The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, December 22, 1905, Image 1
HOTEL MAN KILLS ACTORS
ncft?nr ua?tv af r.iFFWFV ?iiaat?!j
ULViWL iifij ii| vi vn: i uli, jiivv i v i
' MILAN BENNETT. j<
|l
He Also Seriously Wounds Abbott Davi- j
son?The Evidence Adduced at the \
Coroner's Inquest Is that Two Women, ;
Members of the "Nothing but Money" <
Company, Were Insulted by .Hasty, i
and that Davison Attacked Him After
i Some Words Had Passed.
i
Gaffney, S. C., December 15. - ]
This morning the quiet of the j
city was disturbed at about 8.45,]
o'clock by tin report of are-ij
v^lvef three times in quick sue- ' 1
cession,-followed quickly by the
K screams of women crying "mur- i
^ der." The police responded to j
* the call from the Piedmont Inn, :
run by Hasty Brothers. j
As they went in a man came \
x out calling for a doctor. Investi- j
gation showed that George Hasty,
one of the prprietors, had shot ,
and instantly killed Mr. Milan
Bennett, music?' director of the ,
"Nothing but Money'' Company,
which showed here last night,
and poaoiblv mnrfr&liy WOUIiueu
/I Mr. Abbott Davison, the com?>'
dian and star performer.
It was Mr. Da ; son who came
down the steps calling for a doctor.
The sheriff and police force
arrested Hasty and lodged him
in jail. The coroner was notified,
who empaneled a jury. The jury
was taken to the hotel where the
dead body was viewed and they
adjourned to meet at the court
house at 1.30 p. m., where the
testimony was heard. The following
is the testimony as given
by the witnesses;
Miss Verne Sheridan testified
that after coming back from the
theatre she and Mr. Bennett had
a little lunch in her room, after
which Mr. Bennett left, locking
[v> her windows securely before tell1
ing her good night, as he had
* heard of how Miss Bishop had
been annoyed by a man earliei
in the afternoon. Soon aftei
Mr. Bennett left she heard somt
one at the door. She did not saj
anything. In a moment he wen
out on the veranda and attemptec
to get in her window whicl
^opened on the veranda. Failinj
there he came back to the doo
and attempted to break it in b
id putting his weight against il
He then climbed up to the trar
som and attempted to look in b
striking a match. She recoj
nized George Hasty. She the
called Mr. Bennett and Hast
dropped down from the transon
She opened the door and calle
Mr. Bennett again. Mr. Benne
ft come, but could find no one. f
then told her to go to bed and 1
, W&uld sit up in the room ai
I write music.
ON GUARD.
She objected to this, but
i would not hear to leaving h
[ there alone; so sat there til
i o'clock this morning, when
j went to his room for a comfort
t which he wrapped around hi
sleeping on the- foot of the 1
till 7. He left her then, tell
her that he would call her in ti
. to catch the train. At 8 he cal
i her, and then he went to
l,i post< ifice, telling the negro
t to make her a fire.. The ne
came to the door and she I
L!? a fckw minutes
" XI1111 IAJ wmii u AV.
F\ ' she could let him in. In a moir
I ? or two George Hasty knockei
r ^ the door, and asked her if
L i had a fire, when she told
|k that she did not have any
A did she want any. She then )
m the door. When Mr. Ben
nH came back she told him of
w occurrence as they went to br
> J last. Soon Hasty came in 1
^ .Buy, which is also
by. Insurance,- and our
tesour<$& Yall ojLwbich
<e yoiir deports* abso"YOUR
BUSINESS.
;lie kitchen and was* pointed out
to Mr.- Bennett. The young
woman begged Mr. Bennett not
to bother with it, not to have a
quarrel. He said he would speak
to him attf?t it a moment. He
then went to Hasty and said
something to him in a low tone.
Hasty began at once to deny
whatever Mr. Bennett had said,
when he turned to her and asked
if he was the man.
Being told positively that he
was, Mr. Bennett said: "I do
not wish to cause any trouble,
but just wish to tell you that any
man who will look over the transom
of a lady's apartment, does
not conform with my ideas of a
gentleman. The young lady then
told Mr. Bennett to let him alone.
