The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1871-03-11
The Trial OF the Porter Gardner
Murder Case.

~ Wv - Sah hGos AScoSt W
lay before enr readers the following ac-
count OF this trial, in which such n deep
interest has been manifested, through
out this community. This case was the
most important on the docket for tho
special term which began on the goth
February last. During the first part
OF tue week. tho minor cases, where the
defendants were in jail, were dis
posed OF, and Friday vas appointed for
the trial ofIrgin } Porter for the murder
OF Isaac Gardner. The counsel in tho
case were e B. Scabrook Esq, Solici-
tor and Malcolm l. Browning Esq, for
the prosecution, and Messrs Knowlton
and Bull for the prisoner. Upon the
opening of the Court on Friday morn
ing, the trial of this case was immediate
ly commenced.
The case was opened for the prosecu-
ton by Malcolm !. Browning Esq, in a
brief address, after which the testimony
for the State was introduced. The tes-
timony on tho part of the prosecution
showed that the two men, Irwin j.
Porter and Isaac Gardner were together
with Daniel A. Porter and Henry Salley
at the Dean Swamp Mill, on the Goth
day of October, chat there was some
cause of misunderstanding previously ex-
listing between the deceased and the
prisoner, that Isaac Gardner came W to
where Irwin Porter was sitting on the
mill, and spoke to him; that, sitting
down. the two men talked together up
parentiy IN q friendly manner, that
Isaac Gardner rose up aud asked Porter
to go the further end of the Mill that
they went and sat down again on some
scantling, and talked together; that both
had their knives out whiting, but were
apparently friendly that when next
noticed by Daaiel A. Porter and Henry
Salley, they were scrfi;ps mat Daniel
#us Sur5 salIe5 went 10 fasar
IN ,ro ~ . lat,, ~ al T-.-.l - CO 80
was badly cut. They seized Porter,
and afterwards lett him and went
TO Isaac Gardner, whom they conveyed
to his home, where he lived until the
next morning, and died. Daring til
tim between the difficulty and his death,
Isaac Gardner told to several witnesses
how the occurrence took place. And it
was upon this his dying declaration that
the counsel for the State chiefly relied.
Porter escaped, and remained perdu
until t3o weeks after the occurrence,
when he came TO his uncle and asked TO
be brought to Orangeburg, where he
gave himself up and was committed to
Jail, as the readers of the News are. in
formed
The testimony on the part of the
State being concluded, Augustus b.
Knowlton Esq, opened the defence, in u
clear and earnest address, after which the
counsel proceeded with the testimony
for the defence.
This was, briefly, that Porter was
sick aud disabled by recent fever and
accident; that he was ut thu time un.
ehA 20 cope With Gardner; that, from
the position of the two men and of the
mill, Porter, being attacked by Gardner,
was in danger of being ~pushNS-over the
min into tho mill -stream. when he would
certainly have been killed that he cut
Gardner to save his own life, which was
assailcd and in imminent danger. Also,
the defence introt uced evidence to prove
threats on the part OF Gardner against
Porter.
The elicitation of the testimony &C.
cupiod the whole of Friday, during the
whole of which day, tie Courthouse
was crowded, and the deepest interest