The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1911-12-29
.SILVERSTREET AFFAIR
HAS FATAL RESULT
LUTHER BLEDSOE DIES FROM GUN
SHOT WOUND.
Mayor B. NJ. Hayird Charged With the
killing-Mayor Havird Was
Also Shot.

SllN6rSCreeL, IN luIS County, was IHS
scene on Saturday morning Of dit
ficulty in which the mayor of the town
was engaged, and in which the mayor
and another citizen Of the town, Luth-
er Bledsoe, were wounded, Bledsoe's
wounds later proving fatal. Bledsoe
died early on Christmas morning, and
Mayor Havird was lodged in jail
Christmas day. Mayor Havird was
shot by Will V. Bledsoe, brother of
Luther Bledsoe, after Mayor Havlrd
had shot Luther Bledsoe. Will V.
Biedsoe was arrested, and is out on
bond. Mayor Havird's wounds are not
regarded as very serious.
The trouble, it appears, started in
a personal difficulty between Mayor B.
NJ. Havird and Mail Carrier Duke
Sheppard. In the fsticuff which
ensued, Mayor Havird dropped
some keys and possibly other
articles, out of his pockets. 1t seems
that Mayor Havird after the difficulty
went out and secured his gun. Luther
Bledsoe, who was in the store of H. c.
Lake at the time of the fight, picked up
the articles which Mayor Havird had
dropped out of his pocket, and was
later offering to return them to Mayor
Havird, when the mayor shot Luther
Bledsoe, the load from the shot gun
taking effect in the calf of the leg. 1t
is said Mayor Havird thought Bledsoe
was drawing a weapon upon him.
Then, it appears, VIII V. Bledsoe shot
Mayor Havird with a pistol, the bull
let penetrating the hip.
Drs. W. E. Pelham, Jr., and James
K. Glider were called and went to Sill
verstreet on the early train. At that
time Bledsoe was very weak from the
loss of blood, and there was very little
hope of his recovery.
Sheriff Buford went to Silverstreet
On Saturday, and placed Havird and
Will V. Bledsoe under arrest, and they
were released on bond. When the
news was received here that Luther
Bledsoe had died, Sheriff Buford re-
turned to Silverstreet and brought
Havird to Jail here. Havird is repre-
sented by Eugene S. Blease, Esq.
Luther Bledsoe, the deceased, was
about % years old. He was the son
of James B. Bledsoe, of saluda coun-
ty. He was buried at Hickory Grove
church, in Saluda county, on Tuesday.
Coroner John Henry Chappell went
to Silverstreet on Tuesday and held
an inquest. The verdict was to the
effect that Luther Bledsoe came to his
death from a gun-shot wound at the
hands of B. M: Havird.
Following is the testimony taken at
the inquest:
Testimony.
H. c.. Lake, sworn says: Mr.. Havlrd
spoke and said, what in the devil are
you having such man as Mat Berry
laying around you, and You holding
prominent position as you are holding
you are no better than he is. About
that time one or the other called the
other a damn lie. At that moment
Duke Sheppard struck Mayor .HaVlrd
side the head with his first and knock
ed him to the floor. Mayor Havird
rose and struck Duke Sheppard; they
then c1inched each other. Sheppard
got Havird's thumb in his mouth, and
Bill Bledsoe and myself tried to part
them. We could not part them, and
Luther Bledsoe ran in and caught
around Mr.. Havird, and We pulled
them apart. Havird fell back On the
floor and Luther Bledsoe helped him
up. I tried to push HaVird out OF the
door. Havird's money, keys and knife
fell on the floor, and Luther Bledsoe
picked them up. Bledsoe first handed
him his knife. When he saw Duke
SHEPPARD with his knife, Havird then
opened his knife and made back at
Sheppard. Havird then said, get out
Of the way, I will cut his damn CUTS
out. Duke Sheppard ran out OF the
store. Havird followed him On out.
SheDpard went across the street, on
the opro~ite side. Havird went
straight to his house. Sheppard went
I'D nearly orrosite Havird's house and
-rrnea hac'. towards the depot. WA2n