The Anderson Intelligencer
Anderson Court House, South Carolina
17 December, 1891

A Killing at Easley

    Greenville, S. C., December 12. --
    Yesterday afternoon about 5 o’clock W. H. Green, marshal of Easley, shot and killed Langley Gilliland at that place.
    It seems that last Thursday night the two men had some trouble, caused by the marshal attempting to arrest Gilliland. Gillilnd resisted and cut an ugly gash in Green’s face. Yesterday morning Green was told that Gilliland was looking for him with a knife to kill him and prepared to defend himself. At the time of the shooting it is reported that the two men met in front of Bruce & Co.’s drug store, opposite the depot, and Green, as Gilliland started towards him and when he was about ten feet away, drew his pistol and shot him just below the heart. Gilliland stood perfectly still for fully thirty seconds and those who saw him thought the shot had missed him, but he took a step toward Green and, staggering, threw his hat at Green and fell. He was taken into the drug store unconcscious, and died shortly afterward.
    Green was calm after the shooting and said that he regretted that he had to take a human life, but that he knew all day that he would have to do it or be killed himself. He expressed himself as ready to give himself up to the proper authorities.

-- transcription by Kate Maynard, 2011