The Orangeburg democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1879-1881, 1879-01-17
An Exciting Murder Trial.

We clip from the News and Courier
the following report Of the case Of
the State vs.. j. Anderson Tyler, in
dicted for the murder of John W.
Davis, his father-in-law, on the 7Lh
of. September last, which was tried
last Tuesday. From the testimony
given by the States witnesses, it APP
peared that the tragedy had taken
place at point on the Nincty-Six
Road in Liberty Township, in Or
angeburg county, known as the
"Double Branches" about midday on
the 9TH of November last. The de-
ceased and young Tyler had left their
homes on the 9th of September in
comrany, and had gone to Orange
burg to sell a load of cotton. On
the day following the deceased and
Tyler left Orangeburg on their way
back home. About midday they
halted at the "Double Branches" to
feed and water their horses and re-
fresh themselves. Tyler finished cat
ing first, and Davis, who sat beside
him, had a piece of bread in one
hand and his knife in the other. A
conversation on general subjects had
been carried on in a friendly mann er
for some line, when Davis said to
Tyler: "Whcn l get home l intend
that your wife shall sign this papcr,"
referring to title TO piece Of land
to which Tyler's wife was heir, and
which Davis claimed to hold lien
upon. Tyler replied that his wife
had told him that she did not intend
TO sign the paper. Davis then grew
very angry, and said: 'sWcll, -
- her, will sue her for it," "
ler replied that he was willing to pay
for the land rather than have any
trou. 'e, bu' Davis said no, he would
not agree TO any such proposition,
and he believed that he (Tylcr) was
the whole cause of his wife's stubborn
ness, and ne intended 10 kill him.
So saying Davis sprang to his feet,
knife in hand, and made lunge at
Tyler, who as soon as lie could gaiu
his feet struck his :ssailant q blow
with his fist between the eyes which
staggarl him sufficiently to allow
him to step back few PAGES and
draw his knife. DAVIS quickly fol-
lowed him with knife raised and made
several passes ut him, cutting his
clothes in several places and wound
ing him slightly in the side. Tyler
then began to return blow for blow
and stab for stab. He first thrust his
knife to the hilt between the ribs of
Davis in two places, and then with
side slash he severed the carotid ar-
terry of his adversary. Upon receiv-
ing this wound Davis dropped his
hands and walked about twenty PAGES
and then fell dead. When the body
of the deceased was found his right
hand held an open knife firmly
clutched and in his left hand he held
memorandum book, the title deed,
concerning which the difficulty arose,
and his spectacle case. Tyler it was
shown had gone to the nearest house,
notified the people of the deed he had
committed, and given himself up to
the trial justice.
There was no living eyewitness to
the transaction other than the defend
ant himself, and consequently the de-
fence were compelled to rely upon his
testimony alone so far rs the circum-
stances of the killing we're concer ned.
The prisoner who is a fine looking
young man, gave his testimony with
perfect calmness and candor, He adj
mitted, without hesitation, that he
had killed Davis, and intended to
kill him, but claimed that he had done
so only after he was thoroughly satis-
fed that his own life was in imminent
danger. The defence supported the
testimony Of the accused by num-
Der OF witnesses, who testified that
the deceased was man Of violent
passions, easily provoked to anger,
and extremely dangerous when
aroused. Among these, strange to
say, was the widow Of the deceased,
who further testified that her husband
had frequently threatened the life of
the prisoner concerning the land in
dispute between them.