Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1879-07-03
Gpnrt Ut Sessinus.
TRIAL
JAMES p. CASTON
FOR THE MURDER OF
CHURCHILL L. WILLIF0RD.
n the Court of General Sessions, jane Term, 1879

CHURCHILL L. WILLIF0RD.
In the Courtof General Sessions, June Term, 1879
BY OUR OWN REPORTER.
No trial in the sessions court of York coun
ty. for many years past if ever, has created
such general public interest as the case Of tht
State vs.. James P. CASTOR, indicted for tht
murder of Churchill L. Williford, in Rocl
Hill, on the End day of last month. On the
morning of that day, the deceased, young
man who had barely attained his majority-ot
respectable family, of gay and lively tempera
ment, frank and open hearted but of combat
i've temperament, perhaps, when under the
Vile in the exuberance Of youthful health and
the bright anticipations of a new life, which
he expressed to his companion on the road, as
his determination tolead, and ere the noon
day sun had cipssefthe meridian the start
ling intelligenceAp was conveyed here by tele'
graph that he was, dead-the victim Of a pis-
tol in the hands of James 2. CASTOR, likewise
young man, but eittle thes senior of his vic
tina man Of remarkably qpiet, peaceable dis.
position-a merchant, a consistent member OF
Christian denomi4 nation, and whose general
department had eve1 been regarded as model
for even those of mAturer years. The slayer
was committed to thb Jail df York county on
the afternoon of the occurrence, and on the
following day the mortal remains of his victim
were consigned to the earth.
At that time it was difficult to obtain all
the facts which led to 1.-THE unfortunate occur
renee; g; nor, indeed, dih we deem it prudent,
in view of the early approaching term Of the
court, to publish any df the many versions OF
the affair, preferring I'd await the legal inves.
tigation and lay befOreI the public the facts as
elicited in the court ofIjustice.
On Monday afternoon Of last week the pris-
oner was arraigned bef9re Judge Thomson,
and entered his plea of nbt guilty, the State
being represented by Mr.. jSoicitor CASTOR, as
sisted by Giles j. Patterson, ESQ.,, Of the Ches-
ter bar, and Messrs Wilson & Wilson, of the
Yorkville bar. The pri$oner was represented
by an array of equally eminent counsel, con-
sisting of Messrs. With$rspoon Il Spencer, j.
of the Yorkville bar, h4d J. D. Wylie, ESQ.,, of
the Lancaster bar.
After the arraignment and pleading, al
though the prisoner Fas entitled by the prac-
tice in this State, to three days. notice from
the date of the bill df Indictment, which was
returned in court on Monday, yet his counsel
waived the right, and by consent, the trial was
set for Wednesday mbrning at 10 O'Clock.
The courtroom wk filled with eager specta-
tors long before the hour appointed, and so
oppressive was the heat in the overcrowded
room, that the sheriff found it necessary to
send for carpenter to remove the entire sash
from the windows in order to admit proper
ventilation.
At 10 O'Clock, the prisoner, cleanly shaven
and neatly and faultlessly attired in suit OF
near his counseLj
The regular panel, consisting Of thirty-six
names, was as follows VIM. Whyte, w. n.
Jackson, W. w. Castles, j. P. Hutchison, 81.
G. Strauss, w. s. Creighton, Frank Edwards,
w. M. McGill, VIM. Borders, j. A. Carroll,
D. j. Goode, VIM. Choate, G. r. Boleyn, John
Rattaree, w. J. Martin, John B. Lowry, JEFF
ferson Ellis, J. Frank Workman, L. R. Will
liams, J. c. McCully, Greene Bratton, T.. S
Jefferys, Samuel Brown, j. II. Crawford, A.
j. Davinney, Joseph Black, L. r. Pierce, l..
