Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-02-27
TRIAL OF GEORGE HAsTY.
Sensational Murder Case to be Heard
In Gaffney This Week.

|
In Gaffney This Week.
George Hasty, arraigned at Gaffney
yesterday for the murder Of George
Abbott Davidson and Milan Bennett,
Of the Nothing But Money company
last fall, will be tried during this week.
The following review Of the case Is as
prepared by Mr.. ]. Brian Bell for the
| Spartanburg Herald:
This case will probably be the most
hotly contested one that Cherokee
county has experienced since its for
nation in 1897. Solicitor Sease who
will have charge Of the prosecution Will
be assisted by Hon. ]. c. Otis, Capt. j.
B. Bell and j. c. Jefferies, Esq. Of the
local bar. Hasty will be represented by
Butler and Osborne also Of the local
| bar. 1t is understood now that no
nonresident counsel will be employed
on either side.
It will be remembered that on Dec.
IA of last year. 1.-THE Nothing But
Money Company" came to Gaffney to
give a performance on that night,
stopping at the Piedmont Inn, conduct
cd by Hasty Brothers; that on the
morning of the 18th when George Alb
bott Davidson, the star performer, MI
Ian Bennett, musical director, Miss
Verne Sheridan nd Miss May Bishop,
members of the company were In the
dining room taking breakfast, George
Hasty came into the room, and Miss
Sheridan told Mr.. Bennett that Hasty
was the ma7 who had tried to get into
her room the night before, and had
looked over her transom, and then
tried to get in at a window which
opened out on balcony. Miss Bishop
then told Mr.. Davidson that the same
man had insulted her while she was
In her room on the afternoon before.
Miss Bishop and Miss Sheridan testi-
fed that Mr.. Bennett walked over to
where Hasty was sitting, and then told
him that "he owed Miss Sheridan an
apology that no gentleman would look
over a lady's transom," that Hasty de-
MED having done so, and asked Mr..
Bennett to come outside" Then Ben
nett followed him out of the dining
room. and that Mr.. Davidson also fol-
lowed them, and that while Hasty and
Mr.. Bennett were talking Mr.. David
son said that Is the same fellow and
struck Hasty. Immediately Hasty shot
twice at Mr.. Davidson, one ball taking
effect in his side and the other going
astray. Mr.. Davidson grappled with
him trying to get the weapon. Has
ty jerked loose and shot Mr.. Bennett
through the heart. Mr.. Bennett threw
hall and in a moment fell dead. Miss
Bishops testimony is practically the
same as Miss Sheridan's. Will Hasty
brother Of George, testified that he
saw the shooting, and that his brother
shot Bennett and Davidson In self
fense, that they had attacked him.
Bennett having hold Of him and David
son with a knife, and that George shot
in self defense. 1t will be seen from
the testimony of Will Hasty that his
(George's) plea will be self-defense.
The supreme court of South Carolina
says: THAT when a man is attacked,
he may repel force with like force, and
that when he sets up self-defense he
must show that the difficulty was
brought about by no fault Of his own"
The gentlemen who represent Hasty
are successful practitioners and Will
leave nothing undone to secure an ac-
quittal for their client. On the other
hand, Mr.. Sease. the solicitor has the
reputation Of being one Of the strong
est prosecuting attorneys In the
state. He Is able, conscientious, and
fearless in the discharge of his du-
ties. and with the assistance which will
be rendered him by local counsel. 1t
is thought that Hasty will have hard
time in convincing the jury Of his
right to be acquitted.
1t is believed by the public In gen.
eral that there will be no motion for
change Of venue nor for continuance.
If a motion for a change Of venue
should be granted, the case would
have to be tried in either Union or
Spartanburg. as there are only three
counties in the seventh judicial cir
cult, Spartanburg, Union and Chero-
kee.
Miss Sheridan and Miss Bishop and
possibly other members Of the Moth
ing But Money Company" will be here
to testify at the trial. Misses Bishop
and Sheridan will be entertained in the
homes of private families while here.
At this time when the whole south
and a good many other sections are
looking toward the scene Of the mur-
der and the place for the trial, 1T might
not be out Of place to give few facts
which will no doubt be received with
interest by the eager public.
Abbott Davidson, Zone of the men
killed by Hasty) was the star and
part owner of the Nothing But Money
| Company" He was a man of perhaps
| thirty years of age. One of singularly
pleasing personality. He was a mem
ber of the following secret orders:
Knights Of Pythias Masons and Elks.
The home of Mr.. Davidson was New
York. He was reported to have been
engaged to he married to Miss Bishop,
lady Of his company and witness
at the coming trial.
Milan Bennett was described at the
| time as not Snowman" as they are
called but was with the company on
account Of friends. He was musical
director of the company. He was the
composer of several operas. among the
number. "The Gibson Girl" which had
a successful run in both New York and
Boston. Both Miss Sheridan and Miss
Bishop were from New York. Both
these ladies appeared in the play,
Nothing But Money" Mr.. Austin
| Walsh was manager and part owner
Of the company with Mr. Davidson.
Miss Sheridan was reported to have
been engaged to marry Mr.. Bennett, 1t
having been said that the day for the
wedding of both this couple and that
of Mr.. Davidson and Miss Bishop had
! been set.
Other members of the company
were: Frank Bennett (not a relative
to deceased) who played a leading
role. that of Harry Mann. advance
agent in Nothing But Money"
Iohn F. Peck who acted as Prof.
Conn Gus Carney as Buttons, Robert
| Tavlor. advance representative. 9th
or ladies besides Misses Sheridan and
bishop: the Helton Sisters and Miss
Reehe were from New York.
- Havana. Feb. 25: The quartered
town of Qua "abacoa, occupied by
| twenty rural guards, was attacked ear
ly this morning by about thirty riot
Crs. armed with rifles and revolvers,
who suddenly entered from the rear
and began shooting Unfortunately
into the dormitories of the sleeping
soldiers, shouting Long live the con-
stitution." Long live the Liberty par
ty' and Down with the rural guards"
AS soon as the dazed soldiers realized
the situation they seized their arms
and began to return the fire. whereup-
on the rioters fled. None of them have
been arrested. 1t was found that a SER
geant had been killed in his bed and
that corporal on guard also was kill
ed while four rural guards were
wounded. Nothing took place during
Saturdays celebration of Independence