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r jjfje Jeroli) atiD Jews. VOL XLT NO. 80 NEWBERRY, S. O.. TUESDAY. OCTOBER <!. 1908. TWICE A WEEK. $1.50 A YEAR GARRISON CONVICTED SENTENCE TWO YEARS LAXJRENS MAN WHO SLEW HIS DAUGHTER'S SWEETHEART. Daughter of Defendant, Who Was Sweetheart of Deceased, Gives Details of the Tragedy. (By Jno. K. Aull.) Special to The Herald and News. Laurens, Oct. 3.?Charged with murder in the killing of J. Louis Williamson, J. Henry Garrison was convicted in the court of sessions here on Friday of manslaughter, the x jury which convicted him recommending him to I he mercy of the court. Judge Memmingcr overruled the motion for a new trial, and sentenced Garrison to serve two years in the State penitentiary or on the public works of Laurens county. The trial of Garrison, resulting fiom one of the saddest tragedies ever enacted in Laurens county, creited i great interest throughout South Carolina. Young Williamson, the deceased, was a guest at the Garrison home at Gray Court, as a visitor to Miss Mary Garrison, daughter of J. Henry Garrison. Young Williamson and Miss Garrison were engager, lo be married. Williamson was a prom| inent young farmer of Bethesda, near Rook IIiH, in York county. He became acquainted with Mis; Garrison while she was teaching school near his home, and their acquaintance ripened into love and the engagement to be married. On the nigh'. of the tragedy which ended young Williamson's life anil i laced Garrisor under indictment for murder, Williamson an*\ Miss Garrison were in the fani'.iy parlor. According to her testimony he was trying to take li':erties with her over her protest. Garrison, who stated that his suspicions had been aroused by what he ha.I heard from t!ie parlor, went into the yard to the window of the pari).', taking his shot gun with him. lie said thai 1?e looked through the window and his conslusion was that Williamson was trying to take improper advantage of his daughter, as lie expressed it. lie said that Williamson's back was towards him and he hollered to him to move, whereupon Williamson faced him and he shot hini, the load taking effect in Williamson's bowels, and resulting in death three hours later. Garrison's testimony was to the effect that he did not know of Williamson's engagement of his daughter. Mrs. Garrison stated that she knew the young people were engaged to be married, but that, so far as she knew, her husband did not know of it. Miss Garrison's testimony was to the same effect along this line. Garrison's attorneys have given nolice of intention to appeal to the supreme court, and pending the appeal the defendant was granted bond in k the sum of $1,000, the same amount under which he was held before the | trnl. FJ Solicitor Cooper was assisted in the | prosecution by Air. 1'. 11. Nelson, of Columbia. The defendant was rcpK resented bv Messrs. Ferguson & f Feathcrslone and Hichey & Kichev, of the lncsil bar. There was ? harfl fight by the attorneys on each side, and the arguments to the jury were able. Messrs. Nelson and Cooper addressed the jury for the State, and Messrs. Featherstone and Kichev for the defendant. Mr. Nelson opened for the State, and was followed by Messrs. Hichey and Feat herst one, for defendant, the arirutnenls of each of I'.gen I h'Suen beinir unusually >i!L'. Solicitor Cooper closed for ^ I 'e Slate in i powerful argument. \ The case was called on Thursday \ m and the following jury was Y ' i .!: i IV IJ-.ilev. II. If. i'rvor. K. Mil rn, J. \V. \h:\iuis. Sain L. Saxon, M. I*. U'.'d.'iibauu'h, G. C. Young, Jno. A. Aberci'onihie. G. II. Kinlev, K. II. ^ ? h 11 > A. I. M a ha f fey, T. J. Lav! on. Mr. T. J. Lay ton was appointed foreman of the jury. Dr. C. K. liodgers was the first witness called for the Slate. He testified that about 12 o'clock Mr. Garrison came to his home and asked him if he had any surgical instruments, telling him he wanted' him to go his (Garrison's) house at once; th lie had shot a man. lie said that went to Garrison's home, and foui Williamson in a room in rear of t parlor, on a bed, and that Miss Ma Garrison was fanning him. Dr. Ho Vers pointed out on the solieitoi person the location of the wound, t load taking effect in the left side the bowels, ranging slightly upwai The next witness called for t' State was Miss Marv Garrison, daug tor of the defendant, and the on person present, othf,r than the <1 fcndaut and Williamson, when I' fatal shot was fired. She for t first time related the harrowing tails of the tragedy in which her i fin need lover met his death at t hands of her father. Miss Garris is a young lady of evident refinemc and culture and education. She w simply dressed, wearing a White shi waist, a black skirt, and tan cloji and a black turban