The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1909-05-27
TWO MEN SHOT IN ROW.
Serious Encounter in the District Of
Vice.

vice.
In the vice section of the city early
Sunday morning two penitentiary
guards and two men, Of bad reputa-
ton became involved in serious
encounter. As result Eber Ashford
lies in dangerous condition in the
Knowlton infirmery, w. E. Mellette,
a penitentiary guard is wounded In
the thigh and Lonnie Hall and John
White are in arrest.
The story given by the police is}
that Hall and Ashford, both Of the
tough element, had been annoying
Mellette and White, who were on
frolfc, it appears. The actual en-
counter is alleged to have occurred
on Gates street, midway Of the block
between Lady and Gervais.. The po-
lice were informed that Lonnie Hall
knocked Mellette down and appro-
priated his pistol. Thereupon he was
called by White. Hall knocked
White down and some one began
shooting. There were three shots, It
is stated. and two of these struck
Eber Ashford, who had not mixed up
in the melee. The third struck Mel
lette.
Ashford is dangerously hurt, one
bullet having entered his left side
and ranged upward, lodging near
the heart. The other wound, in: the
groin, is not of such dangerous ma
ture. Mellette was shot in the hip.
There were powder burns on Lonnte
Halls shirt, showing that he must
have been close to the mouth Of the
weapon.
Ashford's condition at midnight
was reported to be little more hope
full. The bullet has not been located,
however. He is brother OF the
young man who was juror in the
Sellers trial and was brought before
the bar of the court on the charge OF
contempt, it being alleged that while
drinking he had done some talking
about the case.
Eber Ashford has never been in
any real trouble before, but less than
80 days ago Detective Forde found
him loaf1ng constantly around a no
torious place on Gervais street and
warned him that he would be arrest
ed for vagrancy. Ashford was in bad
company.
Lonnie Hall is terror. A man
short of normal stature by several
inches, he Is yet one of the most
powerful men in the city. He has
been in numerous escapades and en-
counters. The police here arrested
him once on the charge of highway
IN Cn0roio At
one time Officer Forde attempted to
arrest Hall and the latter drew a
knife. The officer broke his night
stick over Halls head and a desper-
ate encounter resulted. There were
three policemen in the encounter be-
for Hall was Jailed and at that he
was chased across the river bridge
and into Lexington county.
Mellette lives in this city, lila
Divine street. He was employed as
penitentiary guard about a week
ago and Capt. D. ]. Griffith consider
ed him good man. He was engag-
ed at the State farm, in Lexington
county. Mellette has a brother on
the police force. o..
John White had been guard at
the State farm several years. Prior
to that time he had been guard at
the asylum and had been discharged
by DR.. Thompson for tippling, taking
part of the whiskey intended for the
patients on the ward. He has a
good record at the penitentiary and
Capt. Griffith was grieved to hear OF
his trouble. 'He was fine guard;
humane to prisoners and man OF
rare judgment" said Capt. Griffith
last night.
Lonnie Hall tells different story
from that received from the police.
He says that it was not until after
White had shot Ashford that he
knocked White down and took his
pistol away from him.
Both pistols are at the police sta
ton. Both are loaded all around.
Therefore, unless a third pistol was
used the discharged cartridges were
removed and fresh ones placed in
their stead. Both of the pistols at
the station are Smith & Wesson .38
calibre, but one shoots a long and
tho other a short cartridge.-COlIm-