Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-03-16
Mistellauuus 8adins.
PEACE AT HoNEA PATH.

NO. %.

the troops gone and the town settled
down to its normal condition, they
are rejoicing of the passing Of the
Ashley clan.
It is said that several years ago
while Mr.. ]. C. Milford, now Of Green
Vile, was intendant, John Marion
Ashley had fight in town with his
own brother, and bit off his ear.
John Marion then fed to the safety
Of the Ashley country, around Keowee
church. but Mr.. Milford determined
to arrest and try him.
He met John Marion coming along
the road. In the buggy with him
was Josh Bigby, afterwards killed by
John McGaha. John Marion would
be condemned and go to a much
warmer climate before he would sub
NIT to arrest. After little parley
during which Milford held the bri-
die Of Ashley's horse, John Marion
wavered little and seemed half dis
posed to surrender.
Mr.. Milford seized the psychology
cal moment. He turned the horses
head back toward town and climbed
into the buggy seating himself in
John Marion Ashley's lap. The mus
cular giant promptly grasped him in
an embrace of steel, and said to Nc
Gaha: "Now we've got him; lets take
him out into the woods and kill
him."
The man who told me the story
says he does not doubt they would
have carried out their threat had Mr..
Milford shown the slightest uneasi-
ness. He simply overpowered them
with a strong will, saying:
Here, boys, don't want any fool
ishness about this I've got to get
back to town and try you fellows in
time to catch the train"
He brought the prisoners into
town, tried and convicted them. and
fined John Marion $40. McGaha's
offense and the amount of his fine
did not learn.
Time was when the Ashleys had
their own wild way in Honea Path.
About every other Saturday 100 or
more of them would gather along
Main street, heavily armed, and shoot
up the town in true western style.
Now and then some foolhardy towns
man would show himself on the
streets during these social diversions
and get more or less shot up.
The thing ceased to be joke. Ho-
nea Path became a city. with cotton
mills, banks, real estate offices and an
opera house. Six or eight determined
men, all leading citizens and substan-
tial business men, formed themselves
into a kind Of vigilant committee
They purchased Smith & Wesson and
Colt reyolvers-not the little, pearl
handle, 80. pocket affairs. but big
blue, business like AIS and 3S's-and
kept them handy.
The next time the Ashley clan
came in to whoop 'em up, there was a
surprise party of the most effective
kind Staid business men, who had
been wont on previous occasions to
CIOSc SlOIco dIlu SCCh odaCby IA
the dim cloistered atmosphere Of the
cellars stood in their doors and sys-
tematically sent solid slugs singing
down the street methodically reload
ing and firing coolly and carefully.
The Ashleys retired, bag and baggage,
carrying their wounded with them
1t was a rout, complete and igno-
minious.
But one dose did not suffice. When
the lesson had been half forgotten,
they tried 1t again with the same re-
suit. No lives were lost, but 1t was a
miracle.
For instance, John McGaha, one Of
the worst, with two notches in his
gun, came in one day alone. He was
full Of liquor, had two pistols and q
box Of cartridges and was in his ugli-
est mood He held up an unfortu-
nate negro and compelled him to
get into his buggy and drive for him.
Then he tore down Main street.
taking a pot shot right and left at
peaceable citizens. The yigilant COM
mittee's AIS appeared again. No
fewer than fifty shots were fired at
McGaha. One sent his broad-brim-
med black hat spinning, another
ripped a long rent In his coat and
another furrowed his cheek, while
three perforated the back Of the bug
gy. None grazed the negro and NC
Gaha seemed to bear a charmed life,
for he did not receive serious
wound.
The lesson was not finished. 1t
was almost enough, however, and
Honea Path breathed long sigh of
relief when John Marion Ashley
came to an early death Thursday al
ternoon. The town deplored the
tragedy, and no one regretted 1t more
than Chief Of Police White, who fired
the fatal shot, but everybody Is
thankful for the riddance of Ashley.
It fs the opinion here, backed up
by the affidavits of five respectable
business men, against the testimony
Of the two Ashley clansmen, that Mr..
White did not fire until his club had
been shot from his hand and two big
men, one with a smoking pistol raised
in both hands, advanced upon him.
Honea Path is determined that its
orderly and industrious citizenship
shall not again be disturbed by row.
dies Of the Ashley or any other clan.
For some time every hagrant preach
Of the peace has been punished by
fines ranging from $40 to 800 and
the Ashley clansmen have been made
to realize that their heyday Is past.
Twenty years ago no man dared ar
rest one Of them, for fear OF the Ven-
geance that would be meted out.
Now Honea Path has police force,
and a good one, backed up by the in
tendant who has decreed that the
Ashleys or any other people who vio-
late his ordinances shall be arrested
and punished If 1t takes a military
company to do 1t.
Mayor ]. B. Humbert is an ideal
man for the place. Behind him are
such men as the Monroe brothers,
C. E. Harper, P. w. Sullivan, ]. X.
Callahan and M. I. Brock.
Mr.. j. C. Milford, now Of Green
Vile, was formerly one of the nerviest
of the vigilants and he still holds
himself ready to help in the good
work. He was summoned by tele-
graph after the tragedy Thursday,
and went on the first train.
AS he stepped from the car, tall,
stalwart, confident and commanding.
there was a whisper and a sudden
movement in the crowd. Nearly all
of them were Ashley men, and their
behavior showed that he was a man
marked for their enmity. But they
opened their ranks and stood aside,
while he strobe carelessly through
them.