The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1904-11-18
KILLED EACH OTHER.
Two Disper sary Constables Have q
Fatal Fight at Eastover.
FOUGHT ABOUT AN ovERCoAT.

ing. Before tho Shooting They
Were on the Best
OF Terms.
The State says one Of the most
shocking tragedies that has ever
been known In Richland occurred late
Wednesday afternoon liz peaceful
Eastover, 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. 1rby 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 a buggy
drawn by two horses. They reached
the pretty village late in tho 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 it. 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
lrby told him that there was nothing
(no whiskey) there. Let's 60 back
to Columbia said Irby.
I!hy get into the Buggy, and the
two drove { # in the direction of Co.
lumbia. In the meantime negro
came back to Karsee's store with an
overcoat which he had picked up in
the road. Mr.. Karsee said that he
knew whose the coat was and took 1t
into the store. After about 15 min
les the buggy, with the two con.
stables. drove back through the street
and to Karsee's 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 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.
left it In your keeping. You ought to
have known something about it..
Come on, let's go back to Columbia
ntirr:a,1--sthi: IA IL.
No I'm not going before get sat-
isfaction. You siid stole your over
coat and I'm not going until l get
satlsfaction," retorted Phillips.
THE SCENE CHANGED.
MIR. Karsee, seeing that there was
to be trouble, took hold Of Phillips
and told him to get 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 Mr..
Ed Mckenzie, and taking him back
iuto 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 TO the
buggy with Mr.. Mckenzie and told
Irby he would not go with him. Irby
Insisted on his going but he still re-
fuApU IrhV rulla6 ,ya,.
coat and laid 1t In the buggy,
taking from 1t his revolver, which he
suck in his hip pocket He caught
Phillips by the collar and told him he
had to go, at the same time slapping
his face.
Mckenzie got between the men
aud tried to part them, proposing
that Ilby should go in the buggy and
Phillips on the train, or vice versa.
lrby 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. Ilby drew his
own revolver and began to shoot at
Phillips, firing several shots, so it is
understood. Mckenzie, to get out of
the guntire, ran into his store.
Phillips fell dead, shot through the
back jnst where the suspenders cross
lrby walked about q few moments
and then went into the store and was
told To sit down. He lived possibly
10 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
ascertainea Wednesday night he made
no statement after the shooting, ex
cept that lie said Hes got me" just
after Phillips fired at him. He was
shot about midway between 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 tuc deplorable affair
soon reached Columbia and Chief Con.
stable q. b. Hammet immediately
communicated with Eastoyer by tcle-
I,@l,. 4