tbi
result appeared satisfactory to all pal