If he was low enough to do a
trick, he was low enough to deny
it. Mr. Bennett then started to
walk away, when Mr. Hasty
asked him in the hall. When
they went out Miss Bishop came
in and asked what the trouble
was? When she told her of the
occurrence, she said, "That's
the man who insulted me yesterday
afternoon." At that Mr.
Davidson, who was sitting at the
^blefcJumged up and took his
"Is that ' the el low?" Miss
Bishop told him he was, but)
asked him not to have any row
with him. She tried to hold him
back, but he would go. He went
out and said, "You are the same
fellow," and struck him.
HASTY SHOOTS.
Immediately Hasty shot twice
at Mr. Davidson, one ball taking
effect in his side and the other
going astray. Mr. Davidson
grappled with him, trying to get
i the weapon. Hasty jerked loose
1 and ' shot Mr. Bennett through
the heart. Mr. Bennett threw
his arms across his body, ran
down the hall and in a moment
.fell dead.
| Miss May Bishop testified thai
about 4 o'clock on the previous
afternoon, while sitting in hei
; room, which had a winaow oppu
. site Mr. Davidson's room. Hast:
4 came in there to get some card
J he left. In a moment or two h
t came back and then a third time
j The third time he came to he
1 window. She asked him wha
he wanted, when he asked her i
J; she didn't want a drink. Sh
told him she never drank. H
. j talked with her a moment an
" I then insulted her. She told M
"! Davison of it. The rest of hi
fm I testimony was about the same
? that of Miss Sheridan.
The negro servants were exai
ined, but no new facts we
J brought out.
tt DAVISON'S STATEMENT.
Ie Mr. Davison is a Mason a
tie a Knight of Pythias, and is i
id.among strangers- Mr. Dav
son was able to make the folic
ing statement:
he South Carolina, Cherol
ler County. Statement of Geo]
1 4' Abbott Davison.
hej Mr. Bennett, Miss Sherid
er,! Miss Bishop and myself were
? -li?i ?4- tKo PioHm
m, tne uiiuiik mum au 1/lIVs A
>ed Inn, and a man came in ab
ing my height; 1 am about six 1
me high. He had a smooth face
iled was slender. Miss Sheridan s
the "There's the man who trie
boy climb over my transom." J
gro it in a low tone to Mr. Benri
told Mr. Bennett walked over to
till and said: "You owe that ]
lent there an apology. You insu
d at her; you tried to climb in
she transom; you rapped on the d
him said you were tne porter,
nor asked if she wanted a fire bu
shut and said, "that was no wa;
nett a gentleman to act, and you
the her an apology." This f<
eak-.said: "I am not afraid of
from man alive, and if she says
MRS. JACK A. BAILEY DIES * .
AT CARTERSVILLE, GA. .
?T" I
Wife of a Former Union Boy Dks at
vHer home After a Lingering Illness.
Had Been Married About a Year.'
.
Mrs. J. A. Bailey, wife ol our
former citizen, Jack Bailey, died
at her hoMe in Carters ville, Ga.,
Tuesday, Dec. 12.th. On the
20th of November, 190* Mr.
$tig|g?*"?ailey, son of,Mr. H. G.
Batrey;'of this city, married Mrs. "
'Alice Layton, of Cartersvifle,
Ga. To them was Dt>rn ft ctoHfp-J
which lived but a few months.
Mrs. Bailey survived the child
but a short time. She is survived
by her bereaved husband
and aged parents. Mr. H. G.
Bailey, and daughter, Miss Lettie,
attended the funeral. Mr.
Jack Bailey, who is well known
here, the home of his nativity,
has the sympathy of the community
in this his hour of sad
bereavement.
A PRETTY HOME WEDDING.
Miss Martha Anne Wilburn. of Cedar
Bluff, Becomes the Wife of Mr.
Milton Lee Willis, of Spartanburg.
une or the prettiest but1
quiet weddings of the year
was the marriage of Miss
Martha Anne Wilburn to Mr.
Milton Lee Willis at Cedar Bluff,
the home of the bride's parents,
Mr. and Mrs. Sanford Wilburn,
Sunday afternoon at 4 o'clock.
The wedding march was played
jby Mr. Guy Wilburn; the cere
mony was performed by Rev. C.