hat. During li testimony it was evident that she w laboring under an intense strain, h she held herself under remarkal control. Only once or' twice duri; an hour which must have tried li severely did she lose her sclf-eontr and then only for an instant. Duri one of these moments Hie situati was tense and dramatic. Attorn Nelson had handed her for identi cation a letter which she had sent young Williamson's mother, after t shooting, expressing her sympat with Mrs. Williamson in her gre bereavement. Miss Garrison took t letter, glanced over it and tore it half and threw it on the floor. . Judge Mcmmingcr's request she pic ed up the letter and handed it him, Judge Memminger stating th he would read it and if he thought admissible he would let it go in c deuce, lie decided later during t case that it was not competent. Miss Garrison testified that s first went to York to teach in Fc ruary, 1005, and it was then that s met young Williamson. She tang there four months, and then went ITam))ton to teach, returning to Yo in September, 100(5, taking charge the Dethesda high school, which w about two miles from the Williamsi residence. She returned t<> her hoi at Gray Court about the first of Mil having become engaged to Mr. W liamson some time in the spring. Mi Garrison said she hud not told h mother or father of the engageinei but she thought her mother knew it. She did not think her fath knew of it. Mr. Williamson h; come to see her in June, and car again on the afternoon of July .'] TTer father, the defendant, met hi the train, and brought him to t house, and she and Williamson we walking together and returned hoi for supper. She said she and W liamson s;it on the porch for a wlii after supper, and then went into (1 parlor. She said Williamson was sh through the window which looked o in the yard, the shooting occurrii about 11 o'clock. She said that W liamson had asked her to sit on tl sofa with him, and she did, Williai son promising that he would act ; right. While she was sitting Ihei she said, Williamson put his head her lap and then put his head on t! head ot the sofa across her lap at begged her to put her head on tl sofa with him. She said she bcgg< him to get up and asked him to g up, and as soon as he would get i she was about to get awav from hii when he grabbed her and pulled h down across his lap, and she was tr ing to get awav from him when li< lather shot. She said she saw tl gun poked through the window, ai heard her father's voice, and tlx I she ran. She said, in response finest ions, that she had sent a wreal of flowers, with her card, for tl young man's funeral. :iml the cai was |?ii| in evidence, li was at fli point lli.'i) t!ie incident in connect i< with the letter occurred. On cros examination she testified that, whi she did not smell any whiskey on Wi | liamson s hreath on the night of tl killing, his actions were not as tin ordinarily were, and Ilia! she thongl | he was a good deal under the infli | ence of whiskey. She said that aft< [the fatal shot was fired Williams* to had walked to the back room, and 1 at "had then asked for a drink of whis- ( 1)0 key from a quart hottle which was < tul found in his valise not quite full. 1 he She also testified to a dying dcclara- | ry lion from Williamson to the effect s d- thai lie was to blame for the shoot- j 'a ing and that he did not want Mr. 1 he Garrison punished for it. She said t of that when her father poked the gun 1 d. through the window and hollered, she i |10 did not understand what he said, but j ])_ that she ran out of the room and that i ly Williamson jumped up ami turned to- t [e- wards her tat her, when the shot was 1 he 1 he "iho effort of the State on re-direct ; le- examination was to prove that even ) if Williamson was under the in flu- ; ),0 cure of whiskey when he got off the I on the train he had had time to become I nt perfectly sober before 11 o'clock at i as "ighl. v irt W. V. Hlythe, the undortaker, les- 1 ik, tified as to the clothes the deceased er had on, and that the wound had an ' as uj)ward range of about two inches. ' ut He staled that he had got the gun ? )lc wadding out of the wound. lie said < ng when he arrived i.t the house next af- 1 er tcrnoon he found a partly smoked 1 ol, cigarette lying on the floor in the 1 ng parlor. ] on K. T. Shell testified that lie had ' leached the (larrison home about : midnight on the night of the shoot- ! ing, and had found Williamson on 1 *le 11 he bed, Dr. Iiodgers sitting by tins ! bed and Miss Garrison sitting at the : at head of tlte bed with her handkor- ' ,c chief in her hand and something on ' J" if which he took to be chloroform. 