Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-06-21
ESCAPED TIE Lie
Which He Ought 10 Hove
Adorned in n Summary Way.


BARNwELL, s. c., June 15.-One
of the most sensational cases kno Wn
in the criminal records Of this section
Of South Carolina was ended here in
the superior court at a late hour last
night. w. H. Priestor, a married
man about twenty-five years old, muir
deredhis own father, Captain Priestor,
an elderly man, near here about six
weeks ago. The accused for several
months prior to the tragedy had lived
unhappily with his wife, for no cause
in the world, it seems, except some
morbid eccentrioities upon the part Of
young Priestor. He had several times
threatened to leave home. Hisfriends,
however, prevailed upon him to give
up all such ideas. The young couple
lived in the house of the husbands
father, who was very kind to them
The old man had frequently ~upbraided
his son for cruel treatment to his wife.
On the morning Of the parricide old
man Priestor, his son, and the latter's
wife were in the breakfast room.
Everything was unusually harmonious
between the husband and wife. They
talked about their domestic affairs,
and the old man frequently joined in
the conversation. No one for a mo-
ment dreamed of the terrible tragedy
that was 50 soon to break upon the
little circle. Young Priestor, without
aword Of warning, passed out of the
dining room into his own chamber,
where he obtained his double harreled
shotgun and returned to the breakfast
table. AS he approached his father
he warned him that
HE WAS GOING TO KILL HIN.
The deceased appreciated his dan
ger and jumped up to close in with
his son. A desperate fight ensued for
the possession Of the gun, the old man
fighting like . mailman to disarm his
son without doing him any injury.
The young man was strong and far the
more powerful of the two. The strug-
gle resulted in young Priestor throw
ing his father from him. As soon as
he was disengaged the murderer aimed
his weapon and fred a load Of buck
shot into the stomach of his father,
who fell back upon the floor. Before
medical assistance could be obtained,
the wounded man died. but not before
he had implored those around him to
pursue the murderer. With his dying
breath the old nan heaped maledic.
tions upon the head Of his boy, time
aud again expressing the hope that be
might be hanged for his unnatural
crime, and directing his other son,
who was near him in his dying mo-
ments, to spare no means to secure
che arrest and punishment of the
parracide. The old man lived only a
few hours. Priestor fed from the
country aud no news of his where
abouts was obtained until about a
month ago, when he was arrested in
Greenville. The accused was discov-
cred by an acquaintance. who recog-
nized him just as he was in the act of
stepping into a street car. lie was at
one committed TO jail. As soon as
she heard Of his arrest,
TUE DEVOTED WIFE
Of the accused visited the jail aud did
all she could To cheer and comfort her
husband. During all the trying hours
since his apprehension this woman has
given every moment of her time 70
PrieRtor; sharing his prison eel with
Rim and carrying little d~elicaoies 70
tempt his appetite. Mrs. Priestor ad-
mitted that her husband was guilty Of
the crime charged against him, but
claimed that he did it in a moment Of
temporary insanity. The accused
made a similar admission. When the
case was called last week Mrs. Priest.
or visited the judge and stated that
her husband was unable to employ
counsel to defend him; that his rela,
tives, who we're wealthy, were
using their abundant means in prose.
cutting him. Upon these representation
the court appointed counsel fol-
the prisoner. The case was postponed
At that term until yesterday, when il
was taken up. Priestor appeared il
court accompanied by his wife. He
was very nervous during the examina.
ton of witnesses and the other pro.
ceedings in the trial. Mrs. Priestor
occupied a seat beside him, and dur.
ing the trying ordeal every now and
then whispered words of comfort and
cheer. After having the case under
consideration for an hour or more the
jury brought in
A VERDICT OF "NoTGUILTY."
As soon as this finding was announced
Mrs. Priestor, who had borue up SC
we'll during the long weeks of sus.
pense, swooned, and would have fallen
to tie floor but for the support given
her by her husband and others who
stood near. The necessary form was
recorded BY the clerk and Priestor wal
discharged. The wife and husband
got into q carriage at the door Of the
court house and were driven to the
home Of a friend in the village.
LEDGER Bindery, 10 Madisoa.