Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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I * J : THE LARGEST CIRCULATION of Any Nowtpapor In th* Fifth Congraasional Dlatrict of 8. C. EVERY ONE PAID IN ADVANCE. Ledger. SEMI-WEEKLY-PUBLISHED TUESDAY AND FRIDAY- WE GUARANTEE THE RELIABIL1 •f Evary Advertiser Who Uses the Columns of This Paper. BEST ADVERTISING MEDIUM. A Newspaper In All that tha Word Implies and Devoted to the Best Interest of the People of Cherokee County. ESTABLISHED FEB. 16, 1894. GAFNEY, 8. C. TUESDAY, MARCH 6, 1906. 91M A GEORGE HASTY GUILTY OF MURDER IN SECOND DEGREE CASE WAS GIVEN TO THE JURY AT 6.30 ^O’CLOCK ' \ MONDAY AFTERNOON. rif5ht arm a„ Bennett, who was stand ing about three and a half or four feet away and almost In front of Has- saylng. “Oh, no, you foolish woman. I don’t mean your husband, but the The Testimony of Witnesses Taken Since Last Thursday at Adjournment. Able and Elo quent Arguments Made By Counsel on Both Sides of the Case. Verdict Reached in 12 Hours. This morning at about 6 o’clock a rap on the door of the jury room was responded to by a bailiff to whom was Imparted the .information that the Jury had arrived at a verdict. The judge and other officials of the court were promptly notified. At 8:11 the judge entered the court room and or dered the jury brought out. defense to impute lack of chastity to the two women, Miss Sheridan and Miss Bishop. The people of Gaffney are satisfied that the attotmpt would have be«n nothing more than it turned out to be—’testimony present ed by such men as it is said that Strickland would have been 'pvoveo. The Prosecution’s Case. Summend up, the evidence for the certain window, afterwards to the: almost inaccessible. Prof. Sams had door and afterwards climbed up over useid a chair to make examination, the transom light. Now, then, we There was a great deal of dust on top ty. Miss Bishop uejiied that she have a right to meet the case the of the door. He did not recall having pointed out Will Hasty as the man State has made, and if we can prove looked for marks in the dust before who had murdered tho two men. thar the proprietor of this hotel, wish-! Will Hasty climbed up, but asked That 'Will Hasty’s wife had ihouehc ing to ke<1p a moral institution, wish-1 him to do so. The tragedy was Frt so but Miss Bishop reassurred her injj to preserve the decency of his day, he made the examination th* house, and wishing to have every- 1 following Tuesday, thing carried along in orderliness and Smith Raines, a white man of the other one.” She was informed after- decorum, had reason to believe that county, who was sworn, stated that wards that George Hasty was even i certain immoral conduct was being he was In a barber shop under the then being arrested. | caried on by parties who were stop- Piedmont hotel. Heard something Denied that Davison’s valise was in; Ping with him, he had a perfect right like two men scuffling and then two her room; she had it taken there af-jdiscover the truth and expel them pistol shots. He hurried out and ter the shooting. Mr. Davison had’from his house. He nad not only about the time he stepped out of the not been in her room that morning.! that right, but it was his duty if he shoe door, Davison stepped out of but had rapped on the door in pas-; expected to keep an establishment the other door and went up street sing. She was not permit*ed to an- that would be entitled to the pat- He was walking pretty fast. Witness swer in ^regard to the wounds on the! ronage of the virtuous public to dis- was in the hack end of the shop when body of Davison. Miss Bishop made cover whether or not the inform a- he heard the; shots. Is positive that a good witness, although nob as good 1 Ion brought to him by different peo- Davison had a knife in his hand; he as Miss Sheridan. Miss Bishop wasiPio that these two people were wal- was walking stooped over with hie under the disadvantage of having lowing together over the bed in the right hand on his right side with 6 gone on the stand in an excited sta*e aftiernoon of that day and were hug- knife in his right knnd. of mind just after Strickland came and kissing each other there in On cross-examination, he said that down hut her testimony was not his establishment, he had a right and he had not seen blades in the knife, weakned. a legal right to keep his eyes open. Mr. Sease wanted to know when was Dr. Nesbitt a.id if he had a reason to suppose that the first time witness had ever told Dr. J. N. Neebitt was next sworn.