Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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VOL. XVI. LAURENS S. C, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12. 1900. NO l(J I : -?? t$ n $t $t u ? n ?THE5HAD0W? tt Of- THE n ?CORDILLERA;? Or, The Magnolia Pfower. tt BY VIRGINIA LEILA WENTZ. 44 tt COPVHIOIIT, 1000, '}"]' By KltVlM Wahuxlan. ****** tt tt tt tt tt tt tt CHAPTER V. M. Peyrac bail .lust finished dressing the next morning when the sound of u Kill's voice drew hiui to tin- window, which v as open. Out in tin- garden, near to the box hedge which divided tin' Maltlands' grounds from the Abbotts', stood Lia na. She was stooping forward, play ing with Silver, Anna's beautiful grey hound, in one hand sin- held a sort of scarlet wrap, a fragile, silken feather weight thing, which had proved too warm for her shoulders. The other hand Was stretched out seductively to the dog leaping after her. 'The scarlet showed vividly against her white morning gown, a little crystal buckle (lashed at her waist, and the sunshine caught the waving hair, the pink Cheek, the white moving hand, the lace ruffles at her throat and wrist. For a moment only Poyrac stood still ami watched. The girl was yet playing with the hound, when she turned suddenly with a smile on her lips, and there in the full glare of the intoxicating .June sun light she me! the man's eyes for the first time. A blind feeling of helpless ness and indefinite longing ending somewhere round her heart In a thud uf Indescribable pleasure passed through her frame. She pulled herself together angrily, aud the smile vanished. "Co down, Silver," she said severely to the ?log, whose paw was making for her shoul der. Clearly this was shyness pushed to the verge of absurdity. She must Conquer the ridiculous feeling, must speak. "Good morning, monsieur. It Is go ing to he a warm day, do you think'/" She nearly forced the words through her lips, which had remained parted all the time. Peyrac did not hear the words. He was studying the g rl intently. "Pardon mo," he said, putting his hend on one side and drawing his eye lids together as he concentrated his gaze upon her. "People fjorglvo paint ers for personalities, and you don't know how much I should like to get you on canvas, just as you are, the doc and all." The blood invaded Liana's cheeks, slowly at first; then, as she realized his meaning, In a hot blaze of crimson. "I do not aspire, monsieur, to he an artist's model." She walked toward the house with as much dignity as her It) years were capable of. But this was only the beginning. That evening, as she was singing for Mrs. Abbott in the drawing room, she became aware that I'eyrnc wns stand ing witn the group of people on tho porch and was looking In through the French window. She threw back her lovely head and sang with exultation. "Even then." she told herself after ward, "1 must have been loving him Without knowing." She snnp the old Spanish ballad of the knight errant, and when she came to the last lines? Some day more kind I fate rniy find, Some iiikIu kis? thee? she marveled at tin' beauty of her own voice; her face Hushed, her eyes spar kled. She knew that she was doing bei best. But evidently the artist had taken no notice of that lovely young folce; St was only her face that attracted him. As they were getting ready for bed that night Anna said: "What have you done to our Invul nerable painter? lie remarked, when he heard you singing awhile ago, that he Just tingled for his brushes. Ho wondered If It would be possible for you to slug that snme song In the snme way, unaccompanied, in his studio." This seemed a little too much, no not only wished to use her as a model, but he even wished to have her moods and expressions subject to his orders! Liana was perched upon a bedpost. Sho was perfectly poised, her slender limbs dangling floorward. one arm akimbo, the other behind her hack. Anna was reclining on an ottoman, umoothlng out her ribbon sash. "Well," she said, as Liana made no reply, but kept on dangling her limbs, "do you think you can oblige him?" Liana's only comment was to tap up on the heel ot her right slipper with tho toe of her left. "He says," pursued Anna mischiev ously, "that you hove u great deal of scenic effect about you, whatever that means. 1 confess I'm not sure of tho term." "Neither am I." Liana's right slip per landed many yards off across tho floor. Tho next day she caught tho obnox ious, rude man stepping backward sev eral times to get her in perspective. Once he actually ventured to make n tube of his hand. When he put It to his eye end turned his head sideways, screwing up one side of his face, Liana couldn't help noticing In spite of her vexation thnt the corner of tho lip which was thus drawn up exposed somo magnificent white teeth. How ever, she said: "You are extremely Impolite," and then, with a sudden fear thnt he might compliment her on the effect of anger on her face, she turned nnd left him. It was with direct reference to tho I advancement of his art that Peyrac set 'o work to Interest and make friends I with Llarra. Ele found his way beset with dllllcultles, and at the end of n fortnight be hnd to acknowledge that ho had made no progress at all. Ho had come to Twyeffort meaning to do somo landscapes and sea views. But, fudge, how tint they seemed now! Ho was a portrait painter If anything, and at last the gods had led blm to a boing who appealed to the power within blm ae no one yet ever had done. He must MM ttda gtrL; by. Jove^be mjiatl _^_ But, 0VCII supposing she consented, j there was a difllcully. The w.Icr or her faco was its expression the way the spirit gleamed through he- t'ea | tures tier expression was sn madden ' Ingly changeable ami evanescent. At times It was niarvelously like shot Bilk. To get the effect he wanted she must be strongly moved moved, for instance, as she had I.n by the si^ht of the sunset oil the sea the other even ing. Plainly one could not get sunsets and seas Into the studio. But" Saprlsti! 