The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1906-03-14
(Ry McDavid HOrton)

H0nru Pata, March 10, (SpeciaD-
Now that John Marion Ashley Is bur
led his slayer safely removed to An.
lcrs"n the troops gone and the town
settled down again to it's normal con-
'liiinn Of busy Industry. they are re-
JoicinS over the passing of the Ashley
Ian.
1t Is said that several years ago
while Mr.. J. G. Milford, now of Green
lille. was intent;tnt, John Marion Ash
ley had q fight in the town with his
'Wn brother, and bit Off his ear John
Marion fled then to the safety Of the
Ashley country. around keowee churc.,
'ut Mr.. Milford determined to arrest
md try him.
He met John Marion coming along
he road. In the buggy with him was
Josh Bgby. afterward killed by John
McGaha. John Marion would be con-
:"!nneG and go to 4 much warmer eli
nate before he would submit to A.
est. After Il little parley, during
Which Milford held the bride Of Ash.
ey's horse. John Marion wavered
title and seemed half disposed to sur.
'ender.
Mr.. Milford seized the psychological
moment. He turned the horses head
he buggy, seating himself In John
Marion Asiley's lap. The muscular
giant promptly grasped him in an en-
race Of steel, and said to McGaha
Now we've got him, let's take him out
INTO the woods and kill him."
The man who told mo the story says
lie does not doubt that they would have
:arried out the threat, had Mr.. Milford
shown the slightest uneasiness. He
simply overpowered them with
stronger will. saying
Here. boys. don't want any fool
lshness about this. I've got to get
back to town and try you fellows In
ttme to catch the train."'
He brought his prisoners into town
tried and convicted them and fined
John Marion $40. McGahas offence
md the amount Of his. fine T did not
earn. ."-.>.
THE CLANS CLAWS CLIPPED. e..
Time was when the Ashleys had their
own wild way in Honea Path. About
every other. Saturday n: hundred or
more Of them would gather along Main
street.. heavily armed, and shoot up the
Gown in true Western style. Now and
then some foolhnrdy townssnan would
show himser ON the streets during
l!A&le SOCluI ulScIsSlOl4, ana get
more Or less shot up =. -, ..'.:'E T..
The thing ceased to be Joke. Honea
Path became q city. with cotton mills,
banks, real estate offices and an opera
house. Six or eight determined men,
an leading citizens and substantial bus
tness men, formed themselves into g.
Kind Of vigilance committee. They
purchased Smlth and .Wesson and Colt
revofvers-not the little, pearl handled,
thirty-two pocket affairs, but big blue
business like forty-fours and thirty
,sights-and kept them handy. =: H..
The next time the Ashley clan came
In to whoop 'em up, there was a ,eure
prise party of the most effective kind:
Stafd business men, who had been
wont on previous occasions to close
their stores and seek safety in the dim
clofstered atmosphere of the cellars,
stood In their doors and systematically
sent solid slugs singing down the treet,
methodically reloading and firing cool-
ly and carefully. The Ashleys retired,
bag and baggage, carrying their.
wounded with them. It was a. rout
complete and ignominious, ;;,%,.t:%s>- ~
.: But one dose did not suffice. When
the lesson had been Kindergarten.
they tried it agniu, with the same re-
suit. No lives were lost, but It was =
miracle. -, -. = Is: 81 ), ),
For instance, John .Mcaaha, ono OF
the worst, with two notches Id his gum;
came in one day alone. Gae was full
Of liquor. had two pistols and "a box
Of cartridges and was In: his ;NRlihst
mood. He, held up an unfortunate ne-
gro and compelled him TO get into his
huggy and drive for. .fiim,s ~; q: :,.S
Then no tnYe t1ou,,1 !; Nf q ~. a$fnnt fo1-,