Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1859-05-26
Trial of Z n. Floyd,

The Spring Term of our Superior Court, his
Honor Judge Bsily present and presiding, Is
in session this week. Several cases Of more
than ordinary interest have been disposed Of;
among which, the most important is that of the
State against James Newton Floyd, indicted for
the murder of Richsrd Martin, q free man Of COL
or, and removed from CASTOR to this county for
trial. The principal facts elected by the trial
was that on the 18th of last December, at the
store:house Of Mr.. Neage, in the county Of Gas
ton, theprisoner had requested some Of hisfriends
to remain with him on the ground that day, until
he should be ready to 90 in company, because he
expected to have need Of friends at the same time
exhibiting large bowie knife, which he said he
had bought at Yorkyile o short time. before,
for the price of ten dollars. He refused to sell
the knife once or twice that day. the ground that
heexpected to use it himself. Late in the evening"
he started home alone on horseback, and at about
dusk arrived at the blacksmith shop Of the de-
ceased, where he found the principal State wit
ness, Mccullough, who had siso arrived at the
shop few moments before, in his buggy. The
prisoner alighted from his horse, hitched him to
fence, requested the witness to wait for him and
he would accompany him in few moments, and
then stepped into the shop whore deceased was.
After conversing together for about an hour, in q
friendly way, on ordinary topics, the prisoner
asked for something to eat. Deceased pointed him
to side of bacon hanging onthe wall Of the shop,
and handed his knife to cut piece. He did so,
and put II on the smith-fre to broil.
The deceased then gave TO the prisoner and the
witness o biscuit piece. About an hour after
this, the deceased called upon the prisoner and
told him he had his knife. Prisoner denied. A
dispute then ensued in which deceased told the
| prisoner that he "mnst be odd rascal, remark.
ing at the end of dispute, ''dam the knife let
| it 90 be cared nothing about it." 49,
About FIVE minutes after this, the prisoner and
witness started home, and when the former had
rode about fifty PAGES from the shop the deceased
came out with bottle in his hand, remarked that
he had some liquor, but that the prisoner shouldn't
have any, and walked mp to the buggy, and gave
witness drink. He then walked on to where
the prisoner had also stopped, holding the bottle
by the neck in the same attitude that he had pres.
ented it 10 witness. T. ''.--
The prisoner dismounted, and without word
being said by either, fight ensued, in which the
deceased fell dead before witness could reach the
parties. The prisoner stepped o few PAGES to q
fence, laid his hands on the top rail, and when the
witness stepped up to him, pnd then turned to look
after the deceased, the prisoner mounted his horse
and rode off. This occurred between eight and
nine o'clock, the moon shining. The next morn,
ing the deceased was found to have received sew
eral mortal stabs with the bowie knife, which was
found lying near the dead man, one penetrating
through his person from the front to the back,
about the region of the heart. A large quantity
of blood was found scattered over an area of about
fourteen feet in diameter, and q stone weighing
two and three-fonrthp pounds was found lying about
nine feet from the deceased, with blood on the
upper and lower side Of it, with some skin and
hair on it. The fragments of the bottle were also
found scattered over the scene. The deceased
was found to have an abrasion of the skin on the
face among the beard. Prisoner had several cuts
upon the head and upon the eye brow, and the
testimony was conflicting as to the hair upon the
stone; some witnesses contending that it came
from the brow Of the prisoner, whilst about an
equal number thought it came from the face of
the deceased. The knife also had several gaps m
the blade. There were the principal facts proven
on the trial.-CharIoue Bulletin.