1 le would do it. Why not? lie know himself to possess a charm for women, n charm that was all the more potent bceiiuse he had seldom cared to use it. Then it was that he changed his tue tics, lie eeased fuming and fretting ut being thwarted in his will; instead he looked at Liana with a compelling tenderness In his eyes, and he spoke to her in tones that were a more sub tle music to her ear than ail} she had ever heard. It was beneath IVyrae to weigh life lu the balance; he scorued the Idea that right and wrong should enter Into a man's calculations. As to the ghi, she was as unsophisti cated in her comprehension of I he emo tions as ih.' man was familiar and ex perienced. She only knew thai she sang JJiese days as she never before had sune; and that she felt the need to sing coutlnually. She called ii practicing When she Spoke of il. lint it seemed to her as it' It were really taking breath. However. Poyrnc was as powerless as ever to effect the one wish of his heart: she would not sit to him. One day he Studiously let fall some Wolds about his intended departure the followlug week. Ho spoke to Liana alone, and his face looked stolid. The girl's heart bounded, then stood still. It was some seconds before she I felt it boat again, a reckless determi nation took possession of bet*. "Why ore you going?" she said. Her voice was cold, almost hard. "Because I've nothing to paint lu re," be answered curtly, "nothing that suits me, at least." "Would you slay if you could paint meV" "Then slay," she said in (ho samel dull tolle. He seized her hands like a man in side himself with joy. Bending over I them lo drop a kiss, he whispered the I one word. "Darling!" But to himself he said. "Fame and fortune at the next Salon!" That night, alter Anna had gone to I sleep, Liana slipped out of bed and, I leaning her elbows oil the sill of the opcu window, she sat for :i long while I letting the cool air fan her brow. Her I ears were full of Poyrnc'a Infectious I tones, her pulses still throbbed with his mesmeric touch, she reached over I to the dressing table and, taking up a Crimson rose which she had placed there In a tiny vase, she kissed !t pas sionately. Poyrnc had given It to her, and In this wise: ills artistic eye had not liked the magnolia flower which oho had carried about with her that evening; the milky whiteness had brought out unpleasant hits lu her bmooth skin. "The crimson suits your Castlllnn beauty better, Bcnorltn," he had said as lie handed her the rose. "Poor, dear Inoccnclol" sighed Liana demurely, recalling lids little instance.! "He never found fault with mo and the magnolia." Hut the sense of cap ture was upon her, ami even while she] felt indignant and resentful for having been forced to yield about the picture there was a Strange sense of sweetness In submission. By and by in the alternate light and shadow of the trees down below a small, red spark appeared, moving reg ularly to mid fro, but the folingo was too thick for her to see it. It was Pey rac's cigar. He had just come out from his studio, where he had been choosing a canvas, placing it on an easel and arranging a model stand prcpnratoryl to the first sitting the next morning. The appointment was for '.) o'clock. I The early light was tin; best. "I'll give her a half hour's grace." he had said, but punctually to the minute the han dle of the door turned, and Liana was on the threshold. He turned quickly to greet her. She stood framed In the dark cur tained doorway, her Ion? dress caught up round her In one hand, the other I resting slightly on the portiere. It was an attitude of grace and beauty, and she looked upward at him with eyes that were bewildering In their mani fold lights. She looked at him appeal Ir.gly ns a child. Innocently as a girl, proudly ns a woman. "Dearest," he exclaimed, "could you take that pose? Would it bo too hard for you?" The gentle beauty of that first word! pervaded tlio rt-bc with a light of Its own. "Try mo and see," she said, with a soft exultation In her voice. And when at last the picture was On-1 (Shed It was wonderful Indeed. Even I those Ignorant of the art of painting I could seo that. Peyrnc had decided that his subject should be dressed in I queenly apparel. There wen? jewels I on the slender shoo, from which the wind about the door was supposed to I blow the garments back a little, and I Jewels on her fingers and at her throat. She was wrapped In a rich cloak or rather coat of strange cut, of that dusky, rose sheen of which Tintoretto*] alono seems to have mustered the yel lowing tones, but which the brush here ] had caught and riveted. However, It was tho fneo that was the wonder. The child, tho girl, tho woman?the painter had put them all Into the love ly eyes that looked out at one from tho canvas. When Poyrac had been working on tho face, his movements had boon like tho dartlngs of n bird. Ho dabbed