The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1914-06-10
G.. POPE IRBY MEETS
MYSTERIOUS DEATH
Killed by Buck Shot on
Farm Near Charleston
MOTIVE LACKING
FOR SUICIDE

of Another. No Conclusive Eyi.
dence.
t' POPE lrAy, until few months
ago resident OF this county, a son
OF the late Senator J. l.. NJ. Irby, met
mysterious death from gun-shot
wounds at his farm near Charleston
frloaS morning about the break of
Day NO eye-wtnesses having yet been
discovered, conclusive proof as to
now, when or why the tragedy was
enacted are still lacking. Suicide
accidental sclf-destruction and mur-
der are each assigned as causes by
those who venture to solve the mys-
terry The most that is known Of the
case Gard this is gathered from the
condition of his body and the time It
was discovered) is that Mr.. Irby re-
ceived two loads of buck-shot from
very close quarters, the shot ranging
downward and outward from a point
over his right lung about the fifth
rib, the effects from which he died
early Friday morning. Both shots en-
tered the body very nearly together
and ranged in the same direction.
Bullet holes on the wall showed that
two other wild shots were made. Lee
Starnes, near neighbor, was the first
white person to reach Mr.. Irby and
he reached the scene before death
came. According to his testimony at
the inquest, Mr.. Irby told him that the
wounds Ewere self-inflicted though he
gave no reason for suicide Friends of
the deceased think that Mr.. starnes
failed to get the full meaning of the
dying statement
The coroner's jury returned a YER
dict of suicide. Mary Hill, who cooked
for Mr. Irby and Lee Starnes testified.
The News and Courier of Saturday,
gave the following account OF the cor
oner's investigations:
From the testimony adduccd at tho
inquest the circumstances surround
ing Irby's death were as follows: He
arose yesterday morning at about
o'clock, dressed and ate breakfast
which had been prepared for him by
Mary Hill. After breakfast, he called
some of his farm employees to him,
gave them instructions concerning the
performance of certain work, and re-
tired to his bed room, where the fatal
shots were fired. The appearance of
the wounds in the lower. part of his
body indicated that Irby had held the
muzz)e of the shotgun against the
power part Of his right side, with the
stock elevated and pulled the trigger,
or both triggers, simultaneously, 1t is
alleged.
THE two first shots aroused Mary
Hill, who was in the rear OF the house
engaged in her culinary duties, and
without stopping to look into her ON
ployer's room, she ran to the home Of
Lee Starnes, which was quite near,
and told him OF the two shots. He has
tened to the room she indicated, and
found Irby lying on the floor, still
alive. He went to the injured man,
nd picked his head up in his arms.
According to Starnes' testimony at the
coroner's inquest, Irby told him that
he had shot himself, but assigned no
reason for his deed"
THE body of the deceased was
brought to Laurens Saturday after
noon, accompanied by several friends
and relatives who had gone to his
side. Sunday morning the body was
laid to rest in the>cemetery here Rev.
Sanders Guignard, rector of the Bpis-
copal church. conducting the servic-
es. A large number of friends and
admirers OF the young man, both from
the city and county, accompanied the
body to its last resting place and
many beautiful flowers we're placed on
the grave
Mr.. Irby was 80 years Of age. He
Is survived by his mother, Mrs. Nan
ME NJ. Irby, and the following broth
ers and sisters Miss Julia Irby and
Miss Katherine lrby both OF this city;
Mr.. w. C.6Irby, Jr, OF Laurens Mr..
j. L.. M. Trby, OF Charleston; Messrs.
Piorce b. and Henry G. Irby, of Lau-
Tens.
MIR. Irby had lived near Mt. Holly,