Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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V(L. XiL MANNING, S. C., WY1ES)AYf NOVEMBER4 A FAMOUS CASE. TRIAL OF THE BROXTON e1lDGF MURDERERS AT AIKEN. Over Fifty Witnessra In Attendance and a Brilliant Array of the PFet Lawyers for the Defense. Solicitor Itellvger Alonie for State. AIKEN, S. C., Oct. 27 --The famous, or more properly speaking, the inla mous Broxton Bridge murder case is now on trial in the court of sessions at this place, having been begun '1ere this morning. There is not in the criminal annals of the State of South Carolina, noted for its many horrible murders, a moretruly revolting crime than that for which six of the most prominent citizens of Colleton county are now on trial for their lives. Already have these men been tried for the murder of an aged and inof fending negress and have been cleared; now they are on trial for the killing of her son. Of course there is no say ing what a petty jury will do, but So licitor Bellinger. on the part of the State of South Carolins, the peace, gocd order and dignity thereof, will do all in his power to convict these men. On the night of the 2nd of last De cember, a cold, clear moonlight night, Colleton county was the scene of two brutal murders. Isham Kearse and his mother, Hannah Wa"er, were so foul ly maltreated that they died from their wounds. These wounds were inflict ed upon them by means of a buggy trace, and the two were literally beat en to death. Their bodies were found in the frozen ground the morning af ter reduced almost to a pulp, cut, la cerated and scarcely recognizable. There eculd be no doubt but that these two were beaten to death by fiends in human shape. A State dispensary detective, W. H. Newbold, was sent by the authorities to investigate the case, and his-inves tigation brought to light one of the most horrible stories ever in print. The inquisitors of the dark ages could have been no more diabolical in.their treatment than were the murderers of old Hannah Walker and her son, and of Rose Kearse, whom they unmerci fully beat. It developed that on the 2nd of December, 1895, certain white men had gone to the houses of these negroes, secured them, tied them with ropes to their buggies and literally dragged them for over a mile. Here the three were beaten with a buggy trace. Rosa Kearse, who was the wife of Isham Kearse, for whose murder there are now on trial here Dr. W. B. Ack erman, Frank Jenny, Wyman Kearse and Frank Brant, escaped from the mob of villainous men and fled through the woods, not however, be fore she too, was terribly beaten. Rosa Kearse was terrified, and though she still remained in the neighborhood she was at the house of a relative and afraid to speak of the affair at all. Finally, however, she told her uncle -and then little by little the detective -twresnabled to make out 14s clue. There was-no reason assigned why these men should have committed the crime that they are charged with. While it has never developed in court it is said that there was missing from a nearby church a Bible. Be cause these negroes were supposed to be the ones who stole tne Holy Book, so the theory has it, they were taken out and flogged. It was not the inten -tion of the mob who whipped them to whip them to death, but they carried - the matter further than they thoughLt From the circumstantial evidence in the case there seemed no doubt but that the men mentioned were the guilty ones. They were accordingly arrested and in February last, before -Judge Aldrich, tried in the Colleton court of sessions, holding at Walter boro. This trial was had upon the first count in the case, tbat of the murder of Hannah Walker, whose~ body was found in apool of a ater, not very far flrom that of her son. This first trial was one of the most noted ever had in the State for the rea son that at it the solicitor had great trouble, and his life was threatened. In spite of this, however, he later went to Walterboro on campaign * business, and t en defied the- men who had threatene him. AMter the men were acquitted of the murder of Han nah Walker, there being still another indictment against them, the solicitor petitioned for a change of venue, and the case was set for a hearing berore Judge Earle here. Ever since court opened in Aiken over a week ago, the calling of the case has been anxiously expected. and the little town has been overrun with witnesses and others who are interest ed. There are in all about fifty-five 'witnesses in the case. The prisoners, who are all intelli gent looking men, comparatively well ~resed4~rosperous looking, have been incarcea '-. A iken jail since Saturday the 17th, ~hen they were brought un here from Walterboro by Sheriff Black of Colleton count y. Pre 'vious to that time they had been in Walterboro jail. Attempts to get them out on bond were made, but there was never any attempt either on their part or that of their friends to break jail. All of them had given themselves up, and so, though incon venienced preferred to remain in cus tody than to flee the county or State. They are all in splendid condition and their confinement does not seem to have in the least afl'ected their health. When the case was cadled for the so licitor announced that he would try the case against Ackerman. Jenny, -Brant and Kearse, being that known -as the first case, for murdering Isham Kearse by beating with a buggy tr-ace. .The following jury was sworn: W. W. Toole, foreman; J. S. Mc Kie, John H. Redd, G. L. Toole, P. J. Williams, D. T. Gantt, J. J. Tay lor, H. P. Johnson. S. P. Kitching, A. H. Asbeil, R. E. Corley, B. F. Varn. - Before going into the evidence in the case as far as it went today, it will be well to state some further particu lar3. There were three inditments at tirst. Une ch:arging the fbur defend ants with the murder of Hannah Wal k-er, another charging them with the murder of Isham Kearse, and a third making Stanley and Itiers parties de fendant on the grounds that if the man Kearse was not killed lby the whipping, he was beaten into an un conscious state, and left in the cold of a December night, the exposure kill ing him. Dr. C. WV. Iliers was the first wit ness on the stand; said that he had ex amined the body of Kearse and death resulted fromt wounds