T. Scaife.
room* 'wdw.Sj *nxl odininir
with ferns, palms, mistletoe and
holly. The wedding supper, a
sumptuous spread of lucious and
delicious viands, was served in
the spacious dining room. The
guests present were Mr. Jasper
Wilburn and family, Mr. Clarence
Gist and wife, Mr. Robert
Wilburn and family Mr. Guy
Wilburn and Mr. J. Byers Greer.
Mr. Willis is head clerk in the
store of Floyd Liles. of Spartanburg,
and the bride and groom
left Monday for their future
home in that city. The best
wishes of their many friends at1
tend them with the sincere hope
' of a long, happy and prosperous
. married life.
U
r i that she lies.'' Said: * 'Come out
- i in the hallway and I will tell you
?: how it happened." Then hf
8 went away with Mr. Bennetl
e, into the hall. After they go1
!* into the hall Miss Bishop said
r "That is the man who tried t<
ft get into my room j esterday af
ternoon." I walked into th
!e hall as this fellow was saying
J "She is a liar." I said: "Nc
d she isn't, and you tried to get i
r* the other lady's room yesterda
er afternoon,"* meaning Miss Bisl
as op. He said: "No, I didn't."
said: "You lie, you did." E
n- pulled out a revolver and start*
re to shooting, and I grabbed h
arm and then he broke away ai
shot some more and I grabb<
nd his arm again. This was t
jot finish. He shot Mr. Benn<
id- when he first shot, he shot nr
,w. hitting me on the right side
; the stomach. I grabbed his ar
<ee fie broke away and shot IV
rge Bennett. He (Bennett) f
down on his face and I grabt
an, his arm again. People came
j in then and I stepped over Benn
ont and ran out for a doctor ?
>out came over here (Commer<
feet Hotel.)
ana ?,
aid: George Abbott Davison
d to
said Later?Mr. Abbott Davis
lett. the comedian who was shot
him George Hasty at the time he s
lady and killed Mr. Bennett, died
ilted afternoon of the same day at <
the o'clock. The inquest held <
loor, developed the same facts, co
and tions and circumstances as
ilt," of the inquest of the Ben
/ for killing. The people of Gad
owe are highly indignant and 1
illow been very kind to the mem
any of the company so long ai
I did lived.
Ilfefyjffip TRUNK
;gtj ERINGS FARNUM PAPERS.
Bulky Jmtoga" Sits Locked in Su.
ptoflj Court Room-Must Decide
WbeUl^Papers are for PubliG Penisal^mmittee
Gives Board Chance
In, tMteupreme court room sits
a l^a|B?uatoga trunk. It is a
yeiT-twfcpary looking trunk and
it securely with a commolywjHan
rope. There is nothing
o7*|erest to the casual visitoj^^ept
that it does seem peciOtSr^hat
j\ trunk should be
placed the room where sits the
highest 'tribunal of the State. i
However, this is no ordinary
trunk. For inside of its capaci
o is bottom rest the papers of J.
S. Farnuln, the Charleston beer
dispenser who has so struggled
to prevent the dispensary investigation
committee from inspecting
them?that is, the ones they
wished to see in Charleston.
It will be remembered by those
who have followed the fortunes
of the invaders of the privacy of
the conduct of the G. M. I. that
Senator Niels Christensen, Jr.,
and Representative T. Fraser
Lyon went to Mr. Farnum's
place of -busihess in Charleston
and, aftejr inspecting some of the
papers off his tile, demanded to
see the rest. This was refused,
Mr. Farnum claiming that the
act of th^general assembly which
provided for the investigation
did not give the committee the
right to look into private papers.
An order, was obtained from
Chief Justice Pope for the papers
and T. Moultrie Mordecai, Farnum's
affomey;- again insisted
to sbVmwmmittee had no right
heard'tiY^opt-an r\?e m e court
decai for Mr/ Farnum ana ifum
Senator J. T. Hay of Kershaw
for the committee and decided
that the papers must be produced,
setting yesterday a week ago as
the final limit. In the meantime
the# papers had been sent to a
physician in Dalton, Ga., who is
a friend of Mr. Farnum's, and
his attorney asked for another
week in which to get them.
The papers, ?. orp not
vet ready for public consumption,
for the judges of the supreme
nnnrrmust first examine then
and decide whether or not they
are of a public character.
