Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1879-09-11


persons unknown" become stereotyped ex-
preston. This will not do. We know Of in
qnsitions in New York which havo been held
murder, perhaps for months We think tho
only limit In timo to on inquest is the ex-
haustion Of oil reasonable means of discovery
Of the slayers Of q person. Here were oiues
which wero not properly pursued.
In speaking of the inquest VIC do not con-
demn or oven blame the jury or Trial Justice
aotng as Coroner. Ho is u man who strives
at all times to do HE whole duty and he fol-
lowed tho usual rule in suoh cases. Besides
IL is not his duty to search out testimony, but
to hear all that is offered and give proper
time TO get up any further testimony likely to
become available. In this connection he may
mako proper suggestions. We arc besides in
formed that tho acting Coroner did nsk over
md over again If any further testimony was
ready or likely re offered, and hearing no
affirmative response, the jury rendered their
verdict.
The following is the substance of the testi-
mony takcn on the inquisition:
Jesse +. Cox, being sworn, says: That on
last night Ctho 25th of August, 1870,) de-
ceased was at my house. live about fifty
yurds from deceased. About one hour in
the night he started bacl, homo. came to
tho door with him, when saw somo person
in tho road out toward tho crock. Could
not tell whether thcro was one or two or
more. oalIed his attention to it. He said
VIC would step down that way and geo who
it was. AS VIC started he said he thought
it was his mule that had gotten loose. Wo
then started together in that direction to
see if it was the mule. The object passed
out of our sight behind the Hill towards the
creek. got ahead Of him about fifteen or
twenty steps. Deceased was still coming
on. AS advanced nearer tho creek saw
Two mcn stupdipg in tho cotton. l went
towards them to see who it was. Deceased
was still coming on bchind me- Iadvanoed
to within ten steps of them and asked them
who they were They madc DO reply nt
that tine; they both presented their guns
] asked them what they meant. Asked
them the second time. Thoy asked me who
| wus. I told them who was. The larger
one Of tho two wanted to know who that
other mon was, ond poiuted in the direction
of tho deceased. Told him it was Alex.
Bryce. He then stepped to the other ono
and handed him pistol. Seemed to be a
navy size; then returned to his former posi-
ton. then asked them what was the
matter that they would not talk. just as
asked them that Alex. Bryce started towards
the house in run, when the taller one fred
his gun at the deceased, as took it, The
other one then says | will speak and speak
now, OF tho same time ne fired on deceased
aud started in pursuit Of him Hc had to
make circle to get round me aud ran up
near to deceased, think witlin six or seven
steps, and fired second time. Think he
was using double barrel shotgun. When
lie had fired the last time dcccuscd called to
me and says "Comc here Jesse {" At that
time he fell on his face aud died right away.
Both the men then turned and ran off out
of sight. saw no more of them. l don't
know that l know who they were. They
were dressed in dark clothing, with their
colts buttoned up 10 tho chin. Had on
dark hats. They had on, as think, frock
coats, and one of thcm was a rather tall maj J.
The other was low, heavy set man. Saw
their tracks. Measured the tracks. Think
| would know the same tracks again if
were to see them. The tracks came from
the direction Of Massiuh Cobb's and went
to either Of the parties.
Mrs. Rebecca j. Cox, being sworn, says
| heard the guns fire and ran 10 the door and
saw two men run off. Could not tell who
they we're
DR.. W. A. Williams, being sworn, says:
[ have examined the body of tho deceased
and find one gunshot wound on the RIGHT
side Of the spinal column, which appears to
have been made by minnie ball, ranging
upwards and to tho right, sufficient to have
caused death. Also wound on the left
arm about two and half inches long.
Gould not tell precisely how it was pro
duced. There was also one wound to the
right of the naval. Think it was caused by
q buckshot Tho wound in the back caused
the death.
Isaac Long, being sworn, says: assisted
in tracking the parties who did the shooting,
commencing 10 the field where the shooting
was done. Think followed the tracks
two and half miles. They vent out of
the field 10 the ridge, out by the left Of
Massiah Cobb's field, crossed at the lower
end Of his field, three fourths of mile from
his house. Did not track them any further
The same tracks had come and gone back
the same way. There is no public road that
way. One of them had on heel irons, also
the shoes seemed to be half soled.
Henry Smith, being sworn, Gays: I was
with lsasc Long in following the tracks.
fully concur in all that Long has said in his
evidence. The largest shoe seemed to have
some tncks on the outside Of each sole. It
was rather Il straight shoe with high heels.
STATE OF SoUTn CAROLINA,
OCoNEE COUNTY.
An iDquisitioh ordered taken in the
County of Oconee on the 26th doy of An.