Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1880-03-04


who wanted witness to help them get tho land
back. Said If witness would help thought they
could got 1t baok. .Americus said Bryce claimed
| 70 hayo paid out nonoy for tho Moorcs, md
| Americus SAID he had found ou, Bryce Ind never
paid anything for them. Thought hc ought not
| to DO cut out Of his land. Said he was going to
have his land back on good or bad terms. Said
Bryoo was too smart to law with and ho would
have his lind If hc had him to kill. Also talked
with Jerry Moore. IIe took witness aside and
said, Ike, want you to take sides with the boys
and have our land back. Said Dryco had pnid
nothing for them. Ito then said IL hc would 20
with tho boys they would go to Bryce's at any
timo. Said this was q good timo. Cobb and
Bryce were at outs and if they should 60 then
and do the work no ono would know it and it
would bo laid on the Cobbs This was about
two weeks before Bryce wss killed. Saw Jerry
no moro. Got word from Americus on Saturday
ovoning, August 23d. Witness saw him Sunday
morning at John Chapman's, some six miles
from river. Heard n gun fire Saturday night at
Chapman's Next morning went to Chapmans
and found Amcricus, Riley and Aiken there.
Said they wanted TO SEQ witness. Witness did
not talk with them, but went of. Next saw
them in jail ut Walhalla. Talked with them;
talked with Aiken alono. Said how was his caso
going TO 60? Witness said can't toll. Aiken
said am rs innocent Of killing Bryce as God in
heaven. OF course l was on this side Of The
river lIo said lie stopped about tho Round
Mountain. Witness said he saw the tracks, but
did not think he saw the track of Aiken. Ame-
ricus had shotgun, Aiken rifle and Riley
pistol when hc saw them at Chapman's.
Cross cxamincd--Jcrry Moore indicted witness
for stealing bee gum. Witness was nn cy
dcncc afterwards against The Moorcs in an in
dctmcnt for selling whskcy. Afterwards had
n regular battle and cut two of the defendants.
Refused to answer whether ho had bccn con
victcd Of firing NToorc's house and shooting
jerry Moore by tho light Of tho fire, His Honor
ruling tho witness could not be compelled TO
answer Witness did not remember whether
witnesses at Grccnvillc sworc they would not
believe him on oath. Witness has never said
that he intended TO have the Moorcs put in the
pcnitcnliary or hung.
Martin Hamcy sworn-Liyo in Rnbun county,
Ga. Was not here last court. Never heard
jerry Moore say anything about killing Bryce.
Aiken once talked with witness about two years
ngo about going with him TO Brycc's aud help
kill Bryce. This was at Jerry Moorc's house,
Saw mono Of the Moorcs for two or three weeks
before Bryce was killed. Don't know where
they were ut the time of killing.
Cross cxamincd-Thc Moorcs lived in Georgia
at the time he talked with Aiken. Can't tell all
the conversation nor what led 10 ii. lie did not
offer TO hire witnesses.
Joseph II. Kelley sworn--Livc five miles from
Walhalla Saw Aiken Moore nt witness house
ten days before the killing. Game and went by
witness house. Said he was coming 10 SEQ
about their land. Said if they could not get
their land back il should not profit Bryce any
was prescn. at contract With bryce about the
land. Bryce was 10 have The land if he
had TO pay The bond Of two hundred dol,
lars, and if moi lie was to have The land
back, Witness went with Jerry Moore
to sec Bryce about the land. Bryce refused
to give it back. Said he had paid some on
it. They parted friendly. Aiken made no
threats as he returned.
Harry Bisby sworn Lived on tho Moore
land in 1878. Saw .ho three boys there
several timca Came to witness house.
They said they would have it back or kill
Alex. Bryce. This was Aikcn aud Riley
Mover heard Amcricus say any thing.
Cross -cxamincd--W not witness at
last term orCourt. Told Alex Bry . and also
his two brothers. Told it bcforo and since
the killing Witness has been in pcntcnti-
ury. Sent there for ten years. Stayed thrco
years. Was sent for arson. Raipcd in Ab-
bcvlle. Moved here after he got ont Of the
pcnitcntinry.
Francis Bigby sworn Lived in 1873 at
Brycc's place. Saw all four prisoners there
Heard Riley and Aiken say they would have
their land bnck or Kill Bryce. Never stayed
all night. Game six or seven times.
Cross -cxamincd-Wns in pcnitcntiary with
husband. Put in for ton years, for arson
Told Alex. Bryce Of their threats. Said he
was not afraid Of them. Told jim Kcilh's
folks. Never told any one till after Bry &C
was killed. Told Mary Keith a day or two
nftcr ho was killed or soon after. Was not
a witness last Court.
Sarah Bigby sworn-Lived on Brycc's
place with father. Snw all the Moorcs
several times. They were there every week
or 80.
Cross -cxamincd-Was n littlc girl whom
Harry Bigby was sent 10 pcDitcniary. Never
told any one.
John Chapman sworn--Lyes in Rabun
County, Ga. Remember three Moore boys.
Stayed ut witness house on Saturday night,
the 23d Of August Riley stayed Sunday
night. Seemed to be on visit. Amcricus
and wife came about midnight After supper