The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1881-02-16
The Satterwhite and Workman Case.


The most i'm mportant case tried during
the Sessions Court last week was that
OF Jno. P. Satterwhite, white, and Isom
Workman, colored, for malicious burn
ing. The accused were defended by
Mr.. Schumpert and Mr.. Culbreath, and
the Solicitor was assisted by Mr.. Pope
and Mr.. Geo. Johnstone. The offense
for which the defendants were tried is
made felony by Statute. and the de-
PENDANTS claimed that they were enti-
tied to twenty challenges each; the pre-
siding Judge decided that they were en-
titled to only five each.
The testimony showed thai on the
night of the 3lst Of October. 1880. a
handsome two-storY house belonging to
Mr.. r. W. Atchison of this County was
burned down; the house had never
been occupied, and was not completed.
Mr.. Atchisen secured the services of de-
tective Henry c. Alley. of Spartanburg,
with whom he made q contract to the
| effect that the detective should have bis
| expenses paid while be should look into
the case, and after that his pay would
depenGupon whether there should be g
conviction-in the event of conviction
ne was to get a certain amount
(amount not in eVidence) otherwise he
would receive nothing. The detective
went to work. On the night of the 18th
Of NoTember a number of men arrested
/ Frank johnson and Isom Workman,
colored, and Jno: P. Satterwhite. white,
upon warrants charging them with the
burning. Frank johnson was arrested
at Mr.. r. S. Satterwhite's. The party
then went to the ''Tribble place" and
surrounded the house. Knocking at
the door they were at first refused ad-
mlttance. Some Of the party saw inside
the house MIR. and Mrs. J. P. Satter-
white and Isom Workman, and beard
lsom say to Mrs. Satterwbite.. Miss
Corrie. l know what these men have
come here for; they've come after Mas
Johnnie about burning Bob Atchison' g
house." When the door was opened
Workman called on Satterwhite to save
him. and Satterwhite charged Work
nan not to tell anything. Shortly after
being arrested and while the crowd was
in the road opposite Mr.. Frank Wheel
er'S, Frank johnson said to Isem, Didn't
you show me $3.50 that Johnnie Sat-
terwhite gave you fer burning Mr.. At
chiSon's house?" Isom then made q
full confession to the effect that J. P.
Satterwhite and himself went on the
night of the burning to the house through
field; that Satterwhite stood in the
road opposite the house while he went
round and stuck match among the
shavings; that Satterwhite paid him
go for the job. He told what routes
they had travelled and his statement
corresponded with the tracks that had
been previously discovered. None O!
the witnesses could testify positively
that Satterwhite heard the confession,
but several testified that he was near
enough to hear. One witness, PickenS
James, colored, swore that in August
1880, Jno. P. Satterwhite returned
home from Newberry where be haG
been to attend Court in lawsuit with
+. w. Atchison. The witness asked
him how he came out, and his reply
was. that Atchison had thrown the cost:
on him; that he (Atchison) was build
ing Il two-story house, but if he didn'
! look sharp he would never move into
it. The defendant denied this and pu
up witnesses who swore they would no
believe James on oath. A Mr.. Brit
also testified to threats made by Satter
white.
The defense attempted to prove al
alibi, anG for this purpose called Mr.
and Mrs. Frank Wheeler, the father-in
law and mother-in-law of Satterwh!te
who swore that on the night the bous'
was burned Satterwhite and Workman
stayed at their (Wheelers) house; tina
they did not leave the house that night
and could not have left without thei
knowing it. The State called witnesse
to prove that Mr.. and Mrs. Wheele
said on the night of the arrest that the,
could have been gone an hour or tw
hours without their knowledge.
Sir. Culbreath and Dir. Schumper