and bruises. The next witness was J. E. Vain. He saw the bodies, one of which was] Kearse. That the man and the woman were both buried in the same pine hox and before bad been left on the ground all nieht in the cold. Dr. Martin Bellinger was the next witness on the stand. Ie stated that at the rcquest of the solicitor lie bad gone to the place of ourial and had cor.ducted an examination of the bod ies of Hannah Walker and John Kearse, after having them exhumed. This was on the 11th. le found that the two murdered persons, the old mother and her son, had simply been dumped into a plaiu pine box, and over them there was nothing but a strip of cloth. Both bxdies were in a terrib!e state. Tney were cut and bruised in a terrible manner. The wounds, he stated, were evidently made by some round edge, pliable in strument. perhaps a buggy trace. H. M. Ward stated that be lived near Broxton Bridge. He was only acquain ted with Dr. Ackerman. On the 4th of December he beard that Isham Kearse was dead. Saw Dr. Ackerman on Monday night about 8 o'clock be fore the Wednesday on which the in-" quest took place. Dr. Ackerman call td to buy a pair of shoes. bat did not get them. Sent the shoes to him at Walterboro after he was imprisoned at Vw alterboro. Allen Hayes on Monday night was passing the place of Mr. Preston Hiers and he was in his lot hitching up a horse. There was a buggy and a road cart standing in the road and there were several men standing around. He did not know what time it was then, but after walking half a mile to his own place it was II o'clock. Sev eral oth-er witnesses testified to the fact of Mr. Fliers hitching up a buggy on the night of the killing. Sandy Campbell stated that he had been in jail charged with the killing of Hannah Walker and Isham Kearse. He had at that time lived on Mr. Hiers's place. Oa the day of the in quest lie was not present. The night before he was at his own house. He was also home on Monday night be fore the inquest. On that night he Lad seen Ish'n Kearse and Rose Kearse at his house. He came there about two hours after dark. Campbell walked out with him toward his home. As they got by Mr. Hiers's house thr.e or four men ran out and said we irrest you. In the crowd were Mr. li:ers, Mr. Brant. Dr. Ackerman an,; Mr. Stan'ey. They showed no warrant. The men put a rope around him ! ad a,other about Isham. The men said they wanted the man who had their property, which was some books. Later the men un tied him and let him go. They took Kearse off. Campbell went home and after that some white men came to his place and asked for Rosa Kearse. They took her off with them. He saw a buggy in the road when Rosa went out but did not know what became of Kearse. He did not see any of the white men mentioned by him as being the ones who stopped him and Kearse that night, until he was in jail at Walterboro with them. On that night he saw Hannah Walker about a hun dred yards from his house. She was with some one he did not know. When asked it he had made all this statement at Walterboro he said no for the reason that he was warned not to. When Campbell was asked i: that in testifying in Walterboro, (when the same men were on trial for the killing of Hannah Walker) he had not said he did not know who it was that knocked on his door. lHe di i not re member. Campbell was then asked if he did not in Walterboro say that Kearse had gone off by himself. This he did not remember. Campbell was further asked why he did not tell the whole story at Walterboro as he was doing it now. Campbell replied that he had baen advised not to by Mr. Hiers. Further Campbell said that Mir. Hiers and others~ had told him that if he told what he knew he would never leave the court rcom. SE4COND DAY CF" THE TRIAL. AIKrs, S. C., Oct. 28.-Tne lirst wit ness up today was Mr. J. J. Falk, who was last night put on the stand, was again up. Falks stated that he was a rt sident of Colleton County, and was acquainted with the defendants. Hlad not known any of them very long. Had met them in jail, lie was there because hearing there was a warrant for him in the case he had surrender ed to the sheriff. Mr. Falk stated that the woman Hannah Walker, who was killed, resided on his place. He han also been acquainted with Rosa Kearse, who lived on his place with her hus band, Isham Kearse. Witness was ac quainted with Sandy Campbell, who was one of the witnesses on the stand yesterday. Mr. Falk knew Mr. P~. H. Hiers, who live d about 800 yards from him. lHe was at the inquest over the bodies of the two negroes, but as he had not enmined them he could not swear that the bodies were those of Hannah Walker and Isham H art-is. On the night of the 2ad he was awakened by persons calling at his gate. He asked the three men he saw here what they wanted. They tola him that they had a man there they wanted him to identify. lHe asked who it was, and was told that the man was Ishamr Kearse. lHe dre.ssed and went to the gate. There was a buggy there and a man was tied to it. This man he identitied as Ishamn Kearse af ter striking a light. Hie asked the men what they were doing with Isham and they said that they wanted him for rape. They also said that they want ed Hannah Walker for stealing books, and asked him to go with them to Hannah Walker's house. When he got to the woman's house, wnich was on his place, there were four vehicles there standing in front of the house. One man met him at the steps and said that he would go in and search the house for the stolen property. He was unable to see who the man was. In the house he struck a match and found that the house was apparently empty. This surprised him. Finally they found an old lamp which he lit. After a starch they could find neither Hannah Walker er the stolen pro perty. Arterward they found Hannah Wal ker at a house on the place of Mr. Adamn Falk-. At that timie Ishamn learse was tied behind one of tihe buggies. He heard a man tell H an nah Walker that they wanted to know where the bookss were. Hannah Wal ker replied that she did :not know where the books were unless they were at Isham's camp. Tire people then drove off. A little below the place where Hannah was gotte-u the roads branched olf At thle for-ks of the road one party took ishian one way and the other went towar-d a