Mr. Mordecai appeared yester
day morning in the supreme cour
' and asked that all the paper
1 which the court decided were t
J be made public would be marke
t and he be notified. This wi
t probably mean a fight on othe
: grounds if the court stipulate
? that the papers are admissible 2
" evidence for the committee.
e Several months have passe
since Mr. Farnum refused tl
)> papers to Senator Christens*
n and Representative Lyon. Tl
y clerk of the supreme court, C<
U. R. Brooks, has the key
I his possession.
The dispensary committee c
eided to hold a public meeti
to this city Wednesday, Janus
3, and try to wind up theinves
^ gation. It was not thou*
"e proper to complete the investij
tion and report to the general
ie? sembly without first giving 1
?* members of the board of disp
"h sary directors an opportunity
. ,, appear before the committee 1
eh make statements in regard to
evidence which has been bron
in out. It is probable that som<
ett the members will be present n
month. There is also a li
2ial other evidence which the c<
mittee wishes to obtain.?
State, Dec. 19th.
?
The Methodist Conference Assigns ft
tore fnr fQOfi
>UU| tvu B vi I/VV.
by
ihot Union, Grace Church, Rev
the M. McLeod; Green SI
Church, W. M. Owin^s; J(
>nJy ville, Rev. I). E. Camak;Sar
h" Rev. T. R. Owens; Kelton t
that; supplied by Rev. J. G. Farr;
nett \y Massabeau, at Ce
fney : Church, Spartanburg,
lave | people of Union, Santuc
he*3 Jonesville are all pleased to
J he pastors returned to
I churches for another year.
IF. M. FARR, President.
T X
Merchants and Plan
Successfully Doing Busii
m In tho OLDEST Hunk in
U lias ii capital and nurplti
3 S is th" only N ATION A I.
I lias imid >liv iilcmls nu
S A pays Font percent. I
0 M Is the only Hank in I Mi<
j. IB has ItnrKlar- I'roof vault
n IB pays more taxes than AI
I WE EARNESTLY SOLI
# ? mum mm WMMMMBBBBBBOTBHBBBI
COMPTROLLER .JONES EXPLAINS
AS TO THE THREE-MILL TAX.
The SubjeGt Discussed in Conrctior
with the Proposition to Rai: the
Assessments of Property for Taxation
to the Level of Actual Values.
Columbia, December 16.?
Comptroller General Jones says
that most of the objections that
he has thus far encountered in
connection with his efforts to
have all classes of property in
the State assessed at full market
value has been on account of the
three-mill constitutional tax. He
says that he has fully considered
this phase of the question and
that it is his firm conviction that
this is not a real objection. He
finds that in practically every
township in the State there is
either a special or a bond tax,
and that this three-mill tax will
just about balance the special
levies. He has gone to the trouble
of figuring on the increased
assessment, and has found that
in the counties on which he has
figured the special levies will be
about covered by the three-mill
tax, and that if the three-mill
tax raises an amount equivalent
to the special school taxes then
there is iu> neeu tw snecial
.-thaL it is about as
Mr. Jones has received ?
many letters assuring him of cooperation
in his efforts to have;
the assessments of the State up
to full value, and he thinks that
it is going to meet with less opposition
than was anticipated.
He feels satisfied that if the
county auditors and boards do
not do their full duty the state
; board will "jack up" the counties
i oqght to do.
GLENN SPRINGS PROPERTY
BOUGHT BY SYNDICATE,
t
q Strong Company oi Spartanburg husi
(l ness Men Have Purchased Ceiebratei
U Health Resort.
;r
is Spartanburg, Dec. 18.?Tin
is entire Glenn Springs propert;
has been sold to a syndicate o
id Spartanburg men by the Messrs
le Simpson, who have owned an
sn conducted the famous resort fc
he many years.
>1. The transfer includes 55 acrt
in of land, the hotel, bottling worl
and everything else connecte
le- with the springs, where thou
ng ands of South Carolinians ar
try persons from all over the Sou
>ti- have spent so many pleasa
fht days.
?a- The purchasing syndicate
as- composed of the following w
the 1 known business men:
en- A. L. White, president of t
' to Merchants' and Farmers' ba
ind of Spartanburg.
the V. M. Montgomery, presidt
ght of Pacolet mills.
