The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1909-08-27
Newspaper Proprietor Prints
Story Concerning a Woman,
Refuses to Retract and
Goes to Morgue.
SLAYER is A REAL
SOLDIER OF FORTUNE
Has Reputation in Central
America as Gun Fighter
Article Reflects Upon His
SiSter-in-LaW.

IdndHld, aug. ll.-IeH. f1eTDeTL ~.
Jeffries, leader in the Panama revolu-
ton and fighter in many gun battles.
has killed William Nicholas Chandler.
editGr of the Panama Press. The kill
ing occurred in the Press office and
resulted from an article printed in the
Press and supposed to reflect on Mrs.
Clause E. Guyant, sister-in-law of JEFF
fries.
Soon after the paper was published
Thursday Jeffries entered the Press
office and demanded an apology.
Chandler refused, and the two men
grappled. Jeffries drew a revolver and
when Chandler advanced struck him
on the head with the butt of the weap-
on. Chandler, dazed, was struck blow
after blow until he sank to the floor.
Both Arrested; Victim Soon Dies.
One of the office boys summoned a
policeman. A police surgeon was call
ed and Chambers wounds dressed.
Both men then were placed under ar
rest. Later Chandler, who was releas-
ed, became unconscious. 1t was found
that Jeffries's revolver had fractured
his skull in two places and he died in
less than an hour.
The article to which Jeffries object
ed appears in the latest number OF
the Press. While no names are men,
toned, the affair with which it deals
has been such general gossip on the
isthmus that there is no chance of
mistake being made. 1t is common
talk that Mrs. Guyant, Jeffries's Sis
ter-in-law, having gone to the Taboga
sanitarium to recuperate from an at
tack of malaria. became intoxicated.
1t is alleged that while in this condi-
ton hospital physician put her to
bed, and the gossips said the doctor
remained in the room longer than
necessary under the circumstances.
Her husband, at that time, was in
Panama.
Eiopement Caused Much Talk.
Mrs. Guyant before her marriage
was Miss Estella A. Bang. She is
only IS years old. She and Consul
General Guyant eloped last June and
were married in Colon. That affair
caused lot of talk at the time.
Jeffries was born in New York and
commanded the Pacific floti!la of the
Panama republic when that nation
came into being. He is a graduate of
West Point, an athlete, and has at
tanned the reputation of being thor
ough daredevil.
He first gained this reputation in
Guatemala under the first Barrios He
was leader in many battles there, but
finally fell into disfavor with Barrios.
He was exiled and fled to Honduras
with Gen. p. P. Brannon, redoubt-
able Pennsylvania fighter Both were
welcomed by Don Luis Bogran, known
as the Diaz of Central America, then
president. They planned the ambus-
cade which resulted in the slaughter
of nearly 400 Guatemalan invaders.
inseparable for Months.
Among the Americans who flocked
to the capital at Tegucigalpa when
Bogran became president was New
Yorker named Palmer. a polished gen.
tleman, and the possessor of magni-
ficent baritone voice. Palmer and
Jeffries became chummy at once, and
for months We're inseparable.
Their popularity reused the jealousy
and envy of an American named Cecil,
then in charge of the telegraph sys-
tenn of the country. Cecil. while care
| fully avoiding Jeffries. constantly
sought a quarrel with Palmer. On the
night of a presidential ball. Cecil,
drunk and noisy. met Palmer In the
barroom of the Picaiilly hotel. grossly
insulted him. and then shot him dead.
So powerful was Cecil's influence that
he was not even arrested.
| Jeffries was at Yuscaran, two days
distant by the usual mode of travel,
but he made the journey in twenty
four hours, killing two mules en- route
He wired Cecil that he was coming to
kill him.
Comes Early to Shoot and Kill.
| When Jeffries rode up to the hotel
fully twelve hours before he was ex-
pected, he found Cecil in the barroom,
surrounded by a number of native Of
ficers, boasting Of what he would do
to Palmer's friend. Jeffries's entrance
was the occasion of a stampede on
the part of the natives.
Two shots were fired almost togeth-
Continued on paxa Sevenl