woods. Mr. Falk said he was in the party that took Hannah Walker in the woods. A fer searching there and findinug no books, they hi-onght Hannah out. Then she said the books were with si Rosa Kearse. who was staying at Sandy Campbell's The men drove to st Sandy's house and he followed them. (t W hen he searched Sandy's house the at men had gotten Rosa Kearse. They I then drove toward B1roxton Bridge mIII lie left them after the men told him B that they did not intend doing any- fi( thing with the women. Both women eC were tied with a strap around their fe necks. Mr. Folk could not identify any of T the men in the crowd, though ie s thought he recognized the voice of re Preston Iiers. Ton Kirk stated that on Monday night Mr. Jake Folk, who had just left the stand, came to his house and c knocked on his door. Mr. Folk asked ti if Hannah Walker was there. Kirk tl swore that there were two buggies and w a road cart outside and that in one of PI them he recognized Preston Iliers. He saw Isham Kearse, tied by the neck, S standing behind one of the buggies. K He was at the Seymour house when D, Hannah Walker was secured. She was to tied by the neck behind one of the ti buggies after the men had told her to di consider herself under arrest. There h was no conversation among the white til men that was heard. The witnesses s stated that he was unacquainted with . the defendants except Mr. Hiers, whom J he saw in the crowd. He did not see t Hannah Walker or Isham Kearse af- w ter that until they were buried, when Y he was preent. On the crosi cxtni- .l nation nothing was developed. Solomon Grant stated that or the In Monday night previous to the killing he was at his home on the place of Mr. Adam Folk. About 10 or 11 b o'clock some men stopped at his house 0 and asked if HIannah Walker was there. He did not know any of the S people who were in the three vehicles at first, but later did recognize Dr. Ac- as kerman, fiers and Jake Folk. When re the crowd got to the Seymour house h Dr. Ackerman told her to consider sh herself under arrest. Then lie heard Dr. Ackerman ask for a line. He then CO tied her around the neck. As he was to tieing the rope Hannah Walker said a "Lord what has I done to the buckra." w] Witness heard Dr. A-kerman say to an her: "Yo. haven't done anythm g, and that is the reason we are going to give you hell." On the cross-exami- Ile nation the defense endeavored to show he that Grant had been approached by w1 the detective and threatened with ar- to rest if be did not make certain state- In ments. Pompey Grant corroborated di, the statements of Solomon Grant. Ben Seymour, at whose house Han- R nah Walker was taken from, was the so next witness put on the stand. Ie w. was at his house on the night of the killing of Kearse. Mr. Folk Seymour w, stated they called to him and told him to] that they wanted to see Hannah. Han- I, nah went out and as she did so Dr. th Ackerman told her to consider herself On under arrest. After that he did not see Hannah again. He knew that Dr. lei Ackerman was there because of his red bO moustache. he Rosa Kearse, wife of the murdered Gi man, and one of the three beaten on an the night of the 2nd of December, was th t, ne put on. the stand. Her story was one cr of horror in its details. Rosa Kearse er swore that she was the wife of Isham th Kearse. On the night of the 2nd of December she was at the house of her th uncle Sandy Campbell. Jenney and hi Ackerman came to her uncle's house and asked for her. She went out and . then was asked by Ackerman if she knew anything of the books She in~ told them no and then one of them said, "d-n ycu, none of you know anything about it." After t his Acker- de man tied a line around her neck and go tied it to the buggy in which he and co Jenny were seated. They drove the Pu horse off in a trot. She followed as be best she could, being compelled to run we to keep up. After running for some tie time she tripped up and fell to the toi grcund. She was unable to gain her wi feet for the horse was going too fast, and so she was dragged by her neck. afi She clutched at the line with her hands we and prevented the rope from strang- pa ing her, while her body was dIragged be helplessiv over the rough road. w After about a half mile they got to be a piece of woods, and there by a lire Br were the four other men. Pr ess Hliers ou had a gun- At theside of the fire was her hiusbind and Hannah Walker. da When they got up to the other four foi men Rosa said she was bound to one an of the tree near the lire. Then the W men advised all three of them to tell of about the books if they knew any- ar; thing about them. No informatios ha could be given by the negroes and they at were made to strip. First the aged TI negro woman, the mother of Isham, fei was stripped of every vestige of cloth ing and beaten with a buggy trace by ca the white men. They beat the wo- wvi man until she could not stand up. tre Then bhami was made to strip himrs~lf. tic Ie was beaten until lie dropped. pr Rosa Kearse was the last to be whip ac pd. She was then but 17 years old, do but large for her age. She had but re- mi ently gottenup fromn a bed of confine- ab ment. but she was stripped of all of 'n her clothes. There in the cold of a December night they beat her un ner ry cifully. After they had finished whip- to ping her one of them handed her a fa match and told her to build a li re. One th of the men helped Isham to put on his coat and shirt. Ackerman then told to Isham that if he didn't find the books gu by Wednesday night lie would come yo back and kill the whole d-- a creation du of negroes. Then they said good no night and left her. Isham was then in on [is all fours unable to move at all. This was about two hours before day. mni She went to her uncle's house anti re- be mained there. p On the cross examination she stated sh that she was placed in Walterboro fa juil for safe keeping. Mr. Gr-uber do was ccndJucting the cross examination for the defence, and to him the wit- fe: ness was almost insolent. ]Ier an- th swers were mostly in monosyllables N. and insisted on calling all of the be white men by their names without any W< refix at all. The cross examination th sought to show that while in Walter- th boro jail Rosa Kearse had told several ha perons that she did