Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-09-20

! Don't know why Joe didn't come in day
light. He didn't want my people to know
of the engagement, but didn't give any rea-
son why he wanted it kepta secret, said he
would ask them before he married me. In
one of the letters witness had promised to
marry Sitton if he would "settle down."
In reply to the question, what she meant by
"settle down." she said hedrank sometimes.
On being asked if that was the reason why
her family objected to Sitton, witness said:
My family knew nothing of it. Sitton
made improper proposals to ME before the
Wednesday night he had his will of me.
thought he loved me; loved him. He
is the same man of whom | said to my
brother: don't care what you do with
him. | last had conversation with him on
Wednesday night. / saw him at church on
Sunday. I still have the college society
badge which Mr.. Sitton gave me. | don't
know that brother David knew Joe visited
my window or that Annie knew it. An
ME and | were very intimate, as much soas
if we were sisters.
| Redirect was sworn and examined at
the coroner's inquest. They had my an
swer put down wrong. I said: 1t is true.
They had it !: 1t is not true. / took the pa
per and changed it myself. My father and
mother knew that Joe drank. On that
Wednesday night he told me he was going
|
back. Joseph Sitton gave me ring l
have it at home. | wore it to church day
or two after his death.
| CLOSING SCENES OF THE TRIAL.
The Journal Observer gives the following
graphic account of the closing scenes of the
trial:
Judge Gilmer's charge was concluded at
about 800 o'clock and the jury Immediately
retired to their room in the Central Hotel for
deliberation. While they were out, most
of the crowd remained in the court house,
and groups stood around on the streets in
dulging in speculations as to the result
There seemed to be a feeling that the YER
dict would be guilty. And so it was. At
twenty-five minutes to five, the jury under
charge of Col. VIM. Alexander, filed into
the court room, which was instantly filled
with a rush of eager, excited people. There
ing the arrival of jailOr Griffith with the
prisoner. Mr.. A. c. Shields, father of the
prisoner was seated in a chair at table in
side the bar beside Mr.. j. II. Wilson. His
expression was sad one and he kept his
head bowed. He appeared like a man
whose breast was filled with grief at the
consciousness Of some great impending
blow. When the jailor arrived with his
son, the old man rose from his chair to allow
his son to get behind the table in seat
behind him. Neither of them spoke, but
in moment the son was seen to whisper
something in his fathers ear. The prisoner
gazed around at the faces in the court room
in mechanical manner. He recognized
none of the glances directed at him, and
one could see that he was laboring hard to
suppress his emotions.
GUILTY!
The roll of the jury being called and all
answering to their names. they were re-
quested to rise and give their verdict. The
prisoner also rose to his feet and faced
the jury as the foreman pronounced the YER
dict, in low, but decided tone of voice,
"Guilty." The jury was then polled and
each juryman answering to his name re-
piled, "guilty." AS the verdict was pro-
nounced, deep silence prevailed in the
court room. Not muscle of the prisoners
face changed as he heard the verdict pro-
nounced, and took his seat.
TIE SENTENCE OF DEATH.
All eyes in the court room were strained
to get look at the prisoner as he rose from
his seat to receive his death sentence. His
father sat with bowed head, but in his eX-
preston silent grief was portrayed. Thorn
as Shields calmly eyed the Judge and famed
himself vigorously with a palm leaf fan.
During the time occupied by the lawyers
in discussing the exceptions to the evidence,
Mr.. Shields occupied himself in reading a
COPY of Thursday mornings Journal o.
seJceJ, evidently much interested in the
published accounts of the previous days
trial. He appeared to be perfectly calm,
and when he rose to face Judge Gilmer he
stood thoroughly self-possessed. In an
swer to the usual question if he had any
thing to say as to why the sentence of the
law should not be pronounced, Mr.. Shields
replied in a low tone of voice that he had
nothing more to say at present. Judge
Gilmer then addressed himself to the pris-
cner. He (the Judge) knew nothing of this
case when he came to Charlotte, had heard
neither one side nor the other, and did not
even know that he would have to try it. He
| was therefore able to hear it from an unpre-
iudiced standpoint, and to give the prisoner
the benefit of Il fair, unbiased and impair
tial hearing. AS the trial had proceeded
he had been more and more impressed with
his guilt, and had probably for that cause
let all his actions and rulings lean in favor
of the prisoner, for fear that he might let
his opinion lead him out Of the way. He
cautioned the prisoner not to let his hopes
rely on receiving a pardon, for if the facts
of this case, as produced at the trial, are
laid before the Governor, they will forever
seal the executives lips against granting
The pardon, and there were no grounds for
The prisoner to build his hopes upon in this
direction. Judge Gilmer then moralized
10 the prisoner in the most solemn manner,
and said that 81 am able, and thank God
that l am, to tell you that there is throne
where grace and pardon can be procured"
and directed the prisoner to look for mercy
to the great Judge of all. The evening had
grown apace, and the red September sun
| ;,,l, 10 roI
through the windows, lighting up the hush
ed room with Il softened glare which SEEM
ed to add to the solemnity Of the scene, as
| Judge Gilmer, leaning back in his chair,
| slowly articulated the words that sealed the
prisoners doom. Thomas Shields leaned
Slightly forward on the table as Judge Gill
mer spoke the sentence, that the prisoner
be ''remanded to Jail from whence he came
and there be securely confined until Friday,
October 18th, on which day, between the
hours of ten o'clock in the forenoon and
four o'clock in the afternoon, he shall be
taken by the sheriff to the place Of COM
mon execution and there be hanged by the
neck until he is dead. And may God have
mercy on his SOUL" Judge Gilmer appear
ed deeply impressed as he spoke the words
and his voice was low, but distinct. Thom-
as Shields twitched about the mouth as he
| resumed his seat, but this was all. He ap-
peared to have screwed up his courage to
resist the ordeal and those who expected to
see him break down or show any signs of
emotion, were disappointed. The prisoner
remained in the court house for sometime
after the crowd had left, when he told his
father goodbye and accompanied the officer
| to the jail.
| AN APPEAL TAKEN.
After Judge Gilmer had passed the death
sentence upon the prisoner, his counsel en-