3 of W. S. Montgomery, presidt
ext of Spartan mills.
ttle Aug. W. Smith, president
om- the Bank of Woodruff and
? *" * ? ? ?:n
The Wooarun COUUII mm, en in
owner of the large dry goods
tablishment in Spartanburg.
liniS- J. Boyce Lee, a local capi
ist.
A new Glenn Springs comp
r. D. will be organized, for whic
treet charter has already been app
>nes- the capitalization of wl
ltuc, I will be $200,000. It is the in
,o be tion of the purchasers to dev
Rev. the property in every way
ntral to make of the place a re
The even more popular than
and springs have heretofore I
have and with such strong fina
these and business backing there
k doubt that this will be done,
? ??-?
J. L>. ARTHUR, Cashier.
I E
iters National Bank,
less at the "Old Stand."
Union.
R Ol $10 ',000,
lliuik in Union,
ninting to $Joo too,
ntoros' on doiwisit*.
m insncnli-d t>.v un oiliorr,
. Mini Safe with Timo-I?ock.
L.L the Hanks in Union combin"<l.
CIT YOUR BUSINESS.
wgqpBMjppppppppppi f i i .
BARKOUT AMUSEMENT COMPANY
PLEASED ALL WHO ATTENDEP.
They Go to Winnsboro lor a Week?The
Crowning of the Queen by Mr. V. E.
DePass?The Fire Boys Realized a
Handsome Sum From the Proceeds.
This company concluded its
engagement in this city last
Saturday night and went from
nure to winnsooro, JS. C. The
conduct of this company was
clean and unobjectionable in
every particular. All of the performances
were just what they
represented them to be, and were
very liberally patronized by all
classes of the people of the city
and surrounding country. The
fortune teller was the wonder of
all who called upon him. He is
unquestionably a mind reader
and told things people knew that
he could not have known otherwise.
The crowning of the queen,
Miss Mattie Lake. Saturday night
at 8:30 o'clock was a very pleasant
feature. In the absence of the
tvinifni. VT- \T I' T,
...cijvm, 1T11. v> i^erass to
v^iorn the honor and pleasant
speee?^ Jn a
upon the brow of the beautiful
blushing queen and presented
her with the magnificent solitaire
diamond ring, the gift of her
many admirers in the voting
contest through the courtesy of
the Barkoot Amusement Company.
The following is a synopsis
of his speech:
"The Union Fire Department
^nd the Bookout Carnival Comculiarly
pleasawi?\edL.,me the peing
you Queen of the Carnivai
and presenting to you a beautiful
diamond ring, both magnificent
testimonials of high esteem
in which you are held, and your
1 great and deserving popularity.
These laurels resting upon the
brow of a young lady of your
e fine intellect, lovable disposition
y and beautiful traits of character
f give ample assurance that they
will not be worn unworthily,
d Not only is this gift of much in>r
trinsic worth, but far greater is
that which it symbolizes?the
?s affections you hold upon the
ts hearts of the vast number who
d cast their votes for you. In this
s- spirit may you ever wear this
id lovely gem, and may it always
i- Un innontivo fn ovnltpfl effort.
tn "C cm v.. v, kv ? ,
nt high endeavor and noble womanhood.
Always keeping: in mind
is the words of a great poet: 'When
ell most the world applauds you,
most beware,' and always strivhe
ing to 'Do noble deeds, not
nk dream them all day long, and so
make life and the vast forever
;nt one grand sweet song,' then you
have my assurance that your
jnt subjects will ever prove loyal to
your Majesty, their beautiful,
of worthy Queen, whom it is my
the honor to crown and to whom I
the now present this charming gift,
es- emblematic of your great popularity."
tal- The crown was furnished by
the company and was a gem
any of artistic beauty. After the
h a queen was crowned the Barkout
died company gave her and her estiich
corts complimentary tickets to
ten- all of the shows. This concluded
elop a week of great amusement tor
and Union. The fire department got
;sort as was promised by the Barkoot
the company ten per cent of the
>een, proceeds of the Barkoot shows
ncial during the week which amounted
is no | to two hundred and eleven dol|
lars and forty-nine cents*