The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1914-05-13

ooHii NJ. SullHOu, prominent law
yer and member Of the staff of Gov
ernor Blease, was shot to death yes
tcrday afternoon at Gray Court by
Joseph G. Sullivan, a resident Of the
Tumbling Shoals section of Laurcns
county and a former candidate for the
legislature from this county. The
tragedy occurred about three o'clock
in the afternoon within Il few feet of
the waiting-room door Of the G. g. w.
y. passenger station at Gray Court
Five shots were fired. all Of which
took effect in the body Of Mr.. Cannon,
four in the chest and one in the arm.
The tragedy grew out OF case in
Magistrate Hellam's court in which
Mr.. Cannon had prosecuted young
brother Of Mr.. Sullivan. This case
was the result of difficulties which
took place at the Mt Bethel school
several weeks ago, this younger broth
er, Humbcrt Sullivan by name, having
been accused of striking the teacher,
Miss Maude Sharpe, and using pro-
fame language in public. The entire
community had been greatly stirred
up over the affair and excitement ran
high. The case was transferred from
Magistrate Abercrombie's court in
Sullivan township to that of Magis-
trate Hellams in Dials because some
of the interested parties were related
to the former magistrate. The trial
was set for yesterday morning and
was held in the freight depot, this be-
ing the most convenient place. Mr..
Cannon represented the teacher in the
prosecution and w. r. Richey the de-
fendant. The trial was marked by
several heated passages and severe
cross examination on the part Of Mr..
Cannon. AT times the younger Sulli-
van was restrained with considerable
difficulty from raising to protest
against the severe arraignment Feel
ing in the improvised court room
mounted higher and higher but no un-
toward incidents occurred until af-
ter the trial when the tense situation
crystalizcd in the tragedy which fol-
lowed
There were several eyewitness
es to the tragedy but owing to
the general excitemnt many conflict
ing tales have been given. AS near as
possible the facts are as follows:-Mr.
Cannon was standing within few
feet OF tho doorway Of the Gray Court
passenger station, when Mr.. Sullivan
approached and began discussion of
the case at point, accusing Mr.. Can
non Of having made several false
statements In his speech at the trial
Mr.. Cannon replied that he had said
nothing there that he intended to take ,
back and that all he had said was
true. Whereupon Mr.. Sullivan called
him q d. liar, Blows followed
and Mr.. Cannon struck Mr.. Sullivan
across the head with the stick which
he has carried since his leg was brok-
en some months ago. At this point
Mr.. Sullivan pulled his gun and began
4 rapidfire shooting. The first three
shots were fired point-blank into Mr..
Cannon's chest and the wounded man
turned to get out Of the way by dart
ing into the waiting room only a cou
pie OF steps away After he had turn
ed he was shot twife more, both bull
lets entering his back Mr.. Cannon
fell into the waiting room and his as
sailant walked away.
AS soon as the firing ceased several
rushed to Mr. Cannon's help, among
them DR.. D. l.. Bryson, who gave the
wounded man every possible attention.
Mr.. cannon only spoke few words
before he died, though he was con-
scious to the end. He was sensible
of his condition and remarked to those
standing around him that he was go
ing to die and that he died In the de-
fense OF the women OF his state. A
few minutes before the last he called
for his little son, saying that he would
like to sec him before tho end.
The following statement was made
before tho coroners jury by DR.. d. l..
Bryson Of Gray Court, who was the
frst to give medical aid: "Mr. Can
non was shot five times; two shots
entered from the back md emerged
In front. Two others tered the
chest from the front 20 was also