Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

jjj UlrtON HArS j| M ? ^ m~ T ^ "Y *" IB m~ ? ^ T H ^TOVm! I Mw ? rhsw Cotton Mills, ou* a he | IBS I J* S V i ^ /d % I 1% /f I J^ 1 The largest Knitting Mill *ttl i > |pips I II lL IM 01\ 11M h b. gm E.f jjj sian Water. Population 6,50e^jj T0L.L1I. S" 15. UNION, SOUTH CAROLINA, FRIDAY, APRIL II. I!)<>2. #1.00A YEAR; * {P. VI. FARk President. (JKO. MUNk'\ Cashier, * j) | Merchants' and PI ^ OF t.T IM j, Capital Stock ? Surplus ft Stockholders' Liabilities... * 't ? i jt Total ^ DittBcroKS?J. A. Fant, at f C! Dnnftan .T T nniinlaa * - ? > " - I W u. Ooleman. ^ We Solicit THE GOINGr Tom Going is Charged i Splawn on Dee. 13th, tracted more Attentic Famous Moorman?? Ago. The Defense v Munro and DePass, Sanders, of Spartanfc Assisted by Messrs. Dixon, of Union. A HARD FOUGH THOHAS GOll tfc V - ^ Court convened at 9:15 Fridt morning. The court house wi filled in five minutes until standii room was at a premium. The famous Going-Splawn murdi case was at once called and witness called to court. The following attorneys repr sented the defense: Munro, Sande and V. E. DePass. J. C. Walla and W. W. Dixon assisting Solicit* Seai-e. It was evident that the most ii tense interest is still manifest in th case from the crowd which so ear packed the court room. Mr. Tom Going was prese dressed in a neat fitting suit, ai while something of an anxious e pression showed itself upon 1 countenance he seemed self-posesse Mr. Sanders, leading counsel f the defense, stated that he had an it portant railroad case elsewhere which he was the only one to repi sent the railroad, and that he wou ^ be compelled to attend the cuse < . If this case could finished by tomorrow (Saturda night he would be willing to go < with the case. If not he did n think he could, with justice to 1: client, do so. The Judge repli that he thought the case could be co tiuutu lit tut 111UU opttllivu, UlUb rested entirely with the counsel eliminate useless and irrelevant tes mony. U It will be remembered that on t afternoon of Dec. IB, 1900, Tc Going shot and killed Joseph 1 Splawn in his, Splawn's, offiec in t tower of the Union Cotton Mil ,v This case was tried at the Septeml term of court, 1901, and occupi some three days. The case went the jury at 1.36 p. m. on Saturd night and remained in the jury ro< until 10 o'clock Sunday morni when a mistrial was ordered. At five minutes after ten o'clc tVtia mornir?rr tlm aonnn<1 iiirir v (Uio UIUI Ulll^ HIV OVVUI1U J V*. jr I empanelled as follows after fourt< objections: J. D. Graham Z. Reeves - W. D. Wilkins C.M.Young F M. Cudd W. E. Sinclair W. J. Weathersby J. T. Foster W. C. West R. L. Nance W. N. Brock J. C. Gibbes ^ The Judge excused all jurors ^ interested in> "his case from att dance upon <V' ft today. ,# p * ^ ^ 4* 4*< *>4* 4* 4* 4* A. H. FOSTER, Vice President. $ J. D. ARTHUR, Assistant Cashier, f anters' National Bank * I JOIN, C. J $60,000 5 50.000 J 60,000 f $170,000 | VV. H. Wallace, Wm. Jeffries, | s, E P. MeKiesick. A. H. Feeler, ^ Your Business. ^ SPLAWN CASE. with Hurder. Killed J. M. , 1900. This Case has At>n Than any Trial Since the >chutz Trial Several Years /as Represented by Messrs. of Union, and Duncan & >urg. Solicitor Sease was J. C. Wallace and W. W. T I PfiAl RATTI R ?4 - - -v_? i m ?4 i m. a *?4 B?4 NG NOT GUILTY. ly THE PROSECUTION. iS Frank Howell, colored, only eye witness, was the first witness put up at 10:15 a. m. Was a sweeper in 2r the mill Saw Tom Going shoot es Vlr. Splawn. Had gone to Mr. Splawn to brush him oft' just before e knocking oft' time. Went after my r8 bucket because I go out the oth'T cc way. Or ~ : l Ta. : i viu.