and mixed his colorn, scarcely glancing nt them. Tho sitter could even boor tho hurry In his breaths. In tho quick glances from tho canvas to hor face and bock ngnln there was no sign of aught except a workman's concentra tion on his task. Ho was flushed, of course, and his eyes scintillated, ror no was realizing n long cherished dream In this glut of form and color ocst.iay. But Liana did not know?how could Bio??what his emotion meant. The ttlng which It all Implied to her was i warming and swelling her heart day I by day with a sweet, subtle Joy. I And so things might have gono on In ? defltjltely^butjor aJettexwhlch^Peyrac received one day Hum Paris, in read ing it lie came upon an Item of news Which agitated him greatly. The words of ihemselvoSi however, were nothing Btnrtliug simply these: ' Vein recall, of course, thai pretty. hlllC eyed I ?e GllOI'lll Mill that you used to see a great deal of? Well, she has COIIIC into possession of a fortune. She was i lie I.iily living relative of an uncle or soi.in. who died suddenly with out a will. The law did tho rest. I met her driving today in the Bois de Bou logne. Von would scarcely have recog nized your once shy, simple little coun try maiden.'' The next day Peyrac was much con Corned about getting a packing case for canvas. CHAPTER VI. A man and a woman were talking to gether in the woman's home on the ltue tie Vereintes. The man was sav ing "So you refuse to marry me. That's foolish of you. hut whether you do or not, you haven't the heart to allow me to rot in poverty while yon luxuriate in afllUCIlcc. Considering our old time re lations, the thing's impossible on the face of it." "Ah'." returned the woman, "then you have come here to beg?" She spoke with a careless scorn. "No. One begs w hen one has no pow er to enforce," he corrected with a se raphic smile. ' I've .(line all the Wliy from Atnorlch to offer you my hand and make an holiest woman of you. If you refuse to recognize my claims upon you I'm in a position to take reprisals." The woman did not answer. "If you've any trace of your old self left, Marie" the man's voice was low ami soft, conciliatory, caressing almost - "surely you luve me still. Think how you loved nu? once." Tin' mesmeric, musical voice came near undoing Marie de Cuerln. "Was it you I loved," she said dreamily, "or the man my untutored heart took you to boV Ah, the weary, weary months when 1 wanted you, when I sobbed for you day and night! Where were you then. Edouard Pey rac V" She seemed to he living In the hungry past, hut only for a moment. The lud scorn of the present surged over her and dried up the (ears at their source. "Now," she said, "I do not need you." She rose with an air of dismissal. "Look here, Marie," pursued the man, keeping his seat, "if you w ill lend me a helping hand from time to time I'll promise never to take a step to harm you. Moreover, 1 shall he mod erate. Von might simply buy a pic ture occasionally. That would he the nicest way. Yes, you might buy my pict ores." "It might lie Well to know whether I am dealing with a blackmailer or a bagman," remarked the woman wea rily. Kdoutird Peyrac Hushed red, but he conquered his savagery ami went on: "I've not sohl a picture for over a twelvemonth, and I'm head over heels In debt. I've been hanging around friends' houses for a year, and here you are. rich beyond the dreams of av arice. You can't expect me to sit down In silence." "Now, If you arc quite ready to go?" suggested tho woman quietly, putting her hand upon the bell button. This time the man's anger got the better of him. lie scowled and looked tit her blackly. "I'm not. I think It's absurd of you to smash your soelal po sition In the face like this. What will become of it, do you suppose, when I have a good, long talk with the fau bourg V" "To a man of Intelligence the solu tion surely can offer no difficulty," she said languidly. But she added with a vague little smile, "If you could dream how remotely my social Standing Inter ests me you wouldn't bother about it." "I'm going to give you a few days In which to think this over. Perhaps in the meantime you will care to send m< a note." He laid his card on the tablti significantly. "In return for a cheek 1 will send you a picture. Now good day." The woman rang, and he was shown out. As he got into a fiacre he thought: "By Jove I What if she means to turn devotee againV What If she doesn't care a rap about her social stnnding? She always did talk about saints and miracles and feast days better than anything else!" Then he remembered her dnlnty, fastidious taste; he recalled the sybaritic room he had Just left. "Oh, no!" he concluded. ? ?