The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1885-11-10
THE Law AND THE LYFCHERs.
Applications Of the Edgefield Lynchers
for Bail.

Application OF the Edgefield Lynchers
for Bail. +,
THE NEWS AAD COURIER BrRRAu,l
lob MAIN ST., COLUMBIA, Nov, 4.
At 1890 o'clock this morning the hearing of
the application for bail made by the thirty
four men charged with the murder of d. T..
Culbreath, in Edgefield County, on tho oath
of September, Was begun by Judge Hudson
in the County Court room. A number Of
lawyers were present as Interested listeners.
The seats outside of the bar were empty.
Judge Hudson having consented to hear the
application without compelling the attendance
OF the prisoners, none of them were present.
Senator Butler and MIR. $. MEG. Simpkins,
were present as counsel for the prisoners.
Acknowledgement Miles and Solicitor Bon
ham appeared to represent the State, and
were assisted by aessrs Ernest Gary and
Senator Butler, of counsel for the prisoners,
read the preliminary papers in the case. AS
counsel OH both sides agreed that the testimo-
ny at tina Culbreath inquest had been report
ed completely and correctly i'll the Ne1os and
Courier by Lieutenant-Go Governor Sheppard
for the defense. The reading lasted from TO-
IS to II Nj.
Mcssrs. Sheppard, Butler and Gary next
took turns to read ninety-two afidavits in
support of the application for bail. Thirty
four of these were made by the persons
charged with participation in the crime, and
were to the general effect that they had no
l COuuccthOu WILL VIC ~ hCllHHp ouL tudlS u -
ing gathered to attend a public meeting which
had for its object the detection and lawful
punishment of the murderer Of w. II. Ham,
mond, and having been advised to dispense
and return home, they had done SO. Most of
their atfidavits contained these
The Othor afidavits were in greater part made,
by the wives and relatives of a number of the
accused, who declared that the men were at
their homes when Culbreath was killed.
MRS. c~uLBREATH's AFFIDAVIT.
Mrs. Fannie Prescott Culbreath, being
sworn, says that she was the wife of the late
o. T. Culbrcath. and that she is the mother
of Memphis Culbrcath, now in the county
Jail charged, as she is informed, with being
accessory to the killing of his father. That
it comes within the knowledge of deponcnt
that her son, Memphis Culbrcuth, was about
her house during the morning and afternoon
of Monday, the 2lst September last, OH the
night Of which day his father was killed, and
until the usual hour of bedtime that night,
at which time he retired to bed and she does
not doubt that he was at her house during the
entire night that no slept upstairs, and de-
ponent does not believe that it WIS possible
for him to have made his exit from the house
without her knowledge. Deponent knows alb
solutcly that if the said O. T.. Culbreath was
killed at or near Edgefild Courthouse before
10 O'Clock of the night of September 81, her
son was not present and could not have been
connected with the killing.
Dcponent further swrars that for some
months before the said O. T. Culbreath was
killed he had not resided in the same house
with her; that she had for several years been
the victim Of unkind, cruel aud inhuman
treatment at his hands that he frequently
father and mother that he more than once
threatened to take her iife and reduce her
property to ashes, and said that If she should
60 to to her brother he would reduce his home
t" ashes ; that she has remained up ut night
surrounded by h 'r:childrcn. fearing that If she
should retire to bod she would while aslep be
murdered by him that on one occasion he
drew a knife and sw"re that he would take
her life, and dcpncnt row believes. aud she
then believed, that he would have executed
his purposc but for the timely interference of
her son Memphis.
That the treatment Of dcpnncnt by the said
D.. 7. Culbreath was 80 harsh and 80 cruel,
and he lerpetrated so many indigniIics upon
her, that She found it impossible to- 1.-Two with
him-the details Of which she declines now to
disclose.
Dcponent was so apprehensive that her lifo
was in continual peril TINT when Dir. Ham
of inquest failed to discover by whom the
murder was committed, she felt that the law
was pOwerlcss to save her from harm, und she
requested the Solicitor uf the Circuit to APP
peal to the gentlemen Of the community and