-n UAauiiucu. it IS Illy 1'UIC 10 brush Mr. Splawn off. Mr. Splawn told me to brush him off. I sat my 18 bucket down to do it. Did not tell the coroner about the bucket because he did not ask me. Did not see Mr. Going when I went after the bucket. Bucket was three floors down in the opening room. Went 118 down this llight of steps. Was down ; thero five or ten minutes. Mr. or Splawn was not saying a word when ?' I went up. Going was at Splawn's in desk. Going saw me. Commenced e: shooting Splawn without a word. Don't know whether Going looked >n mad or not. Was not acquainted ? with him. Door into mill w as cracked J' open wide enough for man to get 3n through. That was the door I ran through when Going commenced . auuimug. nave nan mo conversation e with Mr. Whitner. I did not couie '*?* up town the night of the shooting 1 had a talk with Mr. Burgess after . the shooting. Told him no one was with Splawn when 1 got back. Did not tell Mr. Burgess that Mr. Splawn 10 had liis hand out about time he was shot. Didn't tell him next morning j~' that I could not tell anything about it. Did not say the words, "Lord, don't ask me, I was so scared that I )CT. can't tell anything about it." Did not tell Jake Going that they were to fighting and shooting when I came ay up. I did not tell Mr. Couch Eu~ banks that I did not know anything. n? Told him that I ran. Did not tell Mr. W. I. Going that I heard the phooting and ran, and did not know sas who did the shooting. I told the *en men when 1 was in Munro's office that I did not know who fired the first shot. My back was to them. Mr. Splawn had his hands down when I turned around and I saw nothing in his hands. Did not tell Mr. Lybrand that I did not know anything about it. Frank was very emphatic in his denials. Re-direct. Lived in North Pacolot. Was not here because I did not know court was going on. Sheriff came and told me. Only thing I said to Mr Jake Going was in reply to his not question, "What did you let him kill en" him for." I said I couldn't help it. Dr. Austell?Examined him. Found four wounds after he svas taken home. 1 was first physician liiere. Found one wound in left s.d \ j That I considered caused his death. I took down a statement from Splawn. 1 no v as rational. I \vr to it. AV it - < Ilt'SS*S signed IT. ? I )<? eased did not sign it. Could not u e i>i? litrht 1 hand Ilo said all along thai 11<* 1 could not grt well, This was before 1 I took his statement. He was par- 1 alv zed. Cross Ex. I dressed the wounds I 1 gave hiuj morphine to quiet him Morphine giver after .statement was i made. Think lie asked me to help I him. lie did not act like he had any hope. Did talk to Dr. Smith < about cutting oft' or re c cting the arm 1 if lie ever got weli. This was after iho i paper was written. ( lie-direct. We were talking of it t as surgeons. Had no idea of cutting s oft* or resecting the arm. < By the Judge. "Has the man in dying condition when he made 'his statement? ''Yes sir." "And did 1 he die the next morning at ten > o'clock?" "Yes sir." Statement t was admitted. t Sl'LAWN's STAT KMK N'T. f "Going asked why 1 would not > ll?t liltn wrrl* iirwl lwiiron nnnjift.# >.? ...... ' Vt u ****** "/VSUU VUI"nft tt,,M C abusing inc. I told him to get out. 1 He got his pistol and asked m; if I was going to let hiui work. Said I 1 had run oft' a lot of families and be- \ gan to shoot." Signed. j Ciias. \V. Austell, M D. sj T. G. Johnson, 1 ,v l < Mus.O. L. Bixiiv, j ,,,U8SMDec. 13th, 1000. 