not know who had done the whipping. She admitted an that she told two ma n named Smith ni that she had no idea who the persons were that - whipped her. This was ac somewhat of a surprise for previously I 1Rsa K'earse had so persis tently stuck to her stateiment that the six men had be done whipping. She swore that she cr< lid not have a conveasationl with in John Varn on the railroad when the i defence asked her the question. wvi On the redirect 1tosa Kearse said i that wvhile she was in jul Varn had rei comel to her and advised her to say no that she knew nothing of the mn who m< whipped her if she wanted to save her an life. When the solicitor asked ner sai why she told Smith that she didi not1 an nowr uvho beat he, sha di i) heauno e was afraid. Sheriff Blalock, of Colleton county, ited that the prisoners had surren red to him on the 1Gth of December the ollice of Howell & Grruber. )sa Kearse was in jail as State's wit ss. With the conclusion of Sheriff alock's testimony Solicitor JB31in r announced at 4 o'clock that it rest its case. -The defense asked for a w moments to confer before putting > witnesses, which was granted. ie attorneys were in conference for me twenty minutes after the State sted its case. FoR THF )EENCE. The first witness for the defence was r. J. 0. Grilfin, said that he was the unty supervisor and as such visited ejail. He had asiced Rosa Kearse if e men then in jail were the ones 1o had whipped her, and she had re ied "no." Oa the cross examina'1on by the ate Mr. Blihnger said that Rsa ,arse had told bim on the 20th of ,cemuber. le was asked if lie bad Id any one about it at the February -m of the court. He replied that he .1 not want to be a witness, but as he a told his brother, who was one of e attorneys in the cise, had hin nimoned. D. L. Smith was at the Walterboro . in January and had talked with >sa Kearse. Here it was found that ien Rosa had been asked of a con rsation had with ). L. Smith at the I in December she said that she had ine. She was recalled to the stand order to answer the questions as ey related to his visit on the 120h or th of January, instead of in Decem r. She denied having even had nversation with Smith. D. L. Smith was again put on the nd and he swore that he had seen sa Kearse in the jail. That he had ked her why she was there and she Aied that she did not kno w, that she d been whippcd and put there, and e did not know who did it. [. D. Walker swore that he was a nstable and had taken Rosa Kearse jail. He had conversation with her d she told him she did not know io whipped her, beciuse it was daik d she could not see. J. W. Varn stated that he had seen >sa Kearse on the railroad and asked r what she was doing there, because had learned that she had been ipped nearly to death. She had d him that she was not whipped ich. She further told him that she I not know who whipped her. Jim Green had a conversation with sa Kearse, in whi-h she said it was dark that she could not se, who it s that whippe1 her. John Kearse (clored) said that he LS at the Walterboro jil. She had d him that she did not know who it s that whipped her, and she did not ink the men in jail looked like the es. D. A. Walker, a trial justice of Col on county held the inquest and und over the witnesses. He had ard witnesses, among them Pompey 'ant, say that he did not recognize v of the men who came to his house it night. He was the acting coro r and held the inquest. Oa the >ss examination he said he had the )ther and son buried in one box, and are were no clothes on them. He d issued a warrant for the arrest of four defendants, and turned it over nself to the sheriff. t 6 o'clock court adjourned for the yht to meet at 9:30 tomorrow morn THIRD DAY OF TRI.\L. XUKRN, S. C., Out. 23.- The defence roted it time today in proving the od character of the witnesses in the nmunity in which they liI'ed, an t up an almost interminable num eto swear to it. The witnesses re all the best people in the coun s of Colleton, Barnwell and Hiamp i, and their testimony had its weight th the jury. Jol. Aldrich. who spoke first this ernoon, said tha:. if the prisoners re dealt with according to the news per reports they would have already n hanged, and the jury smiled in a y that lead those who saw them to ieve that Ackerman, Kearse, Jenny, ant, Stanley and Hliers will walk L of jail free men. ['le argument in the case began to y at :3 o'clock, with Col. Aldrich up -the defence, Hie spoke an hour, d was followed by Mr. Howell, of alterboro. Ciol. 1). S. Henderson, Aiken, closed for the defence. The fument was on the line that no case d been made against the prisoners the bar. Solicitor BLlinger closed. e request of the charge for the de ice was as follows: 'That if any material fact in the se depends upon the testimony of a tness who has been successfully con .dicted, and whose general reputa ai is proven to be bad and such of of contradiction and of bad char ~er, raises in the minds of the jury a ubt as to the reliability of the testi >y of such witness that is a reason l doubt, and the verdict should be >t guilty.' "That it is not advisable for the ju to draw any inference prejudicial the defendants by reason of their lure to take the stand and testify in Scase as witness. -"hat the law prcsunmes every man be innocent until lie is proved to be ilty, and until proof of guilt, be nd a reasonable dloubUt, has been ad ced against the prisoners they are t called upon to open their mouths their defence. "That in doubtful cases where the nds of the jary mnay be wavering L ween the guilt or innocence of the soners the p roof of good character >uld be thrown into the scales in ror of innocence and resolve the ubt in behalf of the accused. hids morning at It o'clock the de ice closed. The evidence was begun s morning by the testimony of HI. Folk, who s wore that Sandy Camp I's reputation was baa. and that he mld not believe him on oath. On Scross examination Folk admitted at he was interested in the case and d subscribed money to the defence. D. N. Yarn swore the same as F"olk d admitted that lie had subscribed micy to the defecec. Dr. D). M. Hiers swore that he would t believe Sandy Campbell on oath. too had contributed to the defence. W. N. Jones swore Sandy Camp 's reputation was bad. On the >s-eamination lie stated he was erested in the case and had paid mey for the defenice. All of his bias s ini their favor. ). P. Folk swore Sady Campbell's sitation was bad and that he would tbelieve him on oath, lHe hand paid >ey in order to allow the defend t to empldoy counsel, further lie d that he was related to ,Jenny d Kearse. - member of the Legislature, was put up to testify to the charac'er of Kearse and -Jenny, which he stat.d was good. Dr. 1). 