**??? "Pierre," said Marie de Cuerln to the servant In the hall when the door had closed upon I'eyrnc, "I expect M. le Cure In a hnlf hour. I will receive him In my boudoir." ?o a little Inter she rose from the desk at which she was writing ami greeted the priest, l'ere Darvllle was a man whose eyes were kind and whose mouth was linn. He looked the man to do without swerving what Ids con science told him, were It even to cost the happiness of all lie loved. In fact, thnt Is why Mile, ?le (hierin had sent for him?She had seen Ids face and It had appealed to her. He snt down In her little blue and gold botide!. with the ease of a man of the world who was ns much nt home among the cushions of a woman's sanc tum as on the hard sent of a confes sional. "I wrote for you, father, been use 1 need help. I?I have not many friends." The woman's volco wns listless, tired. "I will help you If I can. my daugh ter. My whole time belongs to encb soul thnt comes to me. Are you a chlh. of the church?" "Once I was. I wan an orphan, p- e perlng to outer a convent, when lovi ? or what I mistook for love?came It lo my life. I balanced the flashing Jev el and the pnsto diamond, and I thr? w tho first away." The woman's hnno weighed In her lap like spiritualized marble, and her hair, so much of It, Bcomed too heavy for her head. "The man for whom I gave up everything would not give mo even bis name." There was a pauBc. No Interruption came from the priest. "Slneo then I have trled-Ood. how I have tried!?to forget. It Is an awful thing to hnto living, but to be afraid of dying because of the other side"? Sbo settled her hands a little more tightly together. "^t^my djuglit^er^therejdwj^ys re mains to ns. even to the eleventh hour, the way of ponlteuco ami of renuncia tion." The priest's voleo was level, Just a little above the whisper of the confessional. "Ah, 1 know," the woman broke in, "ami it Is just beeatise of that I have sent for you. I have only begun to tell you, father." Pero Darvllle gave a quick, upward glance, "A year ugo an uncle who had allow ed me to suffer penury and a servile dependence idl my life died. He died suddenly and w ithout a will. The law gave his fortune to me because 1 chanced to be his sister's child. Two months ago, In a secret drawer, 1 found a document?a confession writ ten by my um ie ami evidently Intend ed to he made public in order that res titution might be effected. "My uncle," Mario de QtlCrln went on. "was a Creole, and for years he was the trusted agent for an aristo cratic New Orleans family in America. He turned their fortune round and doubled It. It appears, and managed their affairs In such a way that he came to be indispensable. The family finally dwindled down to one repre sentative, a young man who seems to have trusted my une'e blindly. "When the war between the states broke out. tho young man?Ctttotl his uame was -enlisted promptly In the cause of the south. My uncle was sent over here with money to Invest. Paris received him With open arms. The Confederate colony was then lu high She crossed to her wrltina ('<??': ami un locked a ?< ort t drawer. favor with the court. He was sought out by the business men also as the possessor of a large sum of money to Invest. He suffered some disasters. News from the Confederacy became more and more gloomy. Hut his busi ness ventures here woro fabulously successful." "There's no royal road to fortune," breathed Here Darvllle half to himself. "It's the same old dirt rut, Impossible to travel over with perfectly clean feet. But go on. If you please." Marie do Cuorin moistened her lips. "Together with the news of tho fall of New Orleans came also word of tho death of this young Catou. He had been taken prisoner In the llrst engage ment and died In prison, asking that word bo sent to my uncle to take care of his wife. It appears my uncle knew who his wife was?In fact, in the docu ment here he explains how ho happen ed to know." She crossed to her writing desk, un locked a secret drawer and, having spent a few seconds lu turning over various packets of paper, returned to her chair, handing the priest the docu ment In quest ion. "You will see," Bite continued, "tliat tills wdfe was far away, not easily ac cessible. Besides, she was a half sav age, an Indian, a Mexican or some thing, and well, my uncle drugged his conscience and turned thief and scoun drel. Toward the end of Ids life, how ever, he seems to have been In terror of dying without making restitution. In the document there"?she pointed to the priest's lap "ho swears that ev ery cent of his money belongs to this? this woman, that it was all made with her husband's fortune. In order that things may be righted he gives names, dates, localities ami all facts necessary for Identification." Here Darvllle looked grave. "The confession bears the date of the morning my mu le was stricken down. ID? had a kind of lit and never fully re covered consciousness. They said, he was constantly asking for something, but that his speech was so Incoherent they could make nothing out of It. Doubtless had he lived he would have Induced some one to go on a mission for Him to Mexico." "Doubtless," echoed the priest sol emnly. "Well, the months that have passed BlncO I discovered this document have been months of torture to me. 1 knew, of course, there was only one rightful thing to do and I was not strong enough to do ll. Now I have decided And If you will Hud a place for me. father, I shall enter a convent. I could teach, you know. Besides, it v ns my first choice. ? ?????? "I shall sny mass tomorrow also with a special Intention. I shall ask the good God for the pence ami happiness of Mile, do Guerln." Tims spake the Padre Antonio as he sat at solitaire by old Jose's table in the warmth of Mexico. That morning the special intention had been the repose of the soul of Henri BeaUSOlell. '-..< ns he slowly laid one enrd ii? ... another, now here, now th.ro, he thought of Inoceiielo. What a clear, starry soul was his! What an In strument for good he could be! What Stubborn faith no was capable of! A shadow fell upon the table. "Padre," Inoccnclo said, 81111111111" there straight and tall nod brown, "be foro I dccldo Upon my future 1 must go far away. I must sec the little Liana. Her last letter does not show her to be hnppy." The player pushed tho cnuju from u.