Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-04-07
BLOODY PISTOL TRAGEDY.

John Warlick killed. Jeff Warlick
painfully wounded, and Lawrence
Marley in Jail awaiting trial on the
charge of murder is the net result OF a
bloody tragedy that occurred in the
barber shop of Paul Means, colored,
on the corner Of Congress and Liberty
streets, Yorkville, last Saturday after
noon.
| Just what the row was about it has
not been practicable to learn, and 1t Is
difficult also to get at exactly what
happened and how. There were
number of people present and each Is
positive enough as to his story; but so
great was the excitement Of the situa-
ton and so quickly was it all over,
that the stories Of different witnesses
conflict as to various details.
AS to whether there was anything
behind the row, has but vaguely ap-
peared. There are some rumors that
there was; but these rumors have not
been developed, and will probably be a
subject for later investigation. 1t was
at about o'clock in the afternoon.
Messrs. Jeff and Polk Warlick were In
the barbershop. Mr.. Lawrence Marley
came in and there developed jangle
between him and Mr.. Polk Warlick.
Others present paid no attention to
what was going on. There was moth
| ing in it to excite especial interest so
| it is said, until finally Polk Warlick
applied to Marley an epithet that Is
generally supposed to call for blows.
Marley remarked: Il can't fight you
and your brother both; but I will go
eff and get my brother and come back"
About 7 or 10 minutes later, some
say Is minutes, Marley returned.
Polk Warlick had gone out in the
meantime, but his brother Jeff was in
the BARRIERS chair. Marley said to
him, Now you may call me what you
want to-" and Warlick replied that he
did not want to call him anything.
Then John Warlick, who had not par
ticipated previously, came in the side
door. One statement has it that Mar
ley had already drawn his pistol, and
John Warlick ordered him mot to do
anything like that" Another state
ment has it that overhearing Marley's
remark to Jeff, John replied, Yes, call
him a s. of a b or anything else
YOU want to-" But whatever was
said. the firing commenced immedi-
ately. Marley fired two shots at John
and then turned his pistol on Jeff, who
was still in the chair. Both OF the
Warlicks were making for Marley. and
a scuffle ensued About that time,
Polk Warlick returned and Joined in
the affray. He jerked the revolver
out of Marley's hand and snapped IT
all round; but it was already empty
and threw it away. Marley started to
leave: but VIM. Rogers caught hold Of
him and insisted that he remain.
Deputy Sheriff Quinn and Constable
Peters were both in the court house,
across the street and coming to the
scene at once they took charge of Mar
ley and carried him to Jail.
Shortly after being shot, John War
lick sank down and expired within
about five minutes. His body lay on
the street for perhaps half an hour
when Coroner Louthian had it moved
to one of the offices in the court house.
Jeff Warlick, though pretty badly
wounded was able to walk to the office
of Drs. White & Kell. where his wounds
were dressed He had been shot
twice. once in the arm and once in the
left side The doctors were unable to
say at the time what the outcome
would be: but thought he would get
well. Marley was scratched and
bruised in the scuffle; but was not Sc
riously hurt.
The pistol used by Marley was 3S-
calibre Iver Johnson. There was no
evidence at the cOrOner's inquest as to
where he got it. Several street stories
were to different effect. One was that
he had the weapon in his pocket from
the beginning another that he went
out and borrowed it; but the most
likely one seems to be that he went to
his home In the LOckmore mill viii