11. Rice also testified to the good character of Kearse and Jenny. Capt. H. S. Batchelo?, clerk of the Colleton County Court, was aconaint ed with Dr. Ackerman, whose reputa tion for peace and order was good. Ie had contributed nothing to the de fence. R. E. .Jones had known Kearse and Ackerman all of their lives and knew their reputations were good. He had chipped in for the defence. Col. B. R. Lewis, of BarnwelI, was acquainted with Brant, Jenny, Kearse and Ackerman. Their reputation, he said, were good. On the cross-examination Col. Lew is was asked if Frank Brant's reputa tion was as good as the rest of the peo ple of the county. Then the solicitor asked Col. Lewis if Brant had not been in several scrapes in court,among them a shooting scrape and a fight at a church. "Do you call that goed reputation?" said the solicitor. Col. Lewis adnitted that it was not exactly in keeping with the law. Capt. J. Kinard, a member of the Legislature fram Colleton, swore that the reputation of the defendants were good. On the cross examination he stated that he was interested and had paia out money for the defence. H. W. Daer swore the same as all the others. J. W. Bell, a trial justice and ex county treasurer, was put up to show that Sandy Campbell had been con victedof stealing cotton. Solicitor Del linger objectedto the testimony and ask ed that the jury retire while argument was being had. T:e court raled that the testimony be ! ricken out, because a trial justic l:t.J no jurisdiction in the case of laree a v, therefore testimony .was incompetent. Failing in that the jury was recalled and the witness was allowed to swear to Mr. Ackerman's reputation. All swore that the general reputa tion of the defendaits was good. Dr. J. H. Ro9berts was put on the stand to testify as to character and did so. Dr. J. B. Whatley testified that the reputation of the defendants was good. When asked by the solicitor if he did not know that Brant was a turbulent man Dr. Whatley said that he did not know of Brant doing anything to hang or be put put in the penitentiary for. L. G. Owens was the last witness put up to testify as to character, and Judge Earle remarked that he thought it was about time, for lieiid-nat think it necessary to put up the whole of Colleton county to prove character of the defendants. A SURPRISE. After a few moments consultation the attorneys for the defence decided that they would introduce no more testimony. Their announcement seemed somewhat sudden, as the de fence had introduced absolutely no testimony going to prove an alibi or snything else. There was not a person in the court room who believed the men innocent, especially since none of them were put on the stand to make a statement. The prisoners themselves were utterly indifferent to everything going on about them, they simply smiled at one another. In rebuttal the State placed Court Stengrapher Claude E. Sawyer on the stand lo testify as to the statement of a witness, Solomon Grant, who at Walterboro swore he recognized four men and at Aiken only three. Tom Ilaynes, colored, who was in charge of the State's witnesses, was put up to swear that persons had at tempted to tamper with the witnesses. W. H. Newbold, the chief detective of the State, was put up. Detective Newbold stated that he knew Solomon Grant and A. C. Walker. He had seen the t wo together on Folk's place in CJolleton county. He heard Grant make a statement to Walker. lie heard Solomon Grant say that he re cognizd Ackerman. Mr'. New bold de sired to make a statement regarding Walker's afldavit which be had taken down. The solicitor then took the stand to testify as to the loss of the af tidavit. The solicitor stated there that he wished to prova the contents of the paper. The court told him that the paper had not been found. The detec tive was again put on the stand and the paper was proven. The solicitor wished to show by a copy that in the contents of the lost alhidavit G rant had stated that he had seen . -kerman in the crowd. The defence announced that it would have three speeches in argument, and the court allowed e hour for each. The solicitor had, therefore, three hours if he chose, but did not consume but half of that. .Juige Earle's charge was a judicial masterpiece and lie gave the defend ants tne full benefit of the law, as is shown in the request for charge, which Judge Earle allowed. All of the many witnesses will go home tomorrow. It Wan Too, Fishiy. CornwBa, S. C., ct. 28.-It does seem sometimes that a man will go to any extent and to any expense just for the purpose of evading the Dispensary law. A case in point was learned of yesterday when a man in Charlest-n had shipped to him a barrel of liquor from Savannah. It was not a large quantity for the keg was put up ini a sugar barrel. But the shipment got to Charleston and fearing that the consta bles would get it, they evidently be ing on the lookout, it was sent on to Columbia. Here the eagle eyes of Con - stable Moorehead fell upon it and it was captured and confiscated. It was to be shipped back to Charleston yes terday and the consignee will be with out his liquor or the pleasure of out witting the ollicers. Even had lhe got his liquor it would probably have cost him mnore in the end by reason of freights than it was worth. The stullf came from M. M. Solomon, dealer in fish, of Savannah. At least that is what was written on the barrel which was a sugar barrel. It was consigned to JT. K. Keith, Ch arleston. Klot at a Meetingi. KNOxvraI. Tenn., ( )uL 27. -A special from Coal (Creek, the famous rioting mtining town 30j miles from he're, says a very sensational shooting ahray occurred there last night ini which two men were killed and others wounded. The fight occurred at a Mckinley and H~obart meeting. A negro named Bud Black began shoot ing at another negro namied Frank Martin. They