1 Dr. Austell recalled said ho had .? found two balls about the body. < Cross Ex. Four wounds. One i fatal in left side, struck spinal chord t paralyzing Splawn. Entered on left side between 7th and 8th rib ranging j upwards and back to spinal column, t One in elbow of right arm splitting r bone. Come out six inches above < elbow, under part of arm. One en- t tered at angle of right jaw ranging t downward, coining out about eight inches back of neck and near spinal : column. Fourth grazed left hip. I Did not extract the ball entering < side, could not ftod it. Found two ; bnlls in his clothing and in bed. < Other was found in the room where ; he was shot. It was the one thai i grazed the hip. Think Mr. llixby < was the one who found it and gave it 1 iu mo ui tut" examination. < George Cummings?On the day i that Splawn was shot I was in grocery I department at Union Cotton Miils ] Department Store. Tom Going 1 came there. In a talk with him lie i said he had been fired, that he would i fix the G d s . I < asked him who he was talking about, lie said Splawn. I told him not to I do that but go and see Mr. Duncan, i the president, or Mr. Hicks, the superintendent. Mr. Sanders hoard i the last part of my conversation. : This was three quarters of an hour ; before I heard that Splawn was shot, i Would say that it was about half I past five. ' Cross Ex. Was present at coro- ! ncr's inquest; was there to get the 1 particulars as correspondent of the < Columbia State. 1 had told Mr. Gage that I did not know much about the case. He said he did not think my evidence was necessary. I did not toll Mr. Brooks Going that i I did not know anything about it. He asked me not to publish any mote than was necessary. In talking to Tom I had asked him why lie didn't go up town and get a job from his cousin Will or some other friend. Am originally from Canada. In 2d | Tennessee Regiment during Spanish | American war. Regiment disband- 1 cd in Columbia. Been in this country between 11 and 13 years, E. J. Gossctt?Second band in spinning room. Heard the shooting. Frank Howell was the scouring man: heard four shots; ran to the door ; i Frank came through it. Tom Going was standing in the oflice with a pis- j tol in hand. He turned and leveled it on me. Neither spoke, doing! turned and we* down. I then saw 1 Splawn lying hi bind his desk; 1 at- ' tempted to assist him and he said: "You cannot get me up by yourself, I am paralyzed from hero down." Going never spoke in my presence. Me and Will Lester got him out from behind the desk. 1 unbuttoned 1 his collar. About that time the room was about full. They took Splawn down then on the elevator. I never saw any weapon on lloor. After V 3 Wm. A. NICHC BANK i tn SOLICIT YOU1 * i ar And promise courteous treatm jo- tion consist l'? GOOD 13 /? on Write all kinds of Insuranc MONEY ORDERS Issuer crowd left examined but found weapons. Found where ball h glanced ceiling behind Splawn's des Two. cu{'boards, reeling machine a desk in the ollice. Drew a diagra of the flice. A4t-? admissibility of res gestae ei Knee Solicitor read law of simil case Argument by Sanders in objt lion to admitting the evidence as what Splawn had said to him at t time. Fvidcnce admitted, (except! t>V Mr. Sanders noted.) Mr. SpU\ eiid: 4,Tom Going shot me." t-*ked him what in the world was th lor? He said, ,lI do not know We moved the desk and bronght h nit from the wall, lie asked me t i drink of water which I gave hit I le was then taken down on t devator. Last pistol shot fired abo :itne I got to the door leading out (pinning room into tower (Splawt )flice.) .It'HOE TAK liS CRAMP. At this point 11:45 Mr. W. 1 West, one of the jury, was attack* ,vitli cramp and was allowed to rcti ,o the jury room, where he was s ended by Dr. J. G. Going. Aft ifteen minutes the Judge con fern vith Messrs. Sanders and Seas il'ter whioh Dr. Going returned at cpotted Mr. West's condition to tl lodge, who sent for Dr. Jno. } Lawson. who went to the sick man. vas stated that Mr. West was su eet to cramp. At 12:15 it w igrced by 'liotli sides to proceed