‘these two people were sleeping in | this. Witness said he told It shortly He had made an autopsy on the the same bed he had a perfect right aftetrwards. The solicitor tried to body of Milan Bennett. Death was to/resort to any method that he saw break down the evidence of witness caused by a gunshot wound received hf other than violence to detect the; by asking him if he had not stolen in the left) side. The .lall entered be- acts and expel them from his estate some meat from Carroll & Carnenter. tween the seventh and eighth ribs.' Hshment. How could a hotel pro- Witness then “explained” the meat While Dr. Nesbitt w as describing the prietor discover these things than by transaction. It w as 10 years ago. ste them wearing?” was asked. So-|ryursei of the bullet Miss Sheridan the method of looking into the room He worked for Carroll & Co. for about Heitor Sease objected. The court left the court room sobbing. The, from an aperture and discovering the 10 years after that. Mr. Sease had nia. They arrived there Sunday and were to play Monday night. “What kind of costumes did you ruled that the collateral testimony ciuld not be contradicted and he would not open up inquiries along this line. Defendant’s counsel declared that kind-hearted sheriff. W. W. Thomas, parties to order them out.” I never prosecuted aim for it. showed her every attention. Dr.#.\Vs- This was a startling, strategic Rufus Estes bit declared that the hall first de- move, just such, howo/ver. as might Ru f us Estes the next ’witness is a fleeted downward and then upward.; nave been expected from the able native of the county. He was at the mnhirin' ITn«tv tyqr*v t*.* . -t A v * , ^ He could not tell what mads it de- counsel In making Hasty uhe party p in(lmont lnn at breakfast on Deo he wanted to show their costumes; tlecu downward, nobody can account; wronged, and omcial prying *o see igtb. Went up with George Hasty w'hich allowed persons to take liber-! for it. , what kind of people these w'ere he an( j sat at table next to stove There re^tion of the bullet pointed out tojties with them when certain lewd Solicitor Sease put in evidence the was shifting the defense to new: were two i a j ieg and one gentleman the jury by Dr. Nesbitt, who had per-j things were said. Miss Bishop arose clothing worn by Bennett. There ground. Hitherto the prosecution i n t b Prv , at thp first table He wa» was nothing weapon on prosecution Friday morning was an “Mr. Foreman have you reached a| exhibition^of^a nmnnikin ^ with the <11- vendict.” said the clerk. “W* have," said Mr. Osborne, the f orine j the autopsy; testimony of and tearfully begged the court to let foreman. He then took from his Miss Bishop; putting in evidence the the question be asked. Mr. Otts and pocket the indictment and handed it Rothes worn by Milan Bennett and Mr. Sease went over to her side and K the revolver with which the two men tried to soothe her. were killed. This was a very prettv Judge Memminger showed by his pistol, 32 calibre, gold mounted on all firmness that he was in charge of the of the metal parts and pearl handles. 1 court. He said he would not admit It is said that the weapon cost $40. j an y SUC h testimony, for it would pro-| re i e vance as to the interval 1 . to the sheriff * who passed it to the clerk, who read the fateful words: “Guilty, with the recommendation to the mercy of the court." “Is this your verdict, so say you all.” The jurors assented by nodding their heads. . Mr. Buteler gave notice of a new trial. The judge then discharged bh e jury. Sentence will be pronounced later in the day. , „ , . , tt , , , 4 n there at the first table. He w'as there in the way of a had made Hasty appear as a snivel- ra ikj n cr w itb George Hast” One*, of Bennett s person, said ling, low chap. fhe people of Gaff-ijj^ i a ji es pointed to Hasty and said. Dr. Nesbitt. The shooting occurred ney who knew the general reputa- ..Yonder is the gentleman who said at 9 a. m. and the examination of tne tion of the place could no*-, but smile! thus an(1 go „ T 2ie gentleman jump- The defense made some startling , - oi . ., „ , moves Friday but Judge Memminger C(J . d J, 1 ® ^ It has also cost heartaches, it has cost! long the case indefinitely. He also the lives of two voung and vigorous