exchanged several shots and Martin fell mortally wound ed with two bullet holes through his body. One of them struck and instant ly killed Squire Robert lnughlin, a justice of the peace, and one of the leading citizens of the town. Others were hit, but not seriously hurt. A BRASS CITY BELLE. cov. EV to Wed a 0onnetict ""'Mm Thv-re have been many rumors aiou'. Governor Evans' probable niar riage while in nlflie. They were rife even b ifore the governor had been elected, but all aong he h is kept his own consul. The following arti cle from The Evening' Deonicrat of Waterbury, Conn., of recent (late, which has been sent The State. will consequently prove of considerable in terest: "And the little birds go south also." Things have changed considerably since the war closed. In the days of 'G1 the northern soldiers and sailors, went south to battle with their south ern brethren, but nowadays the gal lant, good-looking and gentlemanly young southerners come north to steal away the daughters of northern ers and take them to their faraway homes to become their blushing and happy brides. For several months a tall, good looking young man has bcen paying frequent visits to the Brass city. For some time Waterbur) ians wondered who he was, but they finally learn ed that he was Gary Evans, governor of South Corolina,and one of the brightest and most promising young men in the Plametto State. He is the kind of a m in that the ladies would call very hand some, as he is tall, wellformel and carries himself like a soldier. As soon as it was discovered that the stranger was such a distinguished man he found that he had hit han Is full attenling to the calls of socitv and answering the questious asked by inquisitive and enterprisin , Water bury newspaper men. At first the governor kept the object of his frequent visitt a profound se cret. in fact he does not as yet publicly declare why he came to Waterbury, but the ever-ready gossips soon discov ered why he came and their wagging tongues have already mapped out his excellency's future years and they are sure that he will spend them as the husband of one of Waterbury's fairest daughters. When the governor first came to .town it was noticed that he practical ly made the D. L. Plume homestead his abiding spot and most of his time was spent in the residence of that well known citizen. Now the gossip says Mr. Plume's dauzhter, Emily, one of the belles of the Brass city society, will become Mrs. -Ga-y Evans before the snow flies, and that along with the little birds Ghe will go south to spend the wintery months under the blue skies of the good old State of South Carolina. The engagement of the young south ern statesman and Miss Plume has not as yet, been announced public!y, but it is understood that the alfair is set tled and society, the upper ten portion of it, are on the qui viye, anxiously awaiting the event. Garv Evans comes from some of the best old timber in the southern States and he is every inch a gentle man. His prospects in life are said to be exceedingly bright. He is a clever fellow and since he has governed South Carolina the people of that State have lad it proven to them that they have had a chief executive worth having. Miss Emily Plume is so very well known to Waterbury people that it is hardly niecessary to say very much in regard a the lady. She has always been considered to be one of the brightest and most popular young womnen who have graced Brass city society during the last few years. D). E. Plume's fortune is estimated to be away up in the millions and her share, united with what the young governor has in his own right, will keep all the wolves away from this happy couple's door even it both Con necticut and South Carolina do go for Br-yan and free silver. The WVaterbury young men should feel ashamed of the fact that they have allowed a stranger to come from away down South and carry back home with him one of the fairest of the fair daughters of a Northern citizen, but we are glad to see another union be tween the North and the South. These wveddings will help considerably to further assist the good feeling that now exists between the two great countries that once fought under two ilaas, but now enjoy per-fect peace un der the grand old stars and stripes. It was thought at one time that Miss Plume would marry a Waterbury gen tleman, but it has been proven that for once, at any rate, the know-it alls were somewhat oli the track. The wedding ceremony will unt doubtedly be the event of the year and will satisfy that craving Waterbur~y society people have'for excitement and boni ton events, owing to the fact that they have such a small number. of them from one New Year to the other. What did the governor of South Carolina say to the Northern maiden, or hasn't he spoken yet,is a question all interested people are asxing. But what the governor did or didn't say is his business and will draw the curtain. M urdered Hki Wire. Naamsu'owN, Pa., OWt, 2.-A mur der unparalleled in the annals of crime in Montgomery coun ty was committed early last evening on a public road in Upper Marion towvnship near Bridge port. Emma Kaiser, the young wife cf Charles 0. iKaiser, Jr., was shot down as she rode along with her hius band, who an hour later was receiving the condolence of friends, but who to day stands accused of crime. F-rom inmates of the boarding house where the couple lived it was learned that Kaiser and his wife carried a jint in stirance of $10,000t on their hie3, the policies being so written that thre death of either would make the other the beneficiary; and that several weeks ago Kaiser and his wife each executed a will, each making the other execu tor and sole legatee. All H~anda Were Imot. ST. Tlrns, Ont., Oct. 2.--The gov ernent cruiser P etrel has arrived at P ort Stanley with the news that the schooner Sandill, loaded with lumber for Tonawond a from Wiarton, went down in Lake Erie lFriday and all hands were lost. The Sandill carried a crew consisting of captain, mate, three seamen and cook. F'iend(ishl Butchery. TRnnoxD, Mo., Oct. 2-7.