wi t'.cvon jurors. Dr. J. M. Lawst vas instructed to take Mr. West lis room accompanied by the depui heriff. Hie prisoner in reply piesi ns from tlie Judge agreed f lie trial to go on waiving all obje ions, and the case proceeded. Mr. Gossctt, who had drawn Jan of the room, explained the pos ions of the deceased and the defen int upon his arrival. Says the cc >red man came out just as he can o the door, lie (Gossett) ptisln lie dooi further open and went i: That afternoon Tom Going hi isk<d him if he had seen Mr. Splaw [ told him 1 had seen Splawn sittii >11 J. E. Shaw's desk. This w ibont 5 o'clock. Shaw's room w >no tloor below mine. Going turn md went down steps. That w ihout an hour before shooting c curred. 1 went in tower again sho ly after 0 o'clock. Mr. Splawn w sitting in mi'hllc of desk with han in his vest. Going was standing the newel post with his hands pos* just as you enter* the spinnii room, about 10 minutes before sho< I -X ' .1 ng. i went in ine spinning rot ibout 20 yards and turned ba when I heard shot. Cross Ex. Splawn's face w towards the wall, head resting < ight arm which was shot. lie-direct. Saw Going fir?t tir ift<*r > o'clock in Shaw's offi is above. Next time talking SI dawn in Splawn's oflicc. Ne time after he was shot. Correct i?v Mr. Zanders. Ldrst saw Uon when he came through spinning roo ?oc >nd time at Shaw's desk, thi time and fourth time in Splawc allice. J. E. Shaw?l>oss of room beh Gossctt's oflicc and tower same thir doing in talking to me in my ofli -aid lie thought I was that d ? s . 1 asked him who meant, lie said Splawn, that he < not mean me. I teased him abc his going to get married. Ho wt up into Splawn's room. I so heard two or three shots. I wt into the card room to get out of t way. When noise ceased I cai hack out and saw Tom Going cotni down the steps. I went up to Splaw room. Dili not sec any weapon i he lloor. Cross Ex. Saw the cdaneinrr ?1 f O -"O " in the wall. Don't know who fou the bullet. Going did not seem he mad while talking tomcat i d<?-k. No one was with Tom wli he eamc down the steps after t shooting. 11. I). Kitchens?Was overseei weave room. Second floor. Waf my desk when shooting occurr Card room between mine t Splawn's room. Saw Mt. Go about four or five o'clock that aft noon. He told me he was out c job again, that Splawn had got 1 out. About all lie said. Did make any threats. Next time f him at Shaw's desk. He asked if I had seen Splawn. I asked 1 what he wanted with Splawn. * Office and Express Company. iin said he wanted to get Splawn to sign t 'or his time. I then turned to Shaw and ( in. asked him if he sent his linn Is fo lie Splawn to sign time for his nands. ;i ut that I did not. Siiaw said no. After * of shooting heard Tom say ho had killed | i's the d s . v Ores* Ex. Fifteen minutes after six o'eloek that I saw Tom at Shaw's ^..111.. f f i U. uesK, aoouc leu or iiite-n minutes |* ed before shooting. Located time. Re- | y ie membered looking at watch. Ir : r, it- lacked 45 minutes r.*? stopping time, c or Don't remember going to Sh tw's ) ed desk before on that day. Just \\*nt 10, there occasionally to pass oft' the time. c id Apparently Going was in a good V lie humor. * ' ,1. Redirect. Went on up to SplawnV It office. Don't think ho had on a sl, b- coat when I got there. The killing <1 as and the fact of having met T<un there * tli impressed the fact of my having been )n at Splawn's desk that afternoon. 1 to saw no weapons on the floor of t> tv Splawn's office. to G. W. Turnipseed?Was i?