The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-10-28
Xxx. NO: II.

Fell Back..-"Oh, my. Head; Oh, my
-. '-..,; ~ Head.'' -
LEWIS BELohiER, eolored, sworn:,.
was working In field two years ago with MI. Fers
euson-pow time. he drove ont to end Of .rowand
fell right back with his hands ever hs face. He
"Oh, my head, oh, my head and said that he would
be all right directly He stayed there until plowed
another row. He went towards the spring as came
Cross -Eramined-He dropped back fell down.
sat down hard on the ground
. The Difficulty with the Negro.
TON DERRY, colored, sworn: s.e i%
Worked on Jack Fereuson's place four years ago. I
the that John Ferguson seized and threatened
to XIII with an axe: At the time OF the attack was was
sitting ct corner Of smoke house .skinning rabbit
John walked to me and laid his hand on me- and called
to Joe to hand him the axe It was after this that
was ordeTd to leave the premises. -
Cross Erdfni7ed-I don't know whether II was be-
fore or afterwards thGt was ordered off, Iwss living
on land which bought from Mr.. Ferguson. three
years ago. was hocng cotton when Mr. Ferguson
must leave. go. 49,.
John the Only Child that his Father
Educated. :
A. J. FERGUSON, recalled: -
The difficulty was between him and the boys about
axe John plowed In the evening Of the same day
that he had aspe ut ten o'clock. Ibid more for John
In the way Of education than for the other boys:
COLLEGE. and to Adger College. I never sent any Of
the other boys TO any Of these schools 90
Direct ReSu,ned-The ordering off caInea year af :.
ter the rabbit affair. ~
Additional Proof of Painting.
Josxpu B. FERGUSON, brother Of the prisoner,
sworn: - S SEja.sS tS$ z:
We were fixing to put the log on the wagon when
John staggered and fell lie had another attack some
eight nine years ago. when he fell and lay there for
good while, Looked pale, went tn the honse. nHns
present ct the affair Of tho negro and the axe. john
collared the and asked ME to hand him the
Said be wanted to kill the negro-heard NO quarrel
Jnhn had other attacks Of having NO sense. Abont
month before Christmas went to Me house, f6nni
John lying in the piazza called him, but he didnt
I think be was drinking at Ninety-sx. i smelt Wills
key he looked foolish. He drank some before
Chrstmas-a little in the spring. He drank heavily
before Christmas. -,
Gross. Eran.ined-A man was indicted forstsbbins
John, but no true bill was found. have seen John
under the infaence Of whiskey once or twice.
John Gets s'Pint Of something.''
PAUL HAMILTON FERGUSON, brother Of prisoner, I
sworn:
john got liquor at Dr. wenck's drns store.
Cross Exa'nined-I don't know how often have
Sometimes he tried to hide it.. On;tHe way homo
from, Niuetysix John dropped the lines and drove
remainder Of theway. -;.3.-a
Direct Resan,ed-l have often seen him under the
Influence Of whiskey; Saw him geta drink Of some
thing from Osborne, DR.. Wencks partner. saw DR..
Wcnck give him bottle of medicine, and saw Os-
borne give him pint 0l s3mcthing.
John Gets Something to Rub ON Leg
Mt Ninety.Six. 80
MRS. MARY KENNEDY sister Of the prisoncr's tiota.
---Is
John Ferguson conducted himself strangely at Tho
wedding. noticed that something was wrong with
wns the matter. I advised hun to 60 to DR.. Wenck i
to get something to rub his leg In the afternoon af
ter the marriage he went back to Nnety-Six. When
he came back hc had flask Of whiskey and small bot.
Cross. Exan,ined-I didn't state at former triai
that he had whiskey said that had no whiskey
about the house. The that did not tell that
Ferguson had whiskey is, that nobody asked that
question s,srs- ~. n :,
Benedict Gives Ferguson q Handsome
Bridal Present.-Ferguson's Regard
for Him:
Mrs. ". II. BROOKS, mother Of the prisoners wife,
sworn:
drinking for more than six months never saw him
put the bottle to his mouth. He had too much respect
for rue to do that. knew though frnm his conduct
that he drinking. The day before the sad acci
buggy when he brought his wife. He didn't 60 in
the house. Invent to tho buggy and begged him eo
ccme back and not go on the streets. After good
deal Of persuasion he went home did not zee him
They seemed to be great faends at TINT John
seemed to think great aesl Of him. Benedict asSa
him handsome brsaa bdal present John was married.
ysss tho ss ns kaow % h.
my habit to 60 ofse6 to SEQ John and hs wife, Knew
from the empty bottles and Jugs and the way he acted
that something was wrong. 49,
Cross -Eramined-- he brought his wife and baby
to my house on the day fhe killing, but he came
down town.. did not seGhim that morning.
Where John started on the Morning
of the Homicide.
JOIN FIRTH sworpS Z .;.,s 5
lived atJthn Fergusone month before last Christ:
mas was at his houss on the day of the Killing, He
and his wife and baby left home that morning They
startled toWard Warrenton. Ao WIS drinking.
He had been drinking heavily before that time.
bought whiskey for him myself two or three ttmea
, Ferguson was Drinking.
MARION FAIR. colored, sworn: 1tE..,.....s.. J.,
Isaw Ferguson on the morning that Benedict was
killed. He was in o drinking condition.
The Power of a Little Girl over an
Uncle Of the Accused. 2.'..
Mrs. CARRIE RrcHEY sworn: ..- =
NV mother married B. D. Barksdele, brother oiMra.
Ferguson Have seen him take his arms, and bowle
knife and threaten to kill his neighbar Mr.. Brown
halloed at him, brought him back. and put him in
bed. Twas the only person who eonld control him.
Another time he took on axe ned threatened to o vio
leuce He was drinking heavily. He stopped drink
Inc seven or eight years before he died. ..
Cross Exan.ined-This occurred when was thir-
teen or fourteen years old He threatened to bnrn his
barn after he quit drinking. Don't remember date.
Re-Direct-This was not the only time he acted
strangely.
Court now adjourned at half past one o'clock
to meet again at three o'clock. ..
After Recess.
AFTERNOON SESSION, o'clock.
Court met. About eight white and about
forty colored persons being present.
BURT ELLIS. colored, sworn:
worked for Ferguson by the day last year. while
farmed on Mr.. Rarnwells place. left Ferguson four
weeks before Christmas, for the reason that he had
given himself up to drinking. On one occasion
took pistol and knife away from him. For this he
threatened to 90 to Mr.. Mer's md get his gun and
shoot me- During cotton picking time he bought
half gallon whisky from Reub Haddon and covered 1t
In the cotton seed wagon. day or two after that
got pint and carried 1t home to him. He drank