The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-12-20
Two Theatrical Men Shot by Ho'
, tel Proprietor.
ONE OF Thu KILLED

{. mpany kesfnt@a SonouS VI
q Gaffney Hotel Men,
Who Shot Folh.
A 5is patch to The State from G Fl
ney says tire usual q1iet OF the CITY
was disturbed about 8 As o'clock Fri
day evening by tha report OF q reVoiV
er three times in quick su~cceasion,
followed quickly by the screams OF
women crying murder" The police
ret ponded to the Gil from the PIED
mont inr, conducted by Haster Broth
ers. AS they went in, a man came out
calling for a doctor.
IL vest.gation showed that Geor e
Hasty, one Ct the prcprietors, Lad shot
and Instantly killed MIR. Milan BIN
nett, musical director Of Nothing
But Money. company, which showed
there Thursday night, and possibly
mortally Nour ded MI. Abbott DaVi'
son; the comedian al d ear performer.
Is was Mr.. Dawson who came dowp
the steps calling for a dc or. The
sheriff and police flrce arrested Hasty
and lodged him in jail. TEe coroner
was notified and enraneled u jury.
The Jury was taken to the hotel Wnere
tie DEAD body was viewed and they
adjourned to meet at the court house
at l.30 where TIE testimony was
heard. The followir 6 Is the, testimony
as given by the witnesses:
TIE LADY's hvILENCE.
Miss Verne Sheridan tes. it'd that
after CT mipg back from tho theatre
the and MI. Bennett bad q little lunch
in her room aft which Mr.. Bennett
left, locking her windows securely be
fore telling her good night, as be heard
how Miss Bishop had been annoyed
by q man early in the afternoon. Soon
sf .er Mr.. Bennett left she heard some
one at the door. She did not say any
thing. In a moment he went out on
the ye1anda and attempted to get IL
her wirdJw, wb G J. opened on tho yer.
anda. Failir 8 there, he came b OK to
the door and attem pied to break it In
by putting his weight against 1t. He
then cline ed up.to the trsnsom and at.
tempted to look IN BY striking a mat
Oh. She recognized George Hasty.
She tEen called MI. Bsnnett, ard
Hasty dropped down from the tran
som.
She opened the door and calltd M.
Bennett sgain. Mr.. Bennett csue but
could find no one. He then told her
to 90 to bed ana he would sit In the
room and write mus.c. She objected
to this, but he would not hear to leaV.
inp her there alone. So he sat there
until 4 o'cltc OK Friday moInit 6, when
he went to bis room for q 6 mfOrter,
which he wrapped ar, und him, sleep
ing on I'll Q foot Of the bed TIL 7. He
left her then, telling that be would
call her in time to catch the train.
At 8 he called Der and went to the
postt flee, telling the negro boy t.
make her q fire. The negro came to
the door and she told him to wait q
few mil utes till she could let him In.
In q moment or two George H .sty
knocked at the door and asked mr. II
she lad fire, when she told him that
she cid not have any, nor did she
want any. She then shut the door
When Mr.. Bennett me back she told
him OF the occurrence az they went tc
breakfast. Soon Hasty came In from
the kitchen and was poiped cut to Mr.
Bennett.
The young lady begged Mr.. Benne'
not to bother with 1t, net to have 9
fuss. He said he would speak to him
about 1t in q moment. He then went
to Hasty and said sc mething to hin
In a low tone. Hasty began at onct
to deny whatever Mr.. BeLnet had said
When Bennett turned to her and asked
If be was the man, beirg told positive
" that he wss, Bepnet said, Il d.
not wish to cs use any trCCble, bu
Just wish to tell you that any mai
who will look over the tranSom ef
lady's sleeping apartments Goes 20
Confirm with my ideas OF a gentle
man."
The young lady then told Mr.. Ben
nett to let him alone, If he was low
enough to do the trick, he was lov
enough to deny it. Mr.. Bennett the
started to walk away, when Mr.. Hast.
asked him In the hall. When the.
went ont Miss Bishop came 10 AM
asks what the trouble was. Whei
Miss Sheridan tcld her Of the occur
erce, she laid. That's the man VIII
insulted me T. ursday afternoon.
At that MI. Dawson, Who was sitting
at the table jumpted up ard tool
his glasses of, saying to Miss B'shoI
us that the fellow p Mss BishoI
told him he was, but asked him no
to have any row with him. She trie'
to hold him back, but he would g.
he went cut and said 'Y.u are tt
anne fellow" and struck him.
THE SHOOTING
Immediately Hasty shot twice q
MIR. Dawson, one ball taking III
in his side and the other z. ing aslrsJ
Mr.. Dawson grappled with him, try
ing to get the weapon. sty jerke
loose and shot Mr.. B. nIett throug
the heart. Mr.. Bennett threw d