> cird j5' or room tower time of shoeing. Saw ,, c Tom between three and four o'clock. ? I went to Splawn's room afrer the 11 a shooting. Saw men pulling him iJ. from the wall. Gossett and time or \ d- fous others Saw no weapon on the n d. floor. b io Cross Ex. Going was in card ro >in j ?d tower when I siw him. I was in ^ n. same room wi'h Shaw. Going sat on a id Shaw's desk. Conversation of a b n> pleasant nature. It. D. Kitchens recalled?Jake !t as Going worked in the other mill, ti as Going was working under Splawn n c,l when first discharged. Was work-11 as ing for Jake Going when discharged " >c- second tiuie. \ vt- Cross Ex. It was Mr. Hick's rule ! as to have Splawn sign time for di.s- 1 ,ls charged hands. at Gus Sanders?I passed by whcie ' on Tom and (Jammings were talking. ; ng Heard Cummings tell Tom "I would 3t not do that, I would go to Mr. Dun- . )m can or Mr. Hicks and fix it up. ' , ck That was all I heard. I saw that i they were talking before I heard : as their words. an Cross Ex. First words I heard t was ''don't do that." There was no t ne excitement. ce Re-direct. It was about four or to five o'clock. l xt D. A. Hi ghtowcr?Was on hot- i cd torn floos of mill when shooting occurred. Didn't hear shots. Saw Splawn first at his house, Jseveral 5 rd were there. Helped the doctor to , i's dress wound. I emptied his pockets. t 3W (Continued on page 4.) ice THE FLOYD MURDER CASE. ! 1 he (Continued from last week.) J lid J. I}. Foster, of Jonesville?Knew Joe j >ut Vaughan. Saw him t he evening lie was 's killed, lie was in the buggy. lie was ( right much under the ii.tlueuceof liquor, i on Have known him several years. Know ( mt John Floyd. Next morning was in my ( he store witVJslighl bruise on one cheek. i in0 Crass Fx. Am father of cue of conn- | f sel for defense. Saw John about 8 < n,? o'clock that morning. I os VV. U.S. Han is?Live in Jonesville. , on Know John Floyd "aw him the day | after ttie murder. Had a little abrasure | . on cheek; looked fresh. He told me , ?r how he got it. (Not allowed to say | nd how.) to Robt. T. Coleman?Live near Jonesjjjy ville. Know the houses but don't know which families occupied each louse. icn Was at Mr. Malay's the night .Joe the Vaughan was killed. About a mile from scene of homicide. Myself, Bur of Res9 ai)d others sitting in the yard. Heard shots; sounded rather to the right 1 n of William's house, down towards Floyd, fid. Two first shots sounded like pistol shots, md Half hour afterwards heard shot gun ing add pistol shots clore together. Heard loud talking; I then heard woman scream. ? I heard the gun shot last. N o relation ''a to the Floyd's, may be a little kin t? the lim Vaughan's. not Cross Ex Met there to go hunting; dogs got to growling and making noise. First shots were to w aul s the creek. Shot me gUn makes louder and round repoit. lim Mabry went down hi cotton patch and He listened. 1 minded the dogs Shooting >LSON & SON, ERS, R BUSINESS lent and every accommoda* , :ent with LiNrKLxr^rcs-. e except life. 1 at the same rate as Post ,?'ry common around there. Ite-dutcl. Had no idea what the rouble was about. After soiue aigument regarding the ultnission of evidence of Wm. T. Ward lining his absence the wiitten testimony vas admitted. lie said he hoard en iiat night four pistol ( r gun shots, after iliich lie heard scix-aiuing by woman. Wilkes W. Floyd?Live in Jonesvllle uwnship. Fatl er of defendant. Wife toxauua. One (laughter. Wife of Wm. "augbati, s >n of deceastd. Li\ed 3f>9 anls from Wm. VaughnnV, oOO yartls loin |o?? Vaiojhan. I> scribed the leal ion of Uie Vaughan and Floyd houses\'.:s at homo i iglit of killing. Hrtird i>e Vi.iigtiau cti*slug and shooting; knew is voice; \v is shooting pistol. lie was nit.i'c !: in liis house down towards V?..1.111 Vain ban's. lie was asking Viil am \'.111a 11:t11 with einse woids ,*h?