-Mrs. Ev'.a Winner, wife of Jessse Winner, and her two children, a girl aged ::and a boy aged 18 months, were murdered last night. The womian's head was cut with an axe and the throats of the children were cut arnd their spinal cords severe-d. Uloodhounds are be DEV.ASTATfON AND I)EATI. WROUGHT BY A TERRIFIC CYCLONE IN SEVERAL STATES. The State of LilslannM.dip, Wis con.ni :and Oklaloma Vi.ited -Farm 1loust-m Demiolishful, Crops Iluowrn Away :n.i Wlwy Peoople Kinled and in.juired. NF.-.ELLTON, LA , Oct. :3o. - -Tensas Parish has again 'ecen visited by a most dest-ictive cyclone. The atmos phere had been heavy and sultry all day, the clouds growing blacker and blacker, and at 2 o'clock a terrific wind and rain storm reached Lake St. Joseph. Telegraph wires were torn down, and a most unsatisfactory re port reaches here from the lower part of the parish, where the tornado origi nated. Information is that the im menie brick gin on the mound plan tation, belonging to Mr. Joe Curryn, was practically destroyed. The course of the storm was from Southwest to Northeast, striking Bruen Lake at Locust Land, tearing down and des troying the public bridge over Cheraw Bayou. T welve cabins on Locust Land were completely demolished and two colored men and two colored women and a baby were killed by Ihghtning or blown into the lake. The next place reached was John son's Bend, on Lake St. Joseph. The s' ee is one of desolation. Johnson's Bend is leased by Mr. A. Bland. The gin house contained a great quantity of hay and was totally wrecked. Three barns containing corn were also des troyed and a great deal of the corn blo ra away. Six cabins were blown to pieces entirely and many timbers were blown into Lake St. Joseph. Severat p-rsons were badly cut and bruised, bit no lives were lost. The tenants liging in ihe houses had their clothing and household effects blown away. Telegraph and telephone wires are down and the public road on Lake St. Joseph front is covered with frag ments of houses, furniture, clothing, cotton, corn and household eff.ects. NFw ORLE Ns, Oat. :S.-A bout 4:30 o'clock this afternoon a cyclone struck this city on the river front, just above Peniston street, and swept over a dist ance of about a mille and a half, or thirty blocks, from Peniston street to Robin street, the track of the storm being about fifteen hundred feet wide from the river to Annunc'ation street. The first building damagel was the Independence Ol Mill, situ9ted at the head of Peniston street. It was un roofed and building and contents were damaged to the amount of $60, The convc ors of the new eleva tor of the. Iiiirois Central Railroad were slightly damiagl', -and John W. flitemayer and John J. i ; ployed at the elevator, were liftect from the ground, dashed against the elevator and the latter was severely hurt. Hundreds of buildings in the track of the storm were damaged. many being partially unroofed and chimneys prostrated, trees uprooted and fences blown down. The storm s wept section of the city is in darkness tonight, owing to the prostration of electric wires, and details of d"mage are ditilcult to obtain. At first a num ber of lives were reported lost, but so far these reports have not been veri fied. The property loss is estimated at 100,O00. The Skylot cotton sheds, situated on Robin street near the riv er front, used by the Texas and Pacific Railroad for cotton storage, were dam aged to the extent o& $10,000, A num ber of other sheds were completely de stroyed. George Bealer, a switch tender, was seriously injured, an arm and hip being broken, and Joseph Hlennesy, laborer, was also injured at the; sheds-all the other laborers, about forty in number, having just knocked off and fortunately got out of the sheds before they collapsed. ()xroni, Miss., Oct. 29.-A terrific cyclone passed through the eastern part, of LaFayette County this after noon at 4 o'clock, demolishing farm houses and uprooting trees of all sizes. The news has just reached here, being reported by Hon. W. V. Sullivan, D~emocratic candidate foe Congress, and T. J. Hlarkins. Mr. Sullivan had been speaking at Tula and was return ing to Oxford, expecting to speak, at Abbeyville to-night. Heand Harkins were caught in the storm's ,path, the windl swooping downi upon them without warnihig. They were driving a double team buggy. The wind lift ed the vehicle, horses and all, and carried them two hundred yards. The buggy was completely demolished by Falling timber but neither men or horses were seriously hurt, Harkins sustaining a slight injury by a flying Fence rail. The storm passed throughout the out skirts of the tow n of Delay and demol ished several houses. The house of Mil ton Eskridge was blown away, but his wife and seven children, who were in the house miraculously escaped with slight bruises. The extent of the damage cannot be given, but no casualities have as yet been reported. Not a tree was left standing in the cyclone's path. Further details cin not be had to-night. GuTum:, Uklahoma, Oct. 29. -A cyclone swept over a stretch of coun try about 20 miles East of here at 7:30 o'clock last night, devastating a dis trict several miles long and probably a hundred yards wide. The farm and house of Wmn. Toby was first in the path of the storm. The- building was destroyed and Toby was probably fatally injured. The other memcbers of his family escapcd. Half a mile further North, the Mitchel postollic and store was lifted bodily into the air, carried a hundred yards and dashed into the earth. The ouilding was smashed into splinters and postmaster M. T Mulliu and his wife, who live-d in the building, were kilied. Their bodies were found this norning. They died clasped in each ther's arms. T wo sticks were driven :hroughm Mr. Mullin's skull, but there was not a scratch on the body of his wife. The mullins came here from Rlock Island, Ill. The farm house of Xbner Jones was ais> wrecced and :nany smaller buildings were destroy ad, trees up~rooted and crops ruined. Rumors are current here that the ame storau did frightful damage fur hier in Payne County and that sever sl perscus were killed there, but up to m late hour to-night no particulars are btainable. There was a tremendous fall of rain jere and c-onsiderable damage was louie by washout and the carrying oir >f crops. At Wewoka, I. T., the cyclone de troyed Governor lcown's store, a ne w hurch and four other buildings. everal persons were hurt but none In Lincoln County Mr. and Mrs. John McLaughlin have been found dead in the ruins of their home, and Harrison Jones will die of his injuries. SIunMiss., Oct. 29.