The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1866-10-18

Them Cross-eramined.- and family lived in
house with accused; arrested accused in front of
the hotel, upon the public square; did not know
accused lived at the house spoken of until witness
went there. Has known the accused for long
time; his character good as slave, SO far as wit
ness knew.
Willis Johnson, freedman On the day young
Mr.. Geer was killed, witness went with Henry
Cheatham, Dan. johnson and Dan Welborn into
Mr.. Nevitts bottom, on Rocky River. The accu-
sed, Henry had pistol, which was single-barrel,
eight or ten inches long. The party walked down
to the river and there witness left them, and came
back to the village Witness and accused were
great friends, and two weeks afterwards the ac-
cused told witness they went over the river, after
witness left the party, and were trying the pistol
by shooting at hog, when Mr. Geers son rode up
and claimed the hog. The young man asked ac-
cused to throw the hog on his horse, which Henry
did. in front of him. Then Dan said to Henry, af-
ter Mr. Geer started and got piece, "Henry, 1t
won't do to let him go home with that hog" Hem
ry said, he "didn't know what else to do" Dan
said, they must kill him. Henry was backward to
go at first, and ocly picked up heart to go after
Dan told him what would be done with them for
shooting the hog. They then went on after young
Geer, and overlook him. Dan gathered him and
pulled him off the horse when Henry aimed to
shoot him, but didn't do it; the pistol fired, and
the ball went into the ground. One of them struck
him with the pistol, but witness don't remember
that Henry said it was himself or Dan. Cross
tln
evening Geer was killed they walked out together.
The conscience of witness checked him, for he
knew that the object of their walk was unprohta-
ble; hence his return. Henry told witness that
he did not want to go into the matter. This con-
versation took place in two weeks or thereabouts,
after the murder. The reason why witness did
not tell it was that he was fearful of being brought
into trouble Told his sister only; she told 9TH
ers, and was overheard by Mr.. Simons, when the
fact was communicated to the authorities. Henry
is boy of good character, peaceable and quiet
Don't say anything about his honesty. Witness
made this statement in the Provost Court before
Daniel Wel5orn, freedman: Was one of the par
ty spoken of by Willis, together on Saturday that
Mr.. Geer was killed. Willis quit the party; moth
ing said whatever about their object; Henry said
they would pay him. Henry had pistol Wit
ness went beyond Broyles', whey they shot hog.
Asked them what they would do with the hog; re-
piled. "Never mind.'' Witness heard somebody
coming and left the party. Next day, about ten
o'clock, met with Henry, and asked him for mon
ey, to which he replied that they killed Mr.. Geer
that night and didn't get the money. Henry just
told him that and went on in hurry told him to
keep it secret Witness did not tell it because ne
was stranger here, and had no one to tell it to.
Cross-eramined.-Didn't stop after the shooting,
and didn't hear any conversation between Gcer and
them heard pistol fire when near the depot.
Henry owed witness 81 for coat. Witness former
ly belonged to Mrs. Welborn, 10 miles from this
place. came here just before Christmas, and didn't
know these parties before. Dan persuaded them
to 20; sent for him to meet them; didn't know
what they were going for, until they shot the hog.
Knows that Henry shot the hog, and that there
was no accident in the shooting; 'he hit the hog
the first crack" 1t was at the road, and hearing
some one coming from direction of town, witness
left.
| Harriet Calhoun, freedwoman: Am the sister ef
Willis Johnson, who told the story to her; Henry
| never told her. Knows him well, however; thinks
him not bright, but good boy.
N. K. SULLIVAN: Got to Mr.. Geers early on the
night of January 18th next morning, some 300
wards in this direction, found tracks of persons
and where there had been q horse tramping in the
road yards nearer the house, found 9TH
er evidences of tramping in the road, and from
that to where the body was found, signs Of the
horse running. On the day of investigation, after
the Provost Court dismissed, heard the accused
| Henry mako open confession of the deed, and tell
Mr. Murray, after being cautioned not to make adj
missions, that he would tell the truth. Counsel
for prisoner here objected, and the Solicitor did
not press further questions.)
ELIJAH W. BROWN About the time of the muir
der of young Gcer, thinks it was before, the accu-
sed came into store of witness and wanted to buy
gun caps. Witness refused to sell them, when &C.
cused made threats and oaths, and said if witness
would not let him have the caps, he would go else
where At the same time remarked, that "white
people had killed black ones long enough, and ii
was now time to change" CroSa-ezamilcd-Am
not positive but thinks this occurrence was before
the murder. Henry was drinking; the remark
was inconsistent with his general good character
as servant; does not think he would have been
disrespectful to witness when sober; he was deci-
dedly quiet and peaceable and not violent in his
conduct and manner.
JOHN W. BRooKs Have been confined in Jail
since the 18th day of last February. The accused
was in next cell to witness, before being carried to
Columbia and had conversation with witness
upon the subject of his guilt. First, Yankee
guard told accused in hearing of witness to make
confession that he told ali about it in the Court
room, and might as well tell it again. Counsel