The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1910-08-30
ATTACK ON LYON
The Meeting at LaareDs On Friday Was
the Scene Of Disorder
PISTOLS WERE DRAWN


And Things Looked Squally at One
Time, but Matters Were Quieted
Down, and the Meeting Was Re-
sumed.-Lyon Defended Himself.
Did Not Refer TO Crews Again.
With! the end of the campaign in
sight the first real excitement oc-
Cured at Laurens on Friday. While
J.. Fraser Lyon was addressing the
big crowd J.. T. Crews, Henry Wright
and others mounted or tried to mount
the speakers stand ito get Lyon. "
Attempts were made to strike the at
torney general, none being success
full. For about five minutes the ex-
citement was intense.
Friends of Lyons and Of the Crews
brothers crowded toward the stand.
Mr.. Lyon had been speaking but a
few minutes when the trouble oc-
Cured. MT. Lyon in opening his
speech told that he was ION Laur-
ems soil'' to reply to an editorial in
the Laurensville Herald accusing
him of dishonesty. He went on to
say that ne was prepared to prove
the editorial maliciously false in that
part referring to his. character. He
charged W. T. Crews with being re-
sponsible for this editorial.
While Mr. Lyon was speaking W.
T. Crews, his brother CIR some one
standing with the two men and their
friends near the speakers stand
called: Read those other letters. ="
Mr.. Lyon replied, II am going to
read all about you"
]. r. Crews then leaped on the
stand with others, standing near.
Crews tried to strike Mr.. Lyon, but
, was caught before he could reach
him. Mr. Lyon was awaiting the
attack with fists clenched. Henry
Wright had not succeeded in mount
ing the stand but cursed the attor-
ney general, who at once tried to
strike him, but being unable to reach
him landed. a kick in 1.-The neighbor-
borhood of the stomach.
BY this time the whole grove was
in utter confusion. A few half drawn
revolvers were seen and tragedy
seemed imminent. People rushed on
the stand, friends of the Crews bro
theirs tugging to join in the attack,
while friends of Mr.. Lyon pushed
their way-through the crowd to reach
his side.
Citizens and policemen mounted
the stand for few moments vainly
sought to restore order. John +.
Bolt, clerk of court and R. A. Coop
er, county chairman, implored the
crowd to return to their seats. The
pleas of these gentlemen finally
quelled the riotous attitude.
Mr.. Bolt conferred with Mr.. Lyon
and announced that in order to in
sure peaceful continuation of the
meeting Mr.. Lyon had consented not
to make further illusions to W. T..
Crews. AS MIR. Lyon renewed his
speech cheers for Lyon and Crews
were given.
By this time the crowd was seated
and the critical situation in a great
sense relieved, serious trouble hav-
ing been averted by the quick action
of Messrs. Bolt, Cooper, and others.
A policeman with his hand on his
revolver took his seat on the steps
of the stand and there remained un-
til Mr.. Lyon concluded his speech.
Mr.. Lyon, resuming his speech
said he had stood for his personal
honor when it was assailed and would
continue to do 80. He said he was
speaking to the honest people of
Laurens and expected them to hear
him. He said he had been attorney
general for four years and would be
| for two more.
"A voice from the crowd cried, mot
if you have anybody running against
YOU" He then told how he had
served South Carolina as attorney
general. He made no reference to
Evans IN his speech. Closing, he
said he expected the support of the
best people of Laurens. Ee was
cheered by many while speaking and
was heartily cheered and applauded
when he closed.
B. B. Evans opened his speech by
calling Mr.. Lyon names he probably
has not used heretofore when Mr..
Lyon was present. When he said
Mr.. Lyon was AN Infamous liar" the
attorney general came back to the
stand and said to Chairman Cooper:
Il wont stand for that saying he
intended to resent it. Mr.. Cooper
Z hapood Mr. Won Dot to do en- and