-o, pile by pile, leaned back In hla sea and ran his fingers slowly through his t dn, gray hair. Then he looked up and f. 'iiled. tiro n CONTINUED. 1 OA.?TOn.ZA. I Butatfce I Signature lha Kind You Hare Alwa/s Bought THIS STORY OF THIS TRAGEDY A CKLKIlltATKO tot linn it TRIAL. Rev. W. K Johnaou Testlllt s In III? Own Behalf?Ihn C?h?- ? uiiHiuned 'Jhrer I)?)h>imI Kmtctl In a Verd e? ol " Not t> ulliy." The court room at Bamberg was crowded for three days with an array of spectator* not olten seen uud r ?-uoh circumstances to witness the trial ol ll'.v. W. E. Johnson for the murder Ol Wm. T. Bellinger, who was killed by Johnson on tho 1th of May last. Many ladies were in attendance and main tested a deep Interest in tho proceed logs. Sixteen witnesses on tho direct xamlnatioi testified for the proseou tlou, am' 'ttuong thetu were two young radius who witnessed the bad tragedy. A feature of this case was that tvo men who havo for years been antago nists were tho leading lawyers on the dllferontsldes, and each was conducting the crot-s-cxamlnations for his Bide. The animosity existing between Attorney General Bellinger aud Colonel Hubert A'drlch Is a mattur of general know ledge. They mot once before on op oosito sides in a famous case It wa* at Walterboro, live years ago. when tJolMnger was solicitor and pushed the tirosecutlon of the " Broxtor. bridge yncbers." Aldrich defended tho white men who were charged with whipping o death an IuolTcnslvo old negro wo man and her son. It was tho conduct it this caso that won Mr. Bellinger the attorney generalship. Ho and Colonel Aldrich havo been contesting every joint. Both aro able lawyers and the nonors are about oven. Dr. B. U. Bruueon was tho llrst wit aess to tako the stand for tho State. Bo testified that ho was a resident physician and surgeon of Bamberg : has lived In Bamberg three years : .hat on Mhv 4th, 1UU0, " was called to see W. T. Billlngor ; found him lying in a path leading from tho Carlisle Fitting school across the campus In 'rent of the house of Jno. it Belliugor, father of deceased. Ho was dying vhoo I reached him, and probably lived ten minutes after ho was shot. Examined wounds and found that 12 ouckshot had pierced right side of Bellinger's body, somo of which peno rated his liver and sotno his lungs, ?vhieh caused death." Dr. Brunt>on testltied that In order for Bellinger to havo been shot In the side, and for no wounds to havo boen recoived in the arm, thai his arm must have necessari ly havo boen hold behind him, or held in u vertical or horizontal position, and that it would havo been necessary for Bellinger to have turned partly around and exposed bis side to Johnson to have boon wounded In tho right side from cno direction In which It is alleged tho ?ihot waa fired. Dr. Brunson thought not more than 12 buckshot could bo oaded In an ordinary shell. Tho coat and vest that B lllngor .voro when he was shot was exhibited %cd tho position of tho wouuds pointed >ut by Dr. Brunson. Ho test lijd that he wounds received could not havo produced paralysis, and that Bellinger ?mi il have used his ham s and tired ?its pistol, though ho had been mortal ly wounded, Ho examined what ho thought to ho shot marks on the widi ?( the school building and said that they woro caused by Binall shot and nuckehot, and that Bollinger was lying in a direct lino between these marks and tho telephone pole at the edge of the street. L. N. Bellinger was tho next witness. Bo said ho was a surveyor ol 40 years' experience ; rosldt. d In Bamberg: had -.urvoyed the surrounding grounds, treet, etc., and had made a plan show ing tho ri Ktlvo positions ol thestroots, nouses and paths In tho vicinity of Messrs. Johnson's and Bellinger's resi dences. This plan was exhibited to the jury and offered In evidence. Miss Verbena Brabham testified that sho was now a resident of Allendale, and a 'aughter of Dr. U. C. Brabham, but at Loo time of tho aileg?. d tiomlcido was a student of tho Carlisle Eitting school, and on tho morning of May 4th was btarillng on tho front up stairs porch of tho young ladles' boarding hall ; that she was acquainted with Mr. W. T. Bellinger aud saw him coming acrosB tho school campus, going in the direction of his home. Bo was walking in a path leading to his father's resi dence. "Just at this time I saw Mr. Joe Brown drive up to tho f^ont of Mr. Johnson's, whoso house adjoined that of Mr. Bellinger ; hero ho Stopped and remained In tho buggy and hold his horse. Mr. Johnson thou camo out o( his house, holding In his hand a shot gan. Ho went, walking very fast, dl rectlp out and across tho stroot, a lit tle to tho left of his houso : stopped at or near a telephone pole, and as Mr. Belllngor camo along tho path, hold ing a newspaper lu his hand, Mr. John son ralaed his gun aud tired once. Mr. Belllngor drew his rovolver and shot twico at Mr. Johnson. Johnson then raised his gun the second time, hutdld not tiro ; Instead, lowered It and re turned to the houso from whence ho came." Miss Lula Hamberg was with ber on tho piazza while tho difficulty was in progress. Miss Lula Bamberg, a daughter of Gen. Bamberg, and at tho tlmo of tho homicide a student at tho Carlislo school, said she know Wllllo Bollingor oy sight; that on tho 4th of May she was standing on tho piazza of the young ladles' hall with MUs Brabham ; saw Bellinger coming across tho campus; saw Joo Brown drive up to Mr. John son's houso just as Bellinger had turn ed into pain leading to his father's imune. Johnson walked directly across the stroet, without stopping at buggy. 