1 ' t He said Williamson had asked him 1 if he thought he could live, and Miss ' t? Garrison had told him to say exactlv ' ?t what he thought, lie then told Wii- ' |t liamson that he did not see any hope ' ^ him. Previous to that, he said, ',0 Williamson had made a statement to 1 him, which the State attempted to he bring out as a dying declaration, but j >b- which tlie Court ruled out on the ' he ground that it had not been shown hi that at that lime Williamson had to abandoned all hope of recovery. The ^ rk jury was asked to retire and the wit- ' of ness allowed to give the statement ' as and the circumstances under which : on it was made in order that the jnduo '< no might decide as to its competency. ' ly, Mr. Shell said I hat Williamson just < il- remarked in a rambling way that he iss didn't see why that man shot him. I er On the ground stated, however, this | it, statement was held not competent to ' of ?o before the jury. I er Mrs. N. T. Garrison, wife of the ml defendant and mother of the voting lie ladv, was the first witness for the II. defence. She testified as to having in heard the dying declaration which lie Miss Mary Garrison had testified to. nt She said her daughter had told her ue of her engagement to young Willianiil son. She said that on the occasion ile of his last visit Williamson had imlio pressed her as not being at himself, ot She gave Miss Marv Garrison's a,re ut at 22. L. ('. Dorroh, testified that in his opinion when young Williamson got 'IL oil ihe train at Gray Court on the af" tcrnoon of July .'51 lie was drunk. 1,1 Mr. .1. X. fjpak testified that lie saw i', him that afternoon and in his opinion ' in lie was under the influence of whis- ' lie key. The testimony of J, If. Dorroh ' id was along the same line, as was that ' lie of I'\ D. Bolt. ' ?J. H. Garrison, the defendant, took ^ the stand shortly after the dinner re- ' 'P cess. He gave his age as ."?7 years 1 and six months. He said he had gone ( the station in his bugjjv that af- ' icrnoon to have his mule shod and get 1 ,,r his mail, and his daughter had told ' 1)5in \\ illiamson was coining on the 1 id j afternoon passenger and lie went to!* the station to meet him. Ile said he 1 1? didn I notice Williamson particularlv ' Hi when he got off the train, but some ll> people at Gray Court called his ;l(- 'I (cut ion to \\ illiamson s condiI ion, I ' i^ j and he then perceived he was drink-!'' ?) ing. lie said he had first met Wils liamson in June, and lie did not I a Io know he was engaged* to Miss Oar- 1 . il- rison. He said he had asked Miss I. ie Garrison it Williamson was to be- 11: >' member of the family, but in j it consequence of her answer' he did j ii- not know |hat he would. He said V fi after he found Williamson was drink- \ in ing he look him to his home because i i ie wanted to keep the people at Gray 1 -/Ourt from knowing the young man's i ondition. He said after he look ! Williamson to his home lie went to 1 >loughing, and did not see William- < ion and his daughter any more until ; nipper time, when he noticed that < Williamson was still under the influMice of whiskey or something else, j :le said that he then began to doubt 1. the young man's intentions wore )uie, and he went lip-stairs and sat | lown on the edge of the bed near < .he window in the room over the par- ' or. lie said he stayed there until ' 10 o clock when he became thirsty < md went, down stairs to get some i vator. He said he went to (he well, I md as he came back lie stepped to lie window where he could see i hrough the little back room into the i >arlor. His daughter, he said, was i jitting in a rocking chair, and he s liould hear Williamson's voice, but 1 Williamson was out of his sight. He Hum went back upstairs. Just after < he dock struck II, he said, he heard i scraping noice on the floor, and he ' 'ould tell the noise was going from < 'vhere he had seen his daughter in the rocking chair over towards the sofa. < Lie said he got off the bed immediate- : lv and thought he would see what was being done, lie went down the stairs , and he heard his daughter say please don't." At the foot of I he stairs, he said, he heard her the second time say. "please don't." He <aid lie then thought of the gun, and it was just in reach of him in the l)?ick hall. He secured the gun and passed out of the back door and went < irouifd the corner of the house to the < window. He said when he glanced 1 m the window Williamson had his < laughter's left hand in his left hand, imlling her arms around his neck and hugging and kissing her with his right arm around her. His daughter rtas pulling loose from him, lie said, uid she raised, and he jerked her on i lii* lap and across his lap. He said Williamson's back was towards him. and lie couldu I shoot liirn in the nick, and cried to him to move. As lie said move lie placed the gnu in the window, and his daughter broke loose utd ran. lie