The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1921-09-14
IRBY E<NlGHTON
KILLED AT ENOREE
Il. B. Alvcrson Kills Irby Knighton,
Shoots Knighton's Brother, Law
renee, and Receives Scalp Wound
Himself. Held for Murder.

Himself. Held for Murder.
lrby Knighton, young man who
iiVed near Lanford Station, this coun.
W near Enoree, was shot in the head
ana mortally wounded Friday night by
,Iom Alverson, we'll known characte,
OF that place, and his brother, Law.
renee knighton, was painfully though
not seriously wounded at the same
tlme. Alverson, himself, received q
iicsh wound in the head at the hands
or Lawrence Knighton, who claimed
selr-defense, and was carried to the
Spartanburg hospital for treatment
Later he was placed under arrest
charged with the murder of Irby
Knighton.
lhe killing occurred just outside the
door OF Alversons place in Enoree,
according to testimony at the inquest
and followed an alteration between
Alverson and Irby Knighton in which
Alverson, according to the testimony
OF Lawrence Knighton, was tho az
gressor. Lawrence Knighton was shot.
according to hi stestimony, while he
was In the act Of supporting his
brother as he fell.
Ihe testimony OF several OF the eye
witnesses Of the tragedy, as taken
from The Spartanburg Herald Sun
day morning, was as follows:
Lawrence KnightOn
Lawrence Knighton, sworn, said:
was on tho outside Of the store,
Tom Alverson and Irby were on the
inside. Tom told Irby to get out. He
said all right and came on out, and
Tom came on behind him, with pistol
In hip pocket. Tom told Irby he
didn't want any more OF his d. fool
ishness. Irby said he didn't want to
hear any moro Of yours, either. When
he (Alverson) went in his pocket for
his pistol it fell out. He grabbed It
up and shot Irby Knighton In the
head. grabbed lrby and Tom shot
me in the back. Then I turned my
brother loose and grabbed Tom. lie
shot two or three times after grabbed
him. Then / saw piece of iron in
front Of the store, picked 1t up and
struck him four or Ave times to keep
him from killing me. My brother had
no weapon. The place had a bad rep
utation."
Witnessed the Tragedy
Ray Gwinn. sworn, said: II live at
Bnoree, S. c. am not related to the
dead man. Have known these two
men eight months. was at T. B. AL
VERSIONS when this happened. Law
renee and Irby Knighton and Sam Sim
mons, and some others I do not know,
and Il. B. Alverson, also. He was
drunk. Irby was sober. I was stand
Ing In the door. Knighton and Alver-
son were back in the store. Knighton
had mis- sleeves rolled up rubbing his
arms. Alverson asked him what was
the matter, and he replied, nothing
Alverson told him to get out. Knigh-
ton replied that he did not have to-
Both were laughing. Knighton came
out, standing by the door. facing AL
verson. Alverson went behind the
counter and came out, with pistol in
his hand. Looked to be a large pis-
tol, didn't know what number; stuck
1t in his right front pants pocket.
Came to the door and staggered back.
Sam Simmons said, Look out Tom,
you're going to drop your gum He
came out door with pistol in his hand
Walked between me and Knighton.
lrby Knighton said, Look out, Tom,
don't draw that gun on me, put it
up Tom Alycrson turned around and
said, What are you made at me for?'
lie said Nothing, Tom Tom called him
a d. mar. Irby gave him another
Lie. Then he shot him, he was about
four feet from him, shot him one time
on the left side OF the head, and I left
them. Before they came out of the
store they had not been fussing Knigh-
ton did not have any arms. Alvcrson' s
reputation was bad"
Roy Waddell
Roy Waddell, sworn says: he lives
near Bnoree and Is 10 years old. Il
was sitting out in front OF Alverson's
place about nine o'clock. Irby Knigh-
ton and Tom Alverson came out OF
the door, and Irby walked up to the
door facing and Tom said Irby, we
have been good friends all our lives