The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-10-20

'io"H Sot near the table III the CEN
ire OF the room, l saw him draw a
pistol and commence firing in the
direction of the door leading into the
hallway. L saw Wingate fall to the
lloor and after he had fallen saw
Brown deliberately shoot in his dircc-
ton.
Just at that time Mcdonald, who
was ON the opposite side of the room,
Jumped up and drew his pistol from
q holster pinned to his shirt Several
tables were between Mcdonald and
myself. I yelled across the room to
Dr. Hancock to take that pistol away
from that man and DR.. Hancock i'm
mediately Srappled with him. 1 then
looked up and saw Black and one
other and young Mr.. Cohen going out
OF the southeast window. BY that
time several were graphing with
Brown and 1 ran to assist in over
powering him. Before reached
Brown saw Mr.. Cohen fall backwards
from the window. Chief Cantwell
then came in and we finally overpow-
cred Brown and took his pistol away
from him and sent him to the wagon"
James Sottile has addressed let
ter to The News and Courier in which
he makes the fiat assertion that Brown
opened fire on Wingate and that these
were the first shots he heard. His
letter is in part as follows:
when 1 reached the upstairs hall
L found an officer placing Renters
under arrest for carrying concealed
weapons. There were quite few peo-
pie near the committee room door.
consequently could not get into the
room. II. j. Brown was in front of
me, endeavoring to get in and he
seemed to be very much aggravated.
L heard Wingate say to him, They
are clearing the room now, only COM
mitteemen allowed; you are a wit
ness and you can't go in Some one
shouted, Go in, Brown while others
shouted. Look out, Brown has q gun
Still others shouted, Place him under
arrest, officer, for carrying concealed
weapons
Brown seized Wingate, simulta-
neously pushing aside an officer, and
backed into the committee room, OPEN
ing fire upon Wingate and slowly and
determinedly firing upon the crowd.
These were the first shots l heard
which were followed by a rain Of 9TH
ers from the committee room. l posi-
lively did not hear any shots fired
from the assembly hall where 1 was"
John Y. Michel, a committeeman,
says he was seated in the northeast
corner of the room. facing the door
leading into the anteroom.
u heard some Commotion ON thu
outside and cries that Renters was
armed and to take him out. In a
few seconds Henry Brown burst into
the room and with some eXclama-
ton. which l do not remember, drew
his pistol and began firing, first in the
direction of the door and then, turn
inS around, firing first toward George
street and then bringing his pistol
around TO bear on the corner where
| was seated l am positive Mr.. Brown
was the first man to fire shot, as
saw him with my own eyes and no
shot had been fired up to that time,
nor was any pistol in sight. There
was absolutely no excuse or justiflca-
ton for Mr.. Browns action and /
consider that he was responsible for
the whole outbreak"
Il am convinced that the first shot
was fired by Henry Brown" dcposes
l. IL. Duffy: Just as l stepped from
the door Of the executive commit
tee ROOM l saw George Renters stand
ing in front of William Wingatc ar
guing. Frank Hogan searched Rem
tiers, pulled magazine pistol from
Rentier's pocket and placed him un-
der arrest. A very short time after
that Brown, had an argument with
Wingate and threatened his life and
advanced toward him. Wingatc struck
him; Brown struck back and Win
gate grabbed Browns coat with one
hand and knocked him with the other.
In the scullie they moved in my di-
rection and for fear Of being thrown
into the window at my back, I turned
to the right and looking down so as
to place my foot in good place to
brace myself / looked toward the
window and while my head was in
that position l heard a shot fred at
my left. Within a few seconds heard
fusilladc of shots fired in the com
mittee room, I suppose about q dozen