The Gunfight at the O.K. Corral had nothing on this small South Carolina town. On August 12, 1878, two Edgefield County families had a shootout downtown to settle an almost 10-year feud between the two, when in 1869, Benjamin Booth killed Luther Toney.
In the midafternoon, Brooker and Mark Toney sat in the bar room of A.A. Clisby on the square, having a round of stiff drinks. Benjamin Booth, his son Tim, and brother Sampson entered through the front door. At the same time, Benjamin’s other two brothers, Jim and Marion, came through the back door. The bartender told Booth he did not want any trouble in the store.
It would be a little too late as shooting broke out in the front room, between Brooker and Mark Toney on one side and Benjamin, Tom, and Sampson Booth on the other. The fighting spilled onto the street, with as many as forty shots fired.
When the dust settled, Brooker Toney lay dead on the square, Tom Booth lay dead on the sidewalk in front of Lynch’s store, and Jim Booth lay dead on the sidewalk in front of the Advertiser office.
Three men died, four others were wounded, and nine were indicted.
The jury rendered “Not Guilty” verdicts against all defendants.
Today, a historical marker and mural greet visitors in the alleyway beside the store.