said Williamson turned iround an<l made about two steps towards him, saving "Mr. Harrison." iiml he shot him. He said he shot < Williamson because he believed Williamson was trying to "take improper advantage ol his daughter. The ] nuzzle of the gun was about four feet ' I rom Williamson, he said, wl en he 1 'hot. At the crack of the gun Wil- < liamson said, "1 intended to marry ' i*our daughter and you have killed < ?e." Harrison said his reply was, 'Mjiybe you did an maybe you lidn't." Williamson then asked iiim I O go for a doctor and he went. He < 'aid he did not see Williamson any < no re. On cross-examinul ion he was < isked \\ h\ it lie suspected something 1 ivrong, lie did not go in the door. The 1 ?arlor door, it had been testified ' vas open. Williamson said if he had rone into the door it would have noli- ' "led the young people, and then he 1 >\ould not have known if anvthing vas wrong." lie was put through a 1 igid cross-exaininat ion, sticking to I is statment that he shot Williamson ' I lecause lie believed he was "trving to ake improper advantage" of his i laughter. i The State in reply placed T. W. 1 Wynne on the stand who stated that s n his opinion young Williamson was J nidc r the influence of whiskey to a 'ertain extent when he got off the i rain, lie said, however, that later in I lie afternoon lie saw him out walk-l ng with Miss Harrison and the young , nan appeared all right. He said he v aw him and Miss Harrison stop and , alk to some ladies. The Slafe offi.p> . d wilnesses to prove young William- ( "ii's reputation for sobriety and for 'enteel conduct among ladies. but Ins testimony was ruled out bv the ! ourt. The ^arguments were concluded at j I iboul 7 o'clock on Thursday evening. 11 VI lei a recess of an hour for supper i fudge Menuninger delivered an un-!c isually strong and clear charge to the '< ivy. and at 8.l."> the jury retired. The ! nry remained out all night, and were ' "ought into court on Kridav morning \ villi,nit having agreed. .Judge Mem- si ninger strongly impressed upon them a Hie mam building has been renovated, every room and hall calsomini'd, wainscot, ceiling, windows, and iloors have been painted, every desk overhauled, Venetian shades and two mi Ionia tic self running water founjams have been purchased and will be erected for the benefit and accomodation of the scholars. Not only this but some of the soil from under the sewer was forwarded lo be analyzed and the specialist hag pronounced the same free from germ. We would cite other improvements is well as some now under cousidoraI'on, but i| i.s not our desire to make this article lengthy. One thing however hear in mind. W e have Jor the second time asked .von for another sehool building and none bul selfish, narrow-minded men would refuse lo see Hie absolute, immediate necessity for such a building. We extend a cordial invitation to nil those who are opposed to this our request, to visit ||,e school building, I lie former Wiser place. licl us enter the building for ;i moment, what do we behold? Si.vtvthrce scholars in one room, all hud! 1(1 in i|iiarlers (? school house) wlmrh is a shame to eivilizaand m>| at all in keeping with usual pride and progressiveness ol our city. If anybody has a ritrhl to kick it is your board of school trustees, vour superintendent, your teachers and your scholars. However, (he mailer of our new school facilities haVc already been paied in the hands of a committee appointed by ||,e chairman of ||,o citizens meeting, which was held in J1"' <*""H bouse at II,e time tho board of school Inistees remlered J1"'"- last annual report, and we do ,ln|"' I bat some definite sleps will bo taken al once or as soon as possible. ' I ,ls ask you, did you attend our annual meeting, if not, why notf Don'| you think i| is your duty ? We realize that il is an niter impossibility lo please all and I herolore shall be very -lad if ||,ose that; ll,m' I'link ' bat I bey have any >*< >ui pi ;i 1111 a trains! sci.ool, scholars, teachers, principal, or snperinlen.lenl, will eome forward, enter his l""1' complaint wilh (he board or a member of the board of school trustees ami we assure you thai everv I'omplanil will receive our immediate and careful at lent ion. 'I i* our earnest desire |o make our school a success, lmi we can only succeed when We receive (he hearty eonpcrali<m of our citizens. S,"l? kicking, go i.. work, pul vour dioublcr lo the wheel, |ake an inlerM in school affairs, help your servants, Ihe board of school trustees, ''""'I "se I hem for a door mat. Ivespecl | ully submit led, I''. N. Marl in, < Kieltuer, H. Wicker. w. A. McSwain, 'I- M. Davis, Hoard of Trustees. Wilson-Cely. The many friends of Miss Vi,,nie Mac Wilson will he interested lo <?"w ,?f |,(.r approaching marriage lo ' . Lake ( civ, o| (irccn ville, on ''veiling of October l.uh, a| six l.v o clock, al her home, l.TJti (\dcgc si reel. No curds are issued, on " onnt of recenl death in the family. Bail Granted. Application was made before Chief I isIicc I'upc on last I'Yidav for bail liver, ol Hcrkelev count v. )M. 1.