The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-03-14

tbe Ashley clan, was thrust into the lime
light again by the affray OF Thursday after
noon.
smouldering nres OF passion nared high
following the killing OF John Marion Ashley
who was believed to have been the chief In
ing and was Josh Aehley's lieutenant ip com
mand of the Ashley clan; an attempt by the
clansmen 10 fnd and lynch Chief OF Police
w bite for Staying their ktnsman reused the
people Of Honea Path. and only the timely
derson with loaded Krag- j orgensens a, erted
q bloody riot.
BLOODY RIOT AvERTED.
Capt. McCully was ordered by telegraph &c
gut n1nsS bis comPany T at the service OF Sheriff
bis men aboard special train which made
the distance OF seventeen miles 10 Hones
Path In little over twenty minutes.
Capt. McCully formed his men In sing le
"Load!" Sight of the long. vicious looking
cartridges clicking into the magazines-six
steeljaok ct bullets In each rife-hsd a salu.
tary effect, and considerably tanned tho hos
Of Ash leys and Ashley sympathizers.
The soldiers had come at the critics period
The situation was tense and delicate In the
extreme. The disturbing element, growing
valorous with liquor and numbers, was get.
ting reckless; the townstolk were exasperated
and incensed beyond endurance, and had
about made up their minds TO clesr theil
streets by force OF arms. Both sides we're we'll
equipped with weapons. I saw more Win.
chester at Hones Path today than ever saw
al one time before.
Capt. McCully, Lieutenant Craig and Lieu.
tenant Farmer marched the company to the
store where Chief Of Police White, kept oon-
ger OF lynohing by the mob gathered ID front
In column Of fours the milltismen walked
straight through the crowd and went on
guard. Patrols we're posted up and down the
street. and Officer White brought out and sent
down 10 the railway station In the middle OF
q squad OF khaki-clad young soldiers. he
was placed on the engine which had drawn
the special train, and carried for safekeeping
to Anderson, In charge OF q deputy sheriff.
SOLDIERS GONE BACK.
Sheriff Green took command, and with bis
influence and the moral effect Of the bust.
. ess-like soldiers slowly patroling the town,
things began to resume normal status. At
Q 80 O'Clock this morning the troops were TAX
arms In hall on Main street all day. II was
decided this aflsrno DON mat IL would be safe
TO dispense with them, and they left for An.
derson al O'Clock.
THE INQUEST.
Trouble was expected at the INQUEST but Il
failed TO materiallze. Ashleys be gan TO gath.
er from all directions before daylight. Rep
resenatlve Josh Ashley was In the midst OF
them, and was obeyed ns serfs OF feudal days
ed for the prosecution Mr.. W. p. Green, OF
the Abbeville bar, and busted himself in
securing the names OF witnesses. He made
an effort TO secure the services OF Capt, b. q.
Watkins had already been engaged by the
Defense.
The inquest was held in the small building
known as the mayors Office. Coroner Pruitt
was assisted by Magistrate Wilson. First the
Jury vent TO view the body. which was laid
so small that My the coroner, the jury, the
the physicians and attorneys and the news.
paper men were admitted.
MARION ASHLEY, VIKING.
John Marion Aehley-and down here thsy
say Ma-re-on-was Modernized Morse viz.
sive, ath letic he bad q square Jaw and q pro-
trudlng chin. With the florid complexion,
sweeping yellow moustache and straw color.
ed hair characteristic OF the family.
Between his eyes was the bulge significant
OF dangerous tempe while his chin was long
and eloquent OF doegedness and tenaoity.
The wide, thin.lipped mouth bore CHASTITY,
In the Chest, magnificent of breadth and
depth, we're two little blue trimmed holes that
told the story. Either would have proved
mortal.
JOSH ASHLEY BUSY.
When the jury returned to the mayors of.
questioning Of Mr.. Green and the oross-eI.
animation Of Capt. Watkins, Coroner Pruitt
carried the affair along carefully but With
out loss Of time. Josh Ashley was the most
Interested locker on. he behaved we'll TO-
day. believe that his presence had rather
q quieting eject upon his adherents. The
CLINT Of the. bayonets may have con yinced
him oft wisdom Of this policy.
When arrived on the morning train from
Greenyille, went uptown With Mr.. ]. @.
Milford, who had been summoned 10 aid the
townsmen and bis nerve and we'll known
prowess, and Mr.. w. B. Jones, OF this city,
who was needed as an officer TO take the
place OF Chief OF Police White
twenty minutes had convinced the disturb
ing element that he was n joker. His quiet
confident bearing made most helpful
impression.
The Ashley gang" is q sore point with
were determined to put up with no more
lnvasions Of their own and that 1t was fort,
innate the soldiers arrived and spared them
the necessity ofa riot 10 expeI the gang.
years old. He leaves q large family, most OF
them being grown. he was a quiet enough
Citizen whom sober, but was addicted 10
drinking and when under the influence OF
whiskey was disposed to be troublesome.
" VI.
He 10 q native OF Ninety Six, and served on
the police force there before coming TO Honee
Path. He is well liked by those who know
him, and iB said to be fearless, efficient OF.
hoer.
An elderly man named Ricketts, was stand.
Ing near when the shooting took place. A
bullet struck the pavement and glanced and
struck MIR. Ricketts, in the foot. His shoe
was torn open and the skin on his foot was
broken but no other damage resulted. The
bn llet rebounded and fell 10 the ground some
distance away.
While the town ia still full Of people 1 do
not apprehend any trouble tonight
AsHLEY's FUNERAL TODAY.
After the postmortem examination this
morning, the body OF John Marion Ashley
was prepared for burial and taken to bis late
home, three miles from HoneR Path. The
funeral Will take place at 10 O'Clock this
morning at Keowee church.
BAIL FOR WHITE.
Application will be made to Judge Prince
IN IN Anderson today for an order admitting
After view OF the body and examination o.
McClain, Moore and the three physicians, the
jury expressed Itself as satisfied with the evi
dence and retired. returning shortly with this
verdict:
"Upon view of the body of John Marion
Ashley, OF the county OF Abbevlle and the
State OF South Carolina. then and there being
dead, We do say by our oaths that the said
John Marion Ashley came to his death BY q
pistol shot at the hands OF J. B. White"
Opposed to the testimony Of McClain and
NJ oore, both acknowledged Ashley cansmen
is that OF Policeman 8. A. Haynes. Mr.. A. W.
Stepp and two Of the leading business men oi
the town, who do not Wish their names used
until the trial, for obvious reasons. Their
however, were taken before O
notary public, after the Inquest, for use In the
ball proceedings. I was permitted TO take
them down, and they are reproduced here
just as they were dictated to the stenogra-
pher.
The first follows:
IL was standing yesterday afternoon In
front Of j. 4. Cal allahams store in Honea Path