1 feared trouble and turned my head. Just aB I did 1 hoard a loud report, as if the tiring of two guns. I turned to look aud Baw Mr. Bellinger falling, with pistol In his hand, which he tired tWO Or three time:'. The loudest re port was the first, which I think was a gun. After the shooting Mr. Johnson turned and went to his houso. Brown drove up with hia buggy, looked at the body and drovo away." Tho first witness for dofonso was C. Arthur Best, Esq., an attorney at law who lives at Barn well, b. C. lie testi fied that ho know William T. Bellinger and saw a groat deal of him whilo ho waB In Baruwoll, and that ho had a conversation with Bellinger in Barn well about throo woe lea before tho kill ing; that Bollinger told htm Johnson waa a damned dog and when ho went 'own there ho would stralghton it up; that he would not havo a dog light on tho streot like ho and Price; that ho would fix him up. This conversation ocourrod In the rear of the offico of Patterson at Barnwoll. " I was inti mate with Belllngor when I lived lu Bamberg. I olorked for Joo. Kolk and left tho town In December, 181)7. The conversation ocourrod In tho spring of this year. I havo never known Bol lingor to be drunk or to havo had a row with anybody. I believed him to be a bravo fellow and that ho waa truth ful and made no Idle throats. " Col. T. J. Counts, a gentleman 70 years old, said that ho was standing on a promlnenoe In the roar of hla store on the day of the homicide; that he heard the gun shooting; heard four ,No other aid so great to the housewife, no other agent so useful and certain in making delicious, pure and wholesome foods, has ever been devised. There arc imitation baking powders, sold cheap, by many grocers. They arc made from alum, .1 poison ous drug, which renders the food injurious to health. ROYAL BAKING POWDER CO., 100 WILLIAM ST., NEW YORK. sho's very close together; was satisfied In his mind that three pistol shots wore fired first, followed by a gun. Ho Im mediately got on hla horse and rode In the ditection of Johnson's house. Oa arriving there " I found a crowd of peo ple and a dead body : the body 1 learn ed was that of W. T. Bellinger. The day before tho homie'do 1 went to Mr. Johnson's house on hearing of the dif ficulty that ho and the Hellingers had, and I wanted to investigate the cause. I told Johnson that his Ufo was In danger, and on returning to my home . 1 borrowed a gun and Mr. Sanders and myself sent down for some cartridges, which wc got and reloaded with buck shot, extracting tho small shot which woro in the shells and refilling with tho others. After which Senders took two of the shells and the gun and car ried them to Johnson." Col. Counts repeated a conversation which ho had with .1. VV. Stokes, say ing that ho told riiokes ho had tried to settle the difficulty botweon tho John -Di!- and Bellingers and had failed, and now intended helping Johnson on. Ho told Johnson tha*. his life was in dan ger, gave him a gun and told him to kill any one who came on his premises; to protect himself and kill any one who tretpissod on him. Ho said ho expect ed a dilliculty between Bollinger and Johnson whilo Hellinger was in the postotlicc. He admitted that he had told his pastor to kill any one who trespassed. I Horo fudge Watts stated that ho did j not wish it understood by those pres ent thut the law justiti ;d a person in killing another for trespass. Col. founts explained how the pistol which Brown got out of tho postoffloe, camo to bo thore, stating that it be longed to a delivery clerk and that Hrown took It with his permission for tho protection ol himsolf. " I tried several times to make peace between Hellinger and Johnson. 1 con sider tho digging of a ditch in Join son's yard by Hjlllngor during John ron's absence was tho greatest insult that could bo thrust into a man's teeth. When a man has been imposed on as has Mr. Johnson Christian spirit goes out tho door, for man by nature is vin dictive. " Col. Counts was kept on tho stand several hours and was rigidly cross oxamined by tho attorney gonoral. Tho examination at times would be como very dramatic. Joo Hrown, tho only eye-witness to testify for tho dofonso, said he was a member of Mr. Jonnson's church and a brother-in-law of William T. lielllngor, thodeoeasod. He married Bellinger's Bistor In Juno, 189'J, and Johnson per formed the ceremony. On too morn ing of May 4th ho drove over Into Ham borg from his farm and hoard of the troublo tho previous day botweon Johnson and Holllngor. Ho wont to Johnson's houso, told him ho was sorry to hoar of tho trouble; then took John son In hla buggy down town. They wont to tho postoffloe* Johnson loft him there, Hator, witness drovo by Johnson's houso and stopped. ?'Mr. Johnson camo out with a gun in his hand, and wo saw B-jllingor corning across tho campus. My horse became restive, moved up and then hack, oxposlng Johnson to tho full view of Hollinger, who was co.nlng up at tho time. Holllngor saw Johnson [ and oponod tiro on him, shot twice and I then Johnson shot him. Joh uson and Holllngor woro within twont-y live or thirty foot of each othor. Holllngor foil immediately after being shot. Ho fired twice before and twico after Johnson shot. 1 do not romombor saying: "That's all right: you havo killed him; go In tho houso." Tho witness said ho had warnod Johnson that his lifo was In danger; told him that Willie Holllngor had made, throats against his lifo. Thomas Koldor, of Denmark, tostilied that ho was Id Brookor's hardware store, in Hamberg whon Holllngor camo In, got a pistol, loaded it and put It in his pocket. As h.