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

interest has been manifested, through,
out this community. This case was the
most important on the docket for tho
special term which began o. tho 10th
February last. During the first part
OF the week tho-nainor cases, where the
defendants were In Jail, were dis
posed OF, and Friday was appointed for
the trial of Irwin ) Porter for the murder
OF Isaac Gardner. The counsel in the
case were E B. soabfook Esq, Solicit
tor and Malcolm. 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 casa was immediate.
~ commenced.
The case was opened for the prosecu-
ton by Malcolm /. Browning Esq, 10 q
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, that there was come
cause of misunderstanding PREVIOUSLY ex-
listing between the deceased and the
prisoner, that Isaac Gardner came up to
where Irwin Porter was sitting on the
mill, and spoke to him; that, sitting
doYn, 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 put whiting, but were
apparently friendly that Hhcn next
noticed by Daniel A Porter md Henry
salley, they weife aouEliug; That Daniel
spaury slIeS Went is them
10 part hem, and sound ihae Gafdner
vas badly chi. They seized Porter,
ifN.1 49, n $3.50. Il. 49, NJ. -rHeH~s
and afterwards left him and went
to Isaac Gardner, whom they conveyed
70 his home, where he lived until the
next morning, and died. During til
time between the difficulty and his death,
Isaac Gardner told to several witnesses
how the occurrence took place. Aud it
was upon this his dying declaration that
the counsel for the State chiefly relied.
Porter escaped, and remained perdu
until txo weeks after the occurrence.
when he came to his uncle and asked to
be brought TO Ora~ngeburg, where he
gave himself up and was committed to
Jail, as the readers Of the Ecws are in
Eormed.s
The testimony on the part of the
State being concluded, Augustus b.
knowlton Esq, opened the defence, in n
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 at tia 4ime un
able to 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 ~pusheG-over the
mill into tho miII-stream, when he would
certainly have been killed; that he cut
Gardner to save his own life, which was
assailed and in imminent danger. Also,
the defence intro, uced evidence to prove
threats on the part OF Gardner against
Porter.
The elicitation of the testimony &C.
cupied the whole Of Friday, during the
Un
whole Of which day, the Courthouse
was crowded. aud the deepest interest
wal manifested. At about 6 o'clock p.
NJ. the Court adjourned until nine