Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1879-07-03


VIM. Whyte, w. M. Castles, James P. Hutch
ison, W. M. McGill, VIM. Borders, D. J. Good
John B. Lowry, l.. L. Smith, John NJ. Jack
son, T. B. Barnett, William Rawls and r. L.
Brown.
The jury then retired to their room and
elected L. L. Smith as foreman, and after re-
sumipG their seats, the indictment was read
by Ne clerk, when Mr.. Solicitor CASTOR opened
TIE case by saying
" May it please the Court: 1t is customary in
cases of this magnitude to outline to the jury
the proof by which the State expects to estab;
lish the allegations of the Indictment | will
briefly comply with this custom. The State
expects to prove that on the second day OF
June, 1879, the deceased, having been absent
for several days from his home in Rock Hill,
returned there that lie took seat in front
of store in that town, at place which he
was accustomed to OCCUPY when at leisure
that he sat with his dhair thrown back and
his leg elevated in an Attitude of repOse; ahd
that while the deceased sat quietly in this po-
sition, with his head turned away, the prison.
er came to the door of his own-an adjoining
store-a and extending his body forward, with
pistol in his left hand, shot the deceased, in.
ficting a mortal wound, Of which he almost
instantly died. We expect to prove further
that the prisoner, before this occurrence, had
stated that he would shoot the deceased.
TESTIMONY FOR THE STATE.
| The State then introduced it's testimony for
the prosecution.
Fl. P. HAsLAM, sworn. Was in Rock Hill
on the End day Of june Knew Churchill l..
Williford he is dead. He died from an in
| jury received at Rock Hill, in this county; on
the End day Of Jhne. I was standing near
Hagans' store, on the street Railroad street
near where the Shooting occurred The street
runs parallel with the railroad 'on the west
side. I was standing on the east side OF the
street, in front bf Hagans' store, leaning
against sign post. Churchill L. Williford
was sitting in front of Howe's bar-room, about
forty feet from where was standing. had
clear view of him there were no obstrucf
ltions between u.s. ,IWhen first saw the pri9'
oner, he was standing in his own store doof,
about twenty feet from where the deceas9d
was sitting. Howe's store adjoins the prlsoh-
er's store The deceased was leaning baek
against the building, his feet crossed, and fhe
was on the side Of the door farthest fIbm
where the prisoner wass standing. The deceased
was sitting talking to- the bartender, hislat-
tention directed into HoWe's house. baW
the prisoner come to his door, and as soQh as
ne came to the door, he fired at deceased. As
soon as Williford was shot, he exclaimedb "O
my God I" and ian or reeled into Howe's bar
room. CASTOR remained in his door second
or 80 after shooting After the shooting, I
jumped into the street and CASTOR went into
his store, and + went to the store where | am
engaged. CASTOR shot with a pistol, held in
his left hand ha We known CASTOR two years,
but do not know whether or not he is left
handed.
Cross-eranined by Mr.. Wyzie.-I am ma
tive of New Jersey. was in the United
States Army, and was discharged on the 9Th
of January, 1876 My employment ct the time
Of the shooting was that of a baker. The
sign post against which was leaning stands
on the outer edge of the guttering Of the street.
Deceased was sitting on the sopth side OF
Howe's bar-room door, Occupying|a common
split-bottom chair, + think, but am not posi-
tive. The face of deceased was Turned to the
east, his face partlyin the direction OF Cas-
toms store He could have seen CASTOR it his
eye bad been turned in the direction OF his
door. DSThe chair in which Willhord was Sit
ting Was leaning against the hSuse-Howe's
bar-room. I cannot hay whether or not both
posts were against the building. Williford's
body was turned in the chair, facing. the build
ing. The chair was overturned overturned
toward the front. saw part Of Caston's
BODY. Was prevented from seeing all his body
by an obstruction between two stores-a tin
guttering enclosed in wood, six inches from
the building This ghttering prevented me
IN sfSnS bs sotr 5ns WHEN wn0 S FL fired with
his left hand. He was standi1slon the step of
his door. The lower step projects a little in
front of the building. The step is the same
height as the pavement even with the surface
Of pavement. From the sign-p0st the distance
to the line of buildings is seven Or eight feet,
on the same side of the street. The next
building north is Howe's; he;next is Caston's,
all in same block. I was about sixty feet dis
tant from the scene Of the firing.
Redirect.-Mr. Williford was talking to some
person in Howe's store. His face was looking
into the store-the side Of his face next to
Caston's, and the front towards Howe's store.
| Prisoner was on his own step when he fired.
There is no lower graded step than the floor;
no difference in the grade between the step
and the floor Of the building.
10 Mr.. Wylie, By permission Of Solicitor
Cannot say how long Williford had been sit
ting there. stated othe coroner that went
down street on business | saw him sitting
there two or three minutes.
| To the Solicitor.-The question proposed to
be put to the witness was the introduction OF
new matter, which was objected to by the
defence and objection sustained by the court.
Witness was then withdrawn
| CHARLES PATTON, sworn. was in ROCK
Hill on The End Of JJune,1 and saw the occur
renee. At the time, was workingacross the
street, in the depot she'd about eighty feet
distant There was no obstruction between
me and the place where the shooting occurred.
I was working across the street, dressing a
plank. and as turned in that direction, du-
ring nv work, saw CASTOR step to the door
and shoot at Williford with pistol. AS Cas-
ton shot, Williford was leaning against the
wall, sitting in chain llWhen shot, Williford
raised from the chair ana reeled into the door.
As he went into the door, CASTOR cooked his
pistol. 1 saw him take it down, and think
| he cooked it from the factstha he raised it, as
| if to shoot again. When he fired, hi, was lean
ing forward out of the door, standing on the
door-sill. After firing, he made second at
tempt to shoot, and then turned and went In
to his store. Williford was in my view. There
was no obstruction. ! Williford had no weapon
drawn or exposed. Willifords head was turn.
ed towards Howe's door, in the direction OF
Caston's house. Caston's door was to Will
ford's right. Williford could not see Caston's
door on account of an obstruction.
Cross-eranined bq III. -Kylie.-I was work
ind im Rock Hill and resided there at the time.
NV parents live in Charlotte I am nineteen
wears of age. had been living in Rock Hill
for one week prior to the End of june. | left
Rock Hill on the Wednesday night following
the shooting on Monday returned to Rock
Hill last Friday, because was summoned to
attend here as a Witness was summoned In
Roach's store on the day after the occurrence,
and gave bond for my appearance here. MY
boss turned me off because l went to picnic
without his consent. The picnic or excursion
was by the Pioneer Fire Company from Char
lotte to Winnsboro. / went down, and re-
turned on thss evening, and continued on
to Charlotte. TThe reason why l returned to
Rock Hill, Friday, was because was summon
| od to no hare m the fOurth Monday and