- started away ho said to Hrookur: ''I'll shoot tho dam nod -.' Witness hoard Hrookor say, "You ht.d hotter keep It to your solf." S. U. Sanders, a merchant of Flor ence, told about having boon In Ham borg at tho tlmo of tho trouble; of hav ing, at tho suggestion of Colonel Counts, loaded shells with buck and duck shot and taken thorn with a gun to ;ho paraonago. Ho thought it tho duty of any patriotic cltlzon to olTor a man this protection. Johnson had a wlfo and throe chlldron. Ho would havo done tho name for Holllngor undor similar circumstances. Ho was at tho inquest. When somoono called for tho gun, he left for the parsonage; moved the gun from one room to another, po the sheriff could DOt lind it. Ho did not think tb< sheriff mid uny right to it and though Johnson might need it again. lt'.v. Wm. 13. Johnson, tho defendant, was tho last w itness to testify fur thi defense. He took the stand In his owi behalf and testilied as fo'lows : 1 am a minister of the gospel of the Haptlrtt denomination ; am pastor ol Bamberg, Hunter's cnapel and Den mark Baptist churches ; havo buon lo cated at Bamberg about four years, In Juno, 1800, I waa called on by Mr. Brown to perform a marrlago cere mony between himself and Miss Bellin gcr. Tho Saturday night following the marriage Mrs. Bellinger came to my houso 1 left her and Mrs. Johnson In conversation i n my piazza. I was in back part of ray house and heard Mrs. Bellinger abusing me to ray wifi ; I also heard r man's voice : I heard my wife say to Mrs. Bellinger: "1 am surprised ?t your conduct." Willie Bellinger, who bad come for bis motu er, told ii.y wlfo to "shut up, I've heard enough ol tnat." 1 did not see Willio Bellinger again until the day before the tragedy, when I found him sotting a lino fence which separated my houso from Mr. Bollin ger's. Mrs. Beilinger was also present. A negro painter named Walker was in ray yard painting a fence ; I called Walkor quietly to my stops and said to him: "Do the painting as you agroed to do or get out of here.'' I then went down town and asked Mr. J. C. Moye to help mo get a negro out of ray yard Moyu came and entered ray back door. 1 asked him for his pistol and ho gave it to me, I then walked out of house and told Walker, tho painter, to get out of ray yard. I ronreated this several times, and ho would start, but Willie Bellinger would oach tlmo call him back, telling him to paint tho fence. Finally Bollinger asked if ho was going to paint that fence ? Walker said, " I'm afraid." Bellinger said, "Afraid? What, afraid of that long legged-," at tho samo time. using several other epithets. I told Bellinger ho could not go out in the road and say that. He jumped down off '?no post on which ho was sit ting and came out of his front gate ; 1 went to my gate and saw then that he had a pistol In his hau l : I exclaimed: " You are armed, oh V" Bellinger re peated his abusive epithets and I turned and walked back to my house. Soon after this occurred Col. Counts came up to my houso and talked with mo. 1 told him of tho d tl.iulty 1 had with B Uingor and ho left out returned with Mr. Sunders, who brought mo a gun. (Tho gun was then for tho first 1,1 me produced in court. Mr. Jounson examined it and pronounced it the gun which ho used in snooting Mr. Bellinger.) Tho gun was loaded ; I took it and put it in rny sitting room I expeoted to noed tho gun to defonu myself, my family and my home, which had been intruded upon. Tho next morning as I was about to go down town Mr. Brown drovo up to my gate and tolu mo that if i was go ing down town ho would take ine. I I went with him ; transacted my busl | noas at the postotlice and returned to my ! homo. During ray trip to tho postotlice I I was armed with a pistol, because I thought I was In danger of being shot by Bellinger. A short time after my return homo from tho postotlice Mr. Brown again drov up to my galo and I sta. ,ed out to rucjt him. I then saw Mr. Willie Bellllnger coming across the campus, winch Is located In front of my house, and I picked up my shot gun to defend myself against any posal bio danger. As soon aa I got out the houso and Into tho road where Mr. Brown waa, Mr. Bellinger had by that lime approached to within 10 or 16 steps of us, and he opened lire on us with a pistol. I raised my gun and lire. Mr. Bellinger shot at mo twice, then I shot, and he shot twlco more aftor I fired. I was standing In tho road at tho tlmo and had no reference to the telephone polo rofer.-ed to ; did not know tho pole waa about; there was nothing between us that 1 saw : i ahot him to aavo my lifo, which 1 be hoved to bo In great danger; after that I returned to my house and reloaded tho gun. foarlng that I might havo further trouble. On o cross-examination by Attor ney < loral Belllngor, Mr. Johnson .