-i<* in*. w i- was. Slie is my daugh r. . .. ? was a disreputable chaii ter. t'id d for William to open the k>;. He l-i .so 1 listened to hear dial he wii-j going to do. Joe came to ear u > lime and tired a pistol. He ill* <! tor in to c.ane out calling nic* a iMi rogue. He then said he would go ack and kill her, tne nd tin ii they would come and he would bt ihem. I then went to warn my augiitei Mag tie to get away. 1 went, a rii.d ii'i iut way. 1 heard someone say hue 1 was in the fi-ld, "Don't rudi on in Mr. Vaughan." The voice was la of John Floyd. Vaughan then iid, * you are the d am looking for.'' Then I heard a pisd Hart and another pistol shot followed i gun shot. I went on back home, ohi) Fl?.yd came by in front of my on.-e atitr shooting; saw him pass, hortly after vlie marriage of William no Maggie, Monro Smith came to my ouse and told me something. There .'sis had blood between the families. ie blamed loliti lor the match, i'ieasnt relations between tauiilies before laiiiugc. baw Joe Yaughan that aiming, his lit tie son with him, going owaid Giitdall bhoals. Myself, wife i d children were in my house that nglit. I.* ti all my family in my house vlien I stiiitid for William Vaughau's. loe would hollow at top of his voice and lieu cuise. :i">0 yards from my house o William Vaughan'ts. Had a tire in 11V llllllSl* S..V Vfullicll*.. ti ? ?l Willi im1* house. 1"> or 20 minutes Uier htaid ,Ioe cursing befoie I wont to William's house Could see iolo Wiliauis door from my yanl. lie stopped it William's house and got within 40 y?idi of ni) house when he turned buck, lien is when I went to get Maggie away. 5aw John loins alter the shooting. Was iot m my night clothes, and did not tell liui I was in bed when the shooting ook place. Heard Joe shoot throe .iines coining down the road. At this point testimony was suspendid until the grand jury took testimony o another case from Mr. Jas. 11. todger, who was one of the jurors in he case under trial. Comt adjourned at (>:40 p. m. THURSDAY MORNING, several witnesses were sworn corroboratng the loud and boisterous talk between loe Vaughan and Will Vanghan, sou of be deceased. W ill.Vaughan also his wife la ted that Joe Vaughan liad tired his listol twice while coining to his home; irtd one shot as lie got to the garden, le then came to the house and come In?ide, raised a row, threatening to kUl lis (W ih't>) wife. Will drew u poker oh lis rather, his father took the poker iway from him; in the struggle he had tushed his father out of tne door and iliut it. Father then went, off in the Jiiection of Wilkes Floyd's nouse, then etuiued and said it Wnl poked Ins head nit of the door he would iilow his brains >ut. About this time Joe's wife came ip with another son, and told Joe not to rill Will but kill the one he was living with. She (Joe's wife) also begged Joe to go home, no use stopping there. After )oe and his family left they (Will and liis wife) heard a pistol shot, and directly afterwards heard pistol and gun shot close together, pistol shot tlrst. He heard his mother call him but did not Ho because he was afraid to ro. Father was mad with John Fioyd for arranging the match Ii'Iavpwi Will uml .. ... ....X. .....fsft.u. Evidence closed at 11:30 a m. Mr. W. W. Dixon opened for the defense at 11:40. He was followed by Mr. V. E. DePass for the State. Mr. Hutler for the defense followed Mr. DePass, Mr. Foster followed Mr. Hutler, Mr. J. A. Sawyer followed Mr. Foster and (lol. O. L Schumpert closed for the defense. Solicitor Sense made a strong argument for the State, and the .Judge charged the jury who letired at 10 and returned at 10.45 with a verdict sf manslaughter. The prisoner was sentenced to twe years in the penitentiary. Thus ended a trial full of sensational feature). The prisoner leaves a wife and ycung child behind, who have the sympathy of all.