L. Smith, Oscar Chambers, Allen Hall, S. N
Love, W. H. Herndon, Iredell Jones, Thomas
R. Martin. John NJ. Jackson, S. J. Kimbrell.
Mr.. Workman, of the original panel, was ex-
cused on account of sickness, and L. r. Will
liams, who was among those summoned by
special uenire on the previous day, to complete
the panel, was excused on account OF the Of
| flee he holds as school-trustee. I Counsel for
defence pressed their right for full panel,
and, accordingly, his Honor granted an order
for special centre of two jurors to supply the
vacancies. Under supervision Of Jury Com
missioner D. c. Mckinney, the names Of John
G.. Ferguson and George A. Wilkerson were
drawn. Mr.. Ferguson resides in Yorkvllle,
but Mr.. Wilkerson lives in the country,
two miles from the court house. He was at
his home, and over an hour interviewed before
he could be summoned and make his appear
ance in the courtroom. Arriving, and the
panel being complete, the drawing of the
jury was proceeded with, after the request by
1. D. Witherspoon, Esq, Of counsel for defence,
that each juror be put upon his uoir dare NO
objection being made by States counsel, his
Honor so ordered.
The names of the jurors were drawn in the
following order, and the panel exhausted De'
fore the tenth Juror was obtained, the State
having the right to two peremptory chal'
lenges VIM. Whyte, accepted w. N. Jack
son, rejected; w. W. Castles, accepted John
G. Ferguson, rejected on his voir DIRE Il. e.
Strauss, same; James P. Hutchison, accept:
ed w. S. Creighton, peremptorily challenged
by the State; Franklin Edwards rejected
George A. Wilkerson, rejected; w. NJ. NC
Gill, accepted VIM. Borders, accepted ). A.
Carroll, rejected on his u0ir dire; d. ). Goode
accented VIM. Choats, rejected G. R. Bo
leyn, rejected John Rattaree, answered that
he is relative of deceased; w. j. Martin, re-
iected; John B. Lowry, accepted; Jefferson
Ellis, rejected; j. G. McCully, rejected
Greene Bratton, rejected T. S. Jefferys, re-
jected on his roir dire; A. J. Davlnney, re
jected; Joseph Black, rejected L. r. Pierce
rejected on his uoir dire; L. L. Smith, accept
ed; Oscar Chambers, rejected Allen Hall, re-
jected; S. M. Love, rejected on his corr dsre
W. H. Herndon, same; Ireden Jones, same
Thomas Martin, rejected; John M. jackson
accepted S. J. Kimbrel, peremptorlly chal
lenged by the State.
This exhausted the panel, leaving three ju
rors vet to be drawn. On motion OF Sohcltol
CASTOR, his Honor granted an order tor ST spe
cial venire Of twelve to be drawn Immediately
from the Jury box, which was done as follows
W. G. Latimer, j. B. Thomasson, VIM. Rawls
J, B. Scott. w. R. Bell, T. B. Barnett, A. +
Mcconnell, Solomon Harshaw, j. G. Kuyken
dal. T. M. Dobson, J. R. Witherspoon, Nelson
Davies
After the names were drawn and the ren1r
issued. court adjourned until O'Clock, 2. M
the Jurors qualified to serve in the case being
placed under charge of constable, and ad
monished to have no communication with any
person on the subject of the trial now pro
! crossing.
Court convened promptly at o'clock P. M:
and all of the special renire answered TO thell
names except VIM. Rawls, Solomon HarshaV
and Nelson Davies, Of whom the latter coult
not be found. From this list only one Juro,l
was obtained, the names being drawn witt
the following result: J. B: Thomasson, ex
cused on his voir dire; ]. G. Kuykendal, same
Joseph r. Witherspoon, same; W. Z. Latl
mer, rejected; J. B. Scott, excused on hi
roir dire; T. M. Dobson, same; w. R: Bell
rejected; T. B. Barnett, accepted; A. F. NC
COnnell. excused on his rOir dire.
This exhausted the list, and renire wa'
ordered for twenty jurors, who were drawn
from the box as follows: Hamilton Thomas
sou, r. Frank Clark L. B. Sherer, VIM. NJ