Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1879-04-03
CIRCUIT COURT.

CIRCUIT COURT.
" Our report, last week, of the Court OF Ses-
sions, closed with the proceedings of Tuesday.
State rs. Squier Thompson, colored larceny
of COWS from Mrs. Smith, of Broad river.
MIR. McCaw counsel for defence. Verdict,
guilty. .-...
State U.s. James Neal, white; assault and
battery with intent to kill. Prosecutor, VIM.
G. Durant. Verdict, guilty, with recommen-
dation for mercy Of the Court.
State us. Charles Davis, colored; burglary.
Prosecutor, H. z. johnson. Messrs. Bell and
J. C. Witherspoon counsel for defence. Yer
dict, guilty.
State Us. Salina Edwards, colored stealing
corn from the field. Prosecutor, John Stacy.
Mr.. Bell counsel for defence. Verdict, not
guilty.
State Us. Thomas Ditcher, colored; robbery.
Prosecutor, VIM. Robinson, colored. Mr.. G..
w. S. Hart counsel for defence. Verdict,
guilty. ....
Thursday was occupied with the trial Of
Henry Bruner, indicted for the murder of Pc
ter NJ. Murray, in Rock Hill on the oath day
Of last September.
On the arraignment of the accused, and his
pleading not guilty, the following jury was
sworn, the names being drawn from the regu-
larpanel w. H. Carroll, foreman; G. j. Steele,
w. D. CASTOR, E. H. Bridges, John D. Corn
well, Joseph A. Smith, John B. Mintz, VIM. s.
Moore, w. F. Boyd, M. R. Nichols, S. ?.
Blankenship, Jonathan Moore, all white.
Mr.. Solicitor CASTOR appeared for the State,
and the defence was conducted by j. D. Wyle,
Esq, of Lancaster, and Messrs. Wilson &
Wilson, Hart & Hart and J. P. Gage, of the
Yorkvilla~bar. ...} ...' - l-...'
Briehy 1.-THE history Of the case is as follows:
On the 24th of last September, an alteration
occurred on the streets of Rock Hill between
Peter NJ. and Lewis C. Murray on the one
side, and Henry Bruner on the other, during
which Peter M. Murray received three pistol
wounds, one Of them causing death, (the other
two not being pronounced Of a fatal charac-
teri and for inflicting the mortal wound
in the abdomen, from the effects OF which
Peter NJ. Murray died about twenty-six hours
after receiving it, Henry Bruner was put
upon his trial. All the parties to the unfor-
tunate affair were citizens of North Carolina !;
and notable circumstance in connection with
it is the fact that the Murray brothers and
Henry Bruner had never met until within less
than an hour Of the firing Of the shot that
terminated the life of one of them; nor is it
probable that Bruner ascertained the names
of his assailants until after the conclusion Of
the rencontre. .r.,p -. ,.r..... IN ~
Four witnesses were introduced for the
State, and seven for the defence. Although
q our reporter took the testimony in full yet as
it is quite voluminons and with but certain
exceptions, noted in tbaeharge Of the Judge to
the jury, all tends tg the same conclusion, we
deem,it necessary II publish only the facts as
elected by the Examination of the various
witnesses. ,,...., .>.. srn.sia,.s, yaI !
:, The Murray brothers were contractors for
the erection of number Of buildings in Rock
Hill, and on the day the homicide was commit
ted, Henry Bruner, acarpenter by trade, arrived
in Rock Hill, a stranger: in the town, having
been solicited by Mr.! A. D. Holler,a contrac-
tor. to come there and enter in his employ
ment. Soon after his arrival, and while walk
ing on, the street, Mr.. Bruner espied an &C
O. F. Goodwyn-and another
man-P. NJ. Murray-whom he did not know,
in conversation near Mr.. Goodwyn's buggy,
Mr.. G.. being in the act Of starting to his
home some distance from the town. Mr.. Bru-
ner approached them, addressing Mr. Good.
WIN. and in the course Of their conversation
Goodwin to see, Mr.. Holler and
say to him that he, Bruner, had arrived, and
would be ready to commence working for him
next morning. Goodwin pointed to Hloller,
who was working on a house not far distant,
and replied to Bruner- -"There is Holler; 60
tell him yourself" Bruner then went away,
but soon afterwards returned to where Mr.:
Goodwin and P. M. Murray were yet standing
in conversation relative to q steam engine.
on Bruner's. near approach to
them, P. NJ. Murray seized him by the collar
and asked him what he meant by coming up
there Bruner apologized, remarking that ne
only desired to speak to Mr.. Goodwin, and
that his words were addressed only to, him.
Bruner then turned to leave, after being Or
dered from their presence by Murray, Murray
at the same time exclaiming-''It is good
thing for you that you were addressing Good
wyn." Bruner replied, as Mr.. Goodwyn's tes-
timony represents it, "And perhaps well on
your part" Bruner continued walking away
from P. NJ. Murray, but had not proceeded far
until he was intercepted by Lewis G. Murray,
who came up, meeting him from the opposite
side of the street, and accosted him by saying
that he was not satisfied with the apology that
he, Bruner, had made to his brother. ,...,
According to the preponderance of the tes-
timony, Bruner attempted to avoid further
and simply replied: 81 have already
made one apology, and have nothing further
to say to you.' L. C. Murray, with stick
IN his left hand and his right hand in his pants
pocket, followed Bruner as he proceeded on
his way, and oyertaking him, struck him
severe blow on the back Of his head. Bruner
then turned and fired his pistol at L. G. Muir
ray, but without effect, L. G. Murray imme-