The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1904-06-17
CANDIDATES FIGHT.
Messrs. J, g. Mobley and W. B. Evans
Kave an Encounter.
NEITHER MAN Is MUCH HURT.
Mr. NIebloy Attacks MIR. Evans, Who
Dr. feIds Himself. The Two
Gentlemen Arc Scpa-
rated by Friends.


Gentlemen Arc scpa-
rated 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 rawhide. The
affair created decided sensation, for
1t occurred almost In front Of the
court house at q busy hour of the
morning and before the two mep
could be parted a large crowd had co..
lected. y
1t 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 Mr.. 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 avertGd.
MIR. Mobley, witnesses say, struck
Mr.. Evans at least four blows with
his horsewhip 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 a political cam
paign. The two clinched after the
hrst 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 was put under a peace bond for
$500 and summoned to appear In the
recorders court Friday morning.
Mr.. Mobley stated Thursday that in
the last campaign stories damaging to
his character were circulated. Not
withstanding the fact that he has
court records and ailidavits 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-
sponsiblp 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-
compaRed by his cOunsin, MIR. +. Nj.
Mobley v1lted on Law Range until
Nc sEY tarrsare.-st.jS.esssaaeri introduc-
ing S..5cousinlto Mr.. Evans, Mr.. Mob
ley stated the object of his Interview.
Mr.. Evans denied MIR. Mobley's accu.
sation, whereupon Mir. Mobley, it is
said, drew his rawhlde from the paper
in which 1t was wrapped and struck
at Mr.. Evans face. The latter, ward
ing of 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 interfcred 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 passet
before the sheriff arrived.
The sheriff Immediately telephonet
for Magistrate Moorman and as sool
as the papers could be executed MIR
Evans and Mr.. Moblev were put unde
peace bonds. Mr.. Mobley stated tina
as far as he was concerned he wa
satisfied and that he would not offe
any further personal violence to Mr.
Evans. Later both were summoned
to appear before the recorders cour
Friday morning on the charge o
"disordCrly conduct. l. is probabl,
tnat fill account OF the whole affai
and circumstances leading up t.
Thursdays announcement may b
brought out. Mr.. Evans, when aske,
by reporter If he desired to max,
a statement Of the affair. said he wa,
reluctant at this time to go into tn
whole matter and only clred for tn,
present to make the following state
ment.
l have been summoned to appe;l
before the recorder tomorrow morn
ing, being charged with disorderl
conduct, and presume that Nj
Mobley Is also to be tried. at tn
trial l will testify, and do not thin
1t proper for me to make a statemen
prior to that time"
Mr.. Mobley was also asked for an
statement that he voluntarily cared t
make public. His position as charaC
crized by himself is as follows:
Having been Informed by gentle
man OF high standing that Mr.. Evan
was using unfair methods TO damag
my character l gave him an oppol
tunity to deny or confirm this, whic
he evaded In an insulting manner,
then applied a horsewhip to him.
Il was totally unarmed, not ha,
ing even a pocket knife on my perso
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 betwee
MIR. Jno. G.. Mobley and Mr.. w. Boy
Evans was not aired in the recorder
court Friday. 1t had been expecte
from the statements OF the two partie
concerning that interesting matte
would be presented. Mr.. Noble
pleaded guilty to the charge of di.
j orderly c nduct and the case agains
Mr.. W. b yd Evans was dismissed d
the charges could not be proved. Tbt
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