Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1884-11-06

Charlotte road, where took down the road
by O'Farrell's house and went around to
Lowry's. did not stop to see my mother
| was afraid to go by there, supposing some
of the posse would be watching there for me.
1 passed within $50 or 300 yards of the
at the house. I then left the direct road
and went through the woods and fields and
struck the Charlotte road near Hobbs field.
/ then went down path across the road.
Did not see any one after being fired at be-
fore l got to the Charlotte road. did
nothing on the road except to cut switch
with which to whip up my horse. Gut the
switch on the side Of the path. DO not
know how long carried the switch. ! re-
mained at Lowry's house a half or three
quarters of an hour-a half hour at least.
My purpose in going there was to leave a
message for my mother; also in regard to
some lumber had contracted with him for,
and in reference to the fodder and hay on
the place. While there I also saw my Sis
ter, who. remained on the piazza. When
I left Lowry's, l went north-by blind
road leading into the Lnconton road near
the tWO-mile post.
Question 6y Mr.. Hart. Do you remem-
ber anything about burning Sheriff Glenn's
barn?
I do not remember anything about the
barn. I was not west of the LincOlntOn
road that night. The nearest point was
to the barn was when I was at Woods field,
three miles from it. I do not know the
distance from Lowry's to where i! crossed
the Charlotte road one and q half miles from
town. After l struck the Lincolnton road
I kept on, riding slowly, and part of the
time asleep. I met two men and being sat
isfed what their business was, rode by
them, and was fired on. Glenn said, "StOp"
but rode by. I did not attempt to fire
pistol that night. wore the shoes shown
here on this trial had worn them three or
four weeks. 1 put the patch on the heel
myself. T had pistols, also matches in my
pocket when arrested, and did not attempt
to throw either away. 1t is habitual GUS
tom with me to carry matches all the time:
At the time of my arrest l did not know OF
the burning of the barn. The first heard
of it was when we arrived at Mrs. Metts'
place. Willie Glenn met us there and told
| it. did not then throw away the match
es in nv pocket, which I could easily have
done, having no idea that would be charg-
ed with the crime. (Stick shown.)- had
this stick when arrested, and have had 1t
ever since. After being put in Jail, Sheriff
Glenn called for my shoes. [ made no OBJ
lection. The shoes were not returned to
me. They did not make track on Sheriff
Glenn's premises on the night of the 3rd OF
September If track of these shoes was
made there, it was made by some one else
the next morning. / had them on my feet
all the night before, the most Of the time
on horseback. l was put in the dungeon
with Walker and kept there thirty days.
Walker remained in the dungeon twenty
seven days. One day the sheriff came in
and said he had received letter from
you demonstrating against my being Kept
in a dungeon, and said the reason why he
| N
negroes, and to give me room free from
vermin. While in the dungeon, nor at any
time since, have / ever wrote a note to
Lowry. / have had no private Interview
with the sheriff, though Walker did while
confined in the dungeon with me. | have
never been on the premises of the barn but
once since it was built. Wasacquainted with
the character of the barn, and think was
there one time when twas building. Think
there only the dwelling house had been
built. After I was arrested and found that
was suspected of burning the barn. l felt
some concern on account of the matches in
nv pocket, and gave them to Walker.
Cross examined. I am good rider and
had fast horse. Ibid not stop to talk with
anyone after left Lowry's. / stopped at a
branch about five miles from town and
washed my face. I also stopped for about
ten mintes, l think, near Woods, and then
went on until was arrested by the parties.
From James ThomaSSOn's to where l was
arrested, the distance is about a mile and
| half. + rode Slowly and slept a. part of the
way / am not familiar with all the roads
intersecting the Charlotte and Lincolnton
roads. l have lived near the barn. My
brother-in-laW and my brother worked on
it when it was built. I have seen the barn
about the time it was finished, and may
have been inside of it. l do not know, but
| think saw light that night in the dl-
rection of the barn, when was along about
where the Limestone road crosses the Lin
colnton road I think l told Tom Glenn
that I saw the light.
Redirect. The fire would be behind me,
riding in the direction / rode. The general
direction led from the fire. Ga small pocket
knife was shown the witness which he
identified as his or one exactly like his.)
I first informed Maj. Hart about cutting the
switch few days after the preliminary
examination.
MAJ. J. H. BARRY, sUorn. I am &C
quainted with Sylvanus Thornburg, and
know his general character; it is good. At
the request of his counsel [ went out, the
25th of September, on path leading from
the Charlotte road above town, to examine
if switch had been cut from certain bush.
About $50 yards from the Charlotte road, on
the left hand side, found where switch
had been cut. Icut off the limb from which
the switch had been cut, and going on, l
found three twigs that had been trimmed
from the switch. Going on to LoWry's,
found switch in his yard, that correspond
ed exactly with the cut on the limb that
took from the bush. / found three tWigs
which also cOrresponded with the knots left
on the switch (Hhe switch, the limb from
which it had been taken and four twigs, all
corresponding as to general appearance,
and showing the same marks of the knife,
were exhibited to the jury.) The witness
continued: I think it was about the 25th
of September that 1 went, and the condi-
tion of the twigs picked up indicated that
they had been cut about three weeks. CThe
knife shown to and identified by the pre-
ceding witness as his own, was also eXhib-
tied to the jury, the purpose being to show
the mark on the trimmed places of small
gap in the blade.) Witness said: found
| three of these twigs on the evening 1 went
out, and the fourth one, Mrs. Thornburg
| handed to me, she having found it after
wards. The switch was cut between
quarter and half a mile on the direct road
leading to Lowry's house.
G'oss-e examined. 1t was one hundred and
| fifty yards from the Charlotte road where
! the switch was cut. have not spoken to
Sylvanus Thornburg in twelve months.
Question. Did you ever tell Sheriff Glenn
that you had sent message to Sylvanus on
the evening of the 3rd of September? An
swer: did, but do not know whether he
ever received it,
Redirect. The switch was cut between
the road and the branch.
Defence closed.
IN REPLY.