The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1905-09-12
SAD TRAGEDY IN SALUDA.
Senator Eugene S. Blease Kills His
Brother-in-Law and Former
Friend.

When il was announced here on
last Friday evening that Senator Eu-
gene S. Blease had killed Joe Ben
Coleman everyone was surprised and
shocked for both were well known
in this county, the former having been
born and educated here and the latter
we'll known. They both married Sis
ters, daughters Of Mr.. James Herbert
of 'Saluda county. Mrs. Coleman has
been dead for about two years.
The following is a synopsis OF the
! terrible tragedy as written tor the
state bv Mr.. William Banks including
the following statement by Mr.. Blease
himself:
"Saluda, S. c., Sept 9, 1oo5.-Ihe
death OF Mr.. Joe Ben Coleman Oh yes
terday was caused on account ot the
discovery by me of intimate relations
existing between Mr.. Coleman and
Mrs. Blease."
Mr.. Blease Immediately gave ilirn-
self up to the sheriff and is still IN
his custody.
William Coleman a brother of the
deceased did not care TO make
statement and the deceased though
he was conscious for several hours
from the time he was shot until his
death at 3 o'clock the next morning
made no statement.
At the county jail there was no
difficulty in having an interview with
Senator E. S. Blease, who was sur-
rounded there with sorrowlng rela-
tives, and at the moment that the re-
quest for information was prottered
he was giving statement under oath
to Magistrate J. H. Etheredge. Mrs.
Blease was present at the same time
and had given an affidavit. These affl-
davits could not be obtained, and the
only expression was that which Sena-
tor Blease subsequently, dictated to
one OF his attorneys. and was handed
to the correspondent of the State by
his brother, Senator Cole L. Blease,
and one of his attorneys, Mr.. B. w.
Crouch.
So far as can be learned, Senator
Blease was not informed of the con-
ditions which led TO- the homicide
until the very day of The shooting. 1t
is stated that he. then became aware,
through reliable channels, of the fact
that incriminating.. correspondence
had passed and, he at once drove to
the home of his father-in-law, five
miles in the country, where his wife
and their little girl of seven years
had been staying for while. Mrs.
Blease is said to have said enough
TO convince Senator Blease that his
susDicions were not illfounded and he
came back to Saluda in terrible
state of mental agitation. Some have
said that he was drinking at the time,
but those who saw him soon after the
tragedy say not.
When he arrived at the store OF
Coleman, Webb & Co., H. G. Crouch,
who married sister of Mrs. Blease
and of the late Mrs Coleman, was
witness of what happened. There is
no record of what Blease first said
to Coleman, but he subsequently
threw upon the counter small der
ringer and declared vehemently that
the country was too small for Cole
man and himself both and he chal-
lenged Coleman to fight it out. Cole
man showed an indsposition to take
up the challenge in the spirit in which
was Offered and Blease then drew
magazine pistol. Mr.. Crouch seized
Blease and begged Coleman to get
away. This Coleman did without de-
lay. His courage was unquestloned,
and there may have been motives of
other than that of seeking personal
safety which caused him to try and
avoid mortal combat.
4.