-.SL August 11 vcr ' , '''"-rence with |,is neighbors !'" i,s ;l I", kill..,I two men, i""1 *'?' He has been in jail Iyer was represented bv Mr. .Kiv,,rs- ?'1' n.aricsi??, l,M'1 I 'ope ..ranted bail " I he sum of $ 1000. ? ? ' ^ ST. LUKE'S CHURCH. Rftv. Edward Callcnder. Rector. .:?0 -Morning pravcr, cele"r "'<* Holy Kucharist and icrmon. p. m. Mvening prayer. All seats free. ?'<'ctor and vevlry extend a cor !" I'. to bo present ind Worship with us. [ho importance of reaching a verdict md ri'-slali'd the law. Some time later the jury brought in its verdict. Harrison was sentenced before the i 1 iiiner recess 011 Friday, immediately 1 ifter the motion for new trial was ; ivcrruled. 1 A.n Open Letter From the Board of < School Trustees to the Public. While the board of school trustees l>ositively refuse to recognize the I ritieism ol 1<A Patron," the same ] icing made under an assumed name, kve feel, as public servants we are j luc the public at all times an oxplan- 1 it ion, especially where misconst ruelions are placed on our actions. We have been criticised for changing our text books of the different grades at the same time a general ['omplaiul was in circulation that our school was below (lie average and not up to the standard. We respect fully inform you that ur school system has been changed, a High School having been added. I he 8-9-10 grades are instructed unler the departmental plan, each grade is under the supervision of three special teachers, as well as (he general supervision of our superintendent. The selection .if books for all grades was made from the list of the very best schools in the State. Not a book (our former books) was discarded, or a new hook added unless absolutely necessary, and every hook 011 our list will be needed and must be used by the different grades. Our selection of books lias received the approval of our superintendent, as well as (he endorsement of the ' host educators of the State. Oiy; iuileavor is to bring our school, not only to your desire, (a standard school) but fo make it the Model School of South ( arolina, so that our graduates "ia\ bo ({iialit ied to enter college or upon any business vocation, become useful and intelligent citizens, become II propelling rather* than a static force' in the general progress and up building of the community in which they may reside. Surely I his is a laudable undertaking and should receive your hearty cooperation. The selection of our text bonks was not the only consideration of your board but also the selection of sup- 1 I'rintendeul and corps of teachers, (he sanitary condition of our school building as well as (lie gnimral welfare of pat rons, scholars and instructors, received our most earnest and serious consideration. Not a word of ni- : I'ouragement or conimenda I ion has 1 (icon said in public print for all our 1 Moris Inwards the upbuilding of our school, only criticism and abuse. : \\ e are working without compcnsa- ( lion, are always ready and willing lo lo the very best wj? can for all parties '< concerned hut we feci that we arc milled lo the support of our citizens and should rccoive manifcslaions that our labors a.re appreciated, iio| abuse and insinuations as to X'*a 11 I roin the sale ol books, hccausc ive have nothing whatever to do with I he sale or exchange of books. Our local hook dealer will suhslaniate our assert ion. ^ our pres'Mit board ol school trusees have been in charire of voiir ; school a 11 airs only about I wo vears, ' 1 good deal has been accomplished. 1 e cile only a lew ol the improve- ' uonts made lo show that the cril**<sm ' igaiust the hoard is unwarranted, tin- ' iusl and unfair. When taking charge there was an ndebteduess of about +800. This iia-^ >een li<|iiidateil bv I lie present board. ' Au\body 1 liaI is acquainted with >ur school at fairs and vicu-, thciri ' villi prejudice or parliialily, will ad I1 nil that our school is on the upward ' irade, has advanced and has made ! '<*ns|.'inI progress. 1 " I 1 An al'i'o-t new corps of instructors * ire in charge and we say to von and | ! ill. go w here you may \ i-il anv | ' elioo! in thi- or any other Stale in' he I nio.1 and you will not find a nore refined, intelligent, or more 'ompetaut corps of instructors in barge of any school, than has charge I I I lie Newberry (iraded and High > M'hord. We should learn to speak a good vord of our superintendent, teachers '"d school at home and they will be < poken well of abroad.