-Tensas Parish was frightfully aflicted by a tornado today about noon. Six ne groes were killed and there was great destruction of buildings on various plantations. Seven houses were de stroyed in the town of St. Joseph. The parish was generally visited and full details are not obtainable to- night. MamDsoN, Miss., Oct. 29.-A severe wind storm struck this this city to night, doing much damage. A por tion of the roof of Fuller's Opera House was blo wn off and carried across the street. Many telegraph and elec tric light poles were blown down and communication by wire with the sur rounding country is almost entirely cut off. MImis, Tenn., Oct. 29.-A cy clone passed over LaFayette County, Mississippi, late this afternoon destroy ing farm houses, uprooting trees and doing other damage. The State Colored college. The Orangeburg correspondent of the Columbia Register says under date of October 28: "This has been a red letter day in the history of the Colored Normal, industrial, Agricultural and Mechanical College of South Carolina, or the Colored State College. The an nouncement was made in August that the college would open in all of its departments on this day, but the most sanguine friend of the institution did not dream that these efforts would have been crowned with so great a success, for on July 21th thera was not a single foot of lumbar on the grounds with which to build, and to day four hundred and thirty students are enrolled. Erery class in the col legiate, normal and college preparato ry departments, with eight classes in the Model Szhool and 'aglish depart ment are organized. Ali of the indus trial departments, includ:ng the agri cultural, are equipped and have been matriculating s.udents for the last three months. Hence any young man or woman coming here can get in ad dition to the literary training any of the following trades to wit: Sawing, dress-making and millinery, cookino and domestic economy, carpentry ana wook-work; bricklaying and plaster ing, architecture, mechanical drawing and painting, iron-working and ma chinery, housekeeping, farming, up holstering and cabinet-making, sad dlery, harness-making and shoe-mak ing, saw milling and manufacture of hard and soft lumber, type-writing, irinting, tailoring and tinning, also instructions in orchestral and brasi band music. At 10 o'clock the trusteas, faculty and students convened in the chapel. The devotional exercises were conducted by Dr. W. R. A. Palmer, after which the president addressed the bd60 reviewing the history of the struggle r the school, making assur ances for future and pledges for its support an tinuence of the two races of the State in united phalanx. At the close of his speec 'or Floyd of Kershaw, Hon. Arthur bler of Newberry, Dr. W. R. Lowm Hon. C. D. Kortjohn of Orangeburg made fitting and eloquent addresses. The occasion was enlivened with mu sic furnished by Miss Rowence E. An drews, professor of music. The singing was grand. glorious and soul inspir ing. Students are from nearly every county in the State, four are from Georgia, and by the last of this week Florida, Mississippi, Alabama, Kentuc ky will be represented. The correspon dence of the faculty shows that mem bers of the late Constitutional Conven tion, State Legislature, circuit Judges, Solicitors and State Judges had all been at work in securing students from their res pective localities. Can an-y -one wonder at the large attend an?ce for the opening day-when the best white people of the State have been working for the school? All of the daily and weekly papers of the State for the last five months rendered great aid and support to the institution. The State canvasser, Dr. Palmer. left no stone unturned to arouse and enthuse the colored people in the in terest of the school and they have unitedly responded to the call from every portion of the State. A t the close of the exercise, the four hun dred and thirty students, the presi dent, faculty and students formed in line and marched through the princi pal streets of Orangeburg. It was a i-rand and imposing spectacle." The News and Courier's Model. Omies of the Attorney General. CoLmnIA, S. C., July 5, 1870. My Dear Kimnpton: Parker arrived last evening and spoke or the G. and C. matter etc. I told him that I had jurt written you fully- on that matter and also about thie old Bk bills. Do you understand fully the plan of the G. and C. enterprise? It is proposed to buy $;350,000 worth of the G. and C. stock. This with the $433,000 of stockr held by the State will give entire con trol to us. The Laurens bran ch will be sold in Feburary by decree of the court and will cost not more than $50, u00 and probably not more than $40, - 000. The Spartanburg and Union can also be got without difficulty. We shall then have in 0-. and C.168S miles, in Laurens 31 and S. & W. 70 miles, all 2G59 miles-equipped and running -put 3 first mortgage of $20,000 a mile on this-sell the bonds at 85 or 90 and the balance, after paysng all outlays for cost and repairs is immense over $2,000,000I. There is a mint of money in this, or I am a fooL Then we will soon compel the S. C. R. R. to fall into our hands and comnplete th~e connection to Ashville, N. C. T iere is an indefinite :rme for expan sion of power before us. Write me fully and tell me of anything you want done. My last letter was very full. Harrison shall be attended to at once. I don't think Neagle wili make any traouble. P'arker hates Neagle and magnilies his intentions. Yours truly, D. H.- Chamberlain. No, "Sir IHubert" is no fool. i~e knows a good thing when he sees it. The idea of the writer of the above letter presuming to address a South Carolinian on the question of morali ty. It is sickening in its hypocrisy and The News and Courier publishes this indir-ect reilection on gentlemen whom it knows to be pure and up right, heeds it: 'Praise from Sir Ilubert."-EgefieldAdvertiser. A Cowardly Mob. CADis, Oct. 27.--A number of Cuban prisoners who were landed here yester day evening were followed from the harbor to the jail by a mob. The Cu Dans were hissed and stones were thrown at them, the mob finally be coming so excited that it was with the greatest difliculty that the police land