-aid that when ho went out to moot Mr. Brown that ho stood by tho horse conversing with him rolativo to a fence which Mr. Brown propoaed to build hotwoon tho two promiaoa ; that while standing thoro tho hora** became rest less and Mr. Brown jerked htm back just aa Bellinger oame up, thus expos ing him, (Johnson) to full view of Bel linger, when he openod fire. Johnson said after firing first shot he brought tho guu to position of "ready" sO thut ho could uso it again 11 00009* sury. Too lumber which was ordered to build the pronosod new division fence win hauled uwhv several days uftor the tragt d/. The feuce was never built, /Vier the shooting I returned to my iouso aod there rein lined until I had quieted iuy wife, who was very much xeited, and then in company with Mr. Sanders drove to the j*d and volun -.inly surrendered. 1 stayed In j ill Ight days until released on ba'l, re turned to my home then where 1 have boon since living, follow lug my usual avooat.ou oi pruaoniug at my former churches. Bellinger and myself had not soon much of each other since the marriage. A uen 1 ud.lross d nun 1 oallod nun Mr Bellinger, I did not spoor to any of tho Bellingers. Joe Brown, Cd. Counts and S II. S inders told me of throats mad' by Bjlllncor. 1 did not arm myself be ?;ausi I >vn< not fond of carrying weap ons. I had apprehensions that Bel linger was goi?g 10 shoot mo, but UOl u strong until t;.o day Ooforo too rouble. Co!. Counts advised mo to Kill the icgro or any one else who would not cave my yurd. 1 did not think of ne essity of asking in cftloor of tho law o get him out. I did not tell Mrs. Iljllingjr to "shut up." I told hor " I avo heurd from you before." y icstion by attorney general?When ,ou told Willi? B lunger to come on , he street wbat did you moau 'i Answ r ?1 meant to Whip him i( 1 ouid. M> heigbt is 0 loot; weigut 140; thut of B 'litngjr was ? feet aod weight about 110. 1 tbougnt llioro vUJ more nonor in whipping a man ibyslcally than returning ins words. Q icstion ? Why did you retire when ,ou louud Bellinger hau a pistol i Answer- IJid not want that kind of % difficulty. Attorney General ?You were then not willing to meet poor little Willie li. i.uiger as man anu inuu usu ally do, but you had something lu your iouso whicb would km an elephant. With this you wanted to meet Willie lljllluger who was only armed witli a pistol, eh '.- This question elicited no response and wus rather dramatic in Its appeal. Mr. Bellinger then a-kod witness if tho two witnesses who were put up this morning by tho defense, and who tcsii tied that ho had rested hit) gun against tho pole, bad testified to tho truth. Unanswered: "No, sir. That is not true." , A..is concluded the examination of Mr. Johnson and he arose in his seat and asked permission of the court to make a statement. Tho request was granted and ho said: "There is no liv ing human being who more regrets the tragedy whicb caused Willie Bel linger's death than 1 do." John K. Bellinger, the father of the deceased, te.-tilieii: N'nlio was lib" yours old -vud was living at Barnwell. Ho visited me on April 23 and remain ed until ho was killed. He was not in Bamberg between March 28 and April w.llll? m?9t have soon J oh n?on fre quently preceding the homicide, ab ho was H/Ing next door to him while at my house, and was also frequently on the streets. Willie attended [oTcL? as stenographer and must ha.e s ? between Johnson's retldence and mine had been finished on my side and a? ?i? her bythe arm (the witne s he re b ko down and could say no more or a few minutes, crylno and 1...,.,, with ir,-i?f\ ' . 1 Do.lnl? ?'vercomo wun grief) and we went by II. C Folk'* store to tho pi?ce where too Sdv lav Ihero was some twltchinc ? ,i,* V after wo reached ffi'Vut nS words were spoken. [ realism,! , "<>?* hopo for him and Sled m?? 00 ioto our home i f,, , i " W\to on and six No. 2 em be m v? buok?h<* In his coat pocket o? lr ",m? ',H,,,;rH the day a&dio ft Tbo?M*i?ffi in his testimony, the case f ? cUi?C Jones was being tried i Vh ^' U"d houso hero. VVllllo?ri2 ?? COUrt stenographer, l) rLu the case' hot words were ?S88K?f twoonMr. Jones and myself S3aflX camo near beini? mwi .ii, *IU saw the sroubtofc?JT?^n I"1-0 store to get a !^iy?g?J turned the trouble between r the "ry ?fth?D,r homicide and allowed *? amlno the grounds n.? ,. . ex" aod tb?,?riruK;ff?^?S2 ?22 were allowed to each, aMi J ht)UrH woro six lawyers , .d ' I? as thurti fenso ?apt J A IS 9,(1 fur do" tion, 'hoo bift % n?, proaoou; Alken, closed fir ,l,,f'.? un,,0^?n' of ney G4oeral G.Diaoao IfflJ Alt?r' thoStato. uu^Hn Bellinger for There was not standing room In th? largo new court room when th . . meats began, and the closest In ?*as given all the speaae^ T^00!10" monts all showed the ? v . 10 "rtJU preparation, we 1 " ?' Cirful well receivod. It Is h I . 1V'i''?J und lawyers aro pitted airaU,.. 'earned in a'country Kurt ff? ^Sfii tfS wonder that evorv o?? 11 Lfl nu Bamberg turned It o " roaon of broken shower of K? noar, ,l" un* -eom unfair tocinV; Sm Ul,ulf and not the others Mi ill ?i ?POeoh tirst appearane^^ ^hisciuntl oTo! Uui file's eloquent yX^l^tQS!S? Mooney, who oami to SJsIs? the proseoutlon. Hi? si?e,...i, . ttu to tho eyes o' maf r?, r,???fht tears torney gonoral closed. Ht Judgo Watts charged the iurvnr thn law covorinf botnlolde >v.J 7 tho and implied malice. Murd?* El AS1 ? ? (t,;o^F^v:? neeeesarlly bo thSre S ^ "?t filing, htft S?Tn/iSI^klUl?f Tho law l?ipllea malice if a man Ks Mio because of Insults. A m?a wS has been threatened has a nor oetrl^M Plea^ ? Hndi ,W ?SyXWi pieases, on tho public hiffhwava elsewhere, but even though hoTh^ht tho throats woro ffolna to uL tnou>"1 execution, he hl?fno S Jht ft ,,utu,Pt() self aod 'shoo? down the n,!V;m hlT e*aieWe?