chided Mr. Otts for imputing mo- men; .it has caused a whole coin- tives to defendant’s counsel, munitv to sorrow and it has caused, Counsel then asked a series of the hearts of two young women to be ouestions to make a basis for an ap- anguished because when they came p ea ] ( as the judge declared firmly to testify as to the manner i i w'hicb that he would not permit the ques- tlheir sweelfhearts came to tiheir tions to he answered. The tenor of deaths, ‘heir own names have been those questions was to get the wit- bandied about, and quite probably un- ness to say that he had seen Davi- justly, while they are far* awav from gon and Bennett and Miss Sheridan home with two of their protectors anf i Miss Bishop in a livery stable in Gastonia and that there was lewd ruled out all testimony not relevant.! »<«« Vemle SMrldan. the .(mug convention, etc. He declared that Miss Sheridan was woman whom the defendan* Lttor- Miss May Bishop. clothes by Dr. Necsbitt was not «»ade at the brilliant move of counsel. He, e(1 up anJ ran and put both hand8 until 1 o’clock in the day, but the, argued further that the defendant on Hasty’s shoulders and he could jury was allowed to decide ^s to the mignt have been pursued by the two no( . tel j what they were say j nK They deceased, whose hearts were fired moved over to Bennett’s table. She with the great passion which follows sald -you are the man.” George Whon the naniei of J. G. Spencer a n attempt to dispossess a man °' denied it. The man jumped and said: was called, Mr. Otts of the prosecu-jhis mistress. | "If she said so, it is so.” Hasty said: tion, went to all the ladies in the| Judge Memminger declared that he you w jjj come olR j n ^ 0 ba ]i i court room and requested them to knows of no rules of evidence by j cou i d ^ e ]j y OU more about it.” They The Ladies Excused. leave. On motion of defendant’s counsel the jury also was sent out of the room. • Witness is a meat cutter. Was net en trb.l to her relations with ne y was unable discomfit Thurs- Miss Mav Bishop was then sworn ih 1 a Tilt, teferm- wanted to ' ,ay afternoon, was led from the court si, e i s 20 years and six months or n/lveTat on Ic/«u« or t S noto '™> m '» • avulsion of sobbing Fri- a ” a native of New York, bas HAtv Ceo Hast” was watching them day morning when she saw the man- i )e en in theatrical profession two and £ see ?f he could find Sa^ns for " ikl " ’‘P™ which the physician was a half yaar *. She was here in the ^JttL thpm The defense Droduc- describing the course of the ball; “Nothing But Money.” Since then Ad nvidinre which as it stands is which deprived her of the protection sh e has been in Pittsburg. Buffalo Ta tn ’ lia l^ for the <> f him who was to be her lawful, and elsewhere. Miss Bishop is a disconcp, p riAf ncA was mob- h,isband is quiie evl denti that very p re ttv woman, a distinct bru- S wilken J by essayingT attS^ these yc ng women have not tried S. ’ ghe was not on the stand ftocSracterof the'fwo womab. ^ <«*. ** ■“*> » client wtaerr. thj other testimony was strong. I re P ress their outward snow oi emo- The prosecution had claimed that Miss Sheridan and Miss Bisho) were which the testimony could ba pre- wen (. olR anf j t be (i oor shut behind sented. The judge held his own in a them. The othor nran jumped up. spirited coloquy betwean himself The lady grabbed him around the and counsel. The Ihtter offered ad - wa j g t hold him but he broke loose working in market whose back door vice to the judge, which the mtter and sa j d; “j us t let me get out.” The ran back to the Piedmont Inn. About impassively declined and stuck to his door g h u t behind him. The shooting C o’clock of the morning of the homi- position. | granted almost as soon as he got out cide George Hasty came into the As to the Room. One of the women started to the door market and said he had been after a The next witness put up was Mrs. and when the shooting commenced woman all night and would go bac^E. W. Wing. She had a room at the g^g came hack. One of them accused again. ! Piedmont Inn but spent the night t, be 0 tj,er of being responsible. They Judge Memminger ruled this test!- out. She came back to the hotel the were in t y, e dining room immediately tions has been a task on tiheir -i* the only eye witnesses. The defense appears to offer as facts that Will Hasty was the sole eye witness with Arthur Hasty a close second. In ad- Her testimony was not shaken and that corroborates Miss Sheridan’s. She told of the occurances of that morning. She massed George Hastv and Mr. Bennett in the dining room. durance. A Dramatic Moment. Another intense scene was when Strickland was on the stand. The They went out into the hall. She defendant’s attorney lad asked some bear d two shots before she got into aiHFVT, a man in the dining Questions about the costumes worn thft han> then she saw Hasty wren h time swears that the two by the young ladies on the ride at looge from Davison and shoot Ben- S^ R RAs th dii not’ leaveVhe dining! 0a8tonla - Mr. Sease objected. With ine[t> She then ran screaming into after ^he Bho’s were fired ber face afla ™e with indignation, and the dining room. When she cam* with mortification and resentment hack ghe gaw Bennett lying on the mony out. He wanted a verdict ar rived at in a strictly lecal manner. next morning. The jury was out after the shooting. He crossed the when this witness was put up and roora t o get his hat and one of the Lowry Walker would swear that he counsel based grounds for appeal be- worn en ran against him. They wer% saw detfendant about 1 o’clock in the! cause her testimony was not admit- excited. Neither of them was in the morning near the door of Miss Shen- ted. All she knew was that in mak- hall when the shooting was going on. dan’s room. The evidence was not admitted. Solicitor Sease wanted to put in evidence the dying declaration of Abbott Davison. The declaration would have been a part of the evi dence were defendant being tried for the murder of Davison, but counsel ing up the bed In Miss Sheridan's We went through the stove room and room several hours after the homi- out t h e back way. He knew there cide, when people had been flocking wag trouble out in front and he did into the room, she saw the impres- no t R0 that way. sion of heads on two pillows lying side by side in the bed. She also found a bottle of whiskey partially emptied in Miss Sheridan’s room un der the bureau. In Miss Bishop s On cross-examination he was ask ed if he had not told Dr. Smith, his uncle, that he wt at the breakfas 4 table and did not know anythin? about it. Witness admitted he h&d for defense had asked for Hasty to ... be tried on each charge separately, room she found a derby hat under the aroun j the hoted a good deal The defendant’s counsel denied after bod cover, which was thrown back. 1 and bad bought and drank liquor re-’ding it that this was a dying de- Judge Memminger declined to re- there. Denied that he and Hasty duration, for it made the dying man ceive this testimony and declared were par tioular friends. He had not a witness for the prosecution in that the issue was not a# to any known w ] ien he talked with Dr another case than his own. The de* 1 witness and the deceased, but as to s m j t h jf the woman would testify ."s 11 ® 185 ® “* "“wssrkr »*-••*“ •» sra'y;" was toward Hasty, or that he was uau ih/l v.wi-ij*.iw*** c? ^rjtji0ga08 Tha W** 0 " wWch asked!"three-quarters” turned toward Mm scuffle, a fall and then two pistol rfhots. He saw Davison come down tke steps with a knife in his hand. Will Hasty also saw the knife or whatever ^Another strong card of the defense! was ruled out as irrelevent; ^ "ourGeorge Hastv to the police as nrJ,. ihot RoMnAtt. This included the dying statement of th ,, man wh o had done the shooting. were in the presence of the Jury, j g be had seen George Hasty but once Later when the prosecution had some j before. He was out o” the veranda testimony which defendant’s counsel ou tside of her room. Further ques- iw .ue w. thou ^ ht would be Irrelevant he ban tlong on this line were objected to by it was No blades were the J ury excluded. The prosecution the de f en se. She corohofated Miss offered some damaging evidence, g beiddan to the effect that she point* Is the effort to prove that Bennett was the first man shot and that he was in actual combat at the time. The State in reply • will present about 25 witnesses to break down this evidence In favor of the accused. Morning Session; All testimony for the prosecution was in by 11:30 Friday morning artd . ,, Q . . . .. nraa orA/i I about the time he is accused of hav- ^ ,rana0m - wanted to have a little consultation Tbla - to °- was rejected, with their witnesses. This was 1 'The Excluded Questions, granted by Judge Memminger , „ ,, the man who — Davison, which the rules of evidence ghe saw j US t the three men in the would not permit. There was also hall dur iag tne fatal melee testimony to show that Hastv had M jg g Bishop was asked how many been acting In a peculiar manner early in the morning before the homi cide and this was not admitted as competent. One witness saw Hasty hanging around Miss Sheridan’s door bullet holes were in Davison’s body : this to coroborate Miss Sheridan s ham were making a careful search, n>ard but two. He kept on reading. a ' ]ittle ' way from her door. She of Hasty’s clothes and found next to Heard some screaming. It was some- heard thp dinI room Joor s iam, the skin and held by his garter a; wha t muffled. The screaming con- ^ h eird somebody say. “You long knife. The defense objected to, tinned It was near Christmas and ^ the game fe]lo w who Insulted this testimony on the ground that a he thought the shots were fire-crack- Hdv ” Then she heard two fre- American citizen should not be erg . H e opened his door and looked ^ ^ o ed her door th en. denied the right to carry a knife and ont . Saw Bennett lyinj? on the floor . started into the dining room, the position in which the knife was ,, vith Miss SheridJn holding him up. ghe h^rd screaminc in there and found indicated that he was not car- Thera was a man on the stairs bare- ^ two women rus hed by her. She rying it to injure Milan Bennett. The headed and very much exci ed. H went through the dining room because jury was permitted to hear this testi-,«hut his door then, for he rather ex- wanted to get to Will Haaty, mony. Judge Memminger Solding It^ted more shooting. Stnyo.1 there s J’/om 8 l“h,M s^n with Arthur and three minutes and then , ... wot . f tn to be Incompetent one. two or Cross-examined, the witness said wen t out into the hall. Saw one oi George, and she did not want to pass the body. She saw Will taking 4 he w- -fe J -d ^defendant he ^tlntl toe C clo Jes 6 wS bo IhT^t evi-]eep that, Charlie?” Has^ did not At that tIme George Hasty was not, lylnff^the^ cross-examination she confirm- had been searched and it had be ^ asko ed her testimony Riven Ne8bltt w , as recalled and Soli-1 “X. C e objected that It was not I w^^naa ^on^^toe^n^u^ -j .. . , ^ th v neifhrr Heitor Sease wanted to know about a part, of the res gestae. Judge Mem- .. ..y* ' r mistaken h« is my The Following jre the questions which Hasty went out Into the ha__.I ne,tn ' r rk „„, uyv „, 0 wi*ness was ner- os™itfAH tti« testimony. You are mistaKen, no is j | teii about the knife un.U’, after he, there . „e »ae under arrant He wan! ‘^ 1( ”7,, a f “ -* " ' ' K had heard the woman 8 “^ d Vill Haaty a. the man 1 who had done the shooting. Sh» toterim* was" employed 'by’the Jury'were asked Strickland and were ruled | reared to be that WI there wal Ine ''‘wltoe^wl^loimv^hS'hJ’heard' Bl8b ° P ^ being taken to the scene of the ouu by Judge Memminger: peered to be wanting toj^Plain some bu] ho , e iQ him Mr gease wanted oue ofAem but did not know which yo u. M J^nowJt.^ double mur lor, where an inspection "Was Mr. Davison or Mr. Bonneti thing. When Mr Dfyla n • d ^ corroborate! the evidence of Miss onei although the solicitor wanted of the premises was made in connec- or both of them present when you out ® h ® fiaid - i iand on his 1 Sheridan that two shots wpre fl red at him to specify; he heard one of them tion with the plan of the premises, saw them in a saddle down there wi-h fuss. She ba, ' la ^ ^[. ‘ iand lt s , Davison and wanted to show mat the UHe the nam e of the Lord In connec- drawn by Prof. Sams. The jury has those two ladies at Gastonia? In ar m. In reply to Mr nLvi 1 latter was disabled and not really a tion with damn : He is a very rlllgous been kept strictly to Itself, taking its Davison’s and Bennett/s presence sa id that she had ex ^|^J M fpr : combatant, although the defense will; norsona and could not recall whai she ( meals at the hotel under the suner ; were lewed and Indecent remarks B on to demand an apology tor e . _»—„ .Ai^Afonaa sn<i that „_n m ^ l - - - • ' * *•- *- way' Hasty had insulted her the af ternoon before. He had a right to vision of bailiffs, and the members of 4V< » Jury were kept from reading or conversation with others. Judge Memnjinger’a handling of bhe case has been commenced universally. The defense put up r. witness Fri day morning, as the snrty had to leave on an early train for Gastonia. N. C. This witness, one Strickland, was not permitted to testify to any thing except that he saw thes0 dhow peonle in Gastonia on the Sunday made by these women to other jleople to them or not? Did you or did you not see men taking liberties .with the “fuss.” Judge Memminger afeer- oersons of those women in the pre- wards ruled that it would be incom- sence of Davison and Bennett with- petent to prove that she was engaged out any protest on the part of Davl-1 to Davidson. son and Bennett or the ladles? Ip; The defense tried to stop the wit- a public crowd In a stable in Gasto- ness, bni the court ruled that on ula, did you or did you nob see Miss cross-examlniattoa a witness could not Bishop make an exposure of her per-! be prevented from answering a ques- son, deliberately and intentionally, I tion. There was confusion at the and If so what was It? Bo you know'time. The witness was considerably try to show self-defense and that sa j d exactly. Hasty was opposed by two men. | jv[ r Osborne wanted to know If one Deputy Sheriff Durham, who was the woman had not said that Ben- next put upon the stand, statei that ne tt had rushed In between Hasty he found a bullet about a foo* and a and Davison. half from Benuett’s knee. The * J °- Mr. Sea^e objected that It was Heitor rested the prosecution ’fter I Witness retired at'1:30 the night before, had been sitting up reeding and waiting on Will. He came Is later. She had heard no unusual noise in the house. Solicitor objected to the question as to seeing Miss Sheridan and Mr. Bennett together the day before. The cross-examlnetloo was con ducted by Mr. Otte. He tried to get her to say that she had said to Mr. examination. The prosecution was “fixed” for this witness and had his testimony been admitted there would have been good and reliable citi , admitted J ames Swafford that she was not cutting in evidence the pistol Uh krTc^traLct the witne:M *ho hhd | «J r Prt«^that Georgejhad Which the two men were ViMed , ot hften ndvltl9 , G f rhe *act that! of wh skey t^Wltnej. tm ,« a gold-mounted revilver and for contradiction were being answered^ll ^J^ she could v n,Vtty weap ° n Witness did not know which one not remember telling George that iNw- snH it he said when the something would happen to him for Imony. There the wav he had acted the night be- the time. tore. Mrs. Will Hasty has a sweet, sail that sYd lace. Her evidence had the sl*m» but Judge Memr vlson and Bennett present, did you for the prosecution were on their ■ “Notning tsut ^^g^^in^ototed out of candor and truth and made a good or not aee these ladies go through feet expostulating'and Judge Mem- he-* He ^ the man «! 1 ai b Mrfl< imp-esslon. She would not testify mlnger rebuked them. In order to - ’ to have slept in t ’ ’ « n he was stanain_ nT , cr o 83 .eximInatio«», Mr. Otts trying illustrate how the fatol encounter oc- onH in the room adjo uin t n t. \ * h^rd aer contradictions, curred. Miss*Bishop mu ber beck to r -'SerHan. Judge Mcm-m” r r " 1 Vo not the man. he Is mv Arthur Hasty. the Testimony could ' ' * ’ ; . G^ge there Mrs. Maud Hasty was next sworn, ted and ordered the Jury to rotl-e r to -?■ whethe# George was there ^ wlfe of Arthur f^y ghe heard leged misconduct minger would not permit witness to . .v answer, as It was a collateral issue; some of the motions of the hoochy- whlch had been brought out on cross- coochy’ dance?” The Defense. n tens from his own town to testify that they would not believe him on oath. This then ended the efforts of the Strickland's Testimony. When the court met Friday morn- in" the defense asked to swear a witness who had been called to a sick ’hlld at home, one Strickland of Jastonia. This man is a real e^tete igent at that nlace. He saw Miss Sheridan and Miss Blshon at r * to- l the wall, and the attorney had her right arm against the wall outstretch ed horizon'allv. Miss Bishop r«*pre . ented Hasty and the attorney reure- <ented Davison. The witness slow ed bow Hasty whipped his arm out of •-» he saw what was ootnlnt/ e attorney ‘hen outlined tbe mi- of the defense. The prosrutlon brought it out that “Mr George Davison's grasp and fired under his ?! ty went on a certain ni ' o a ' Sims recalled by the de- only two shots. She went to her rr<,vo to the Jury some Impres- door immediately after the s i<> a fro - Ms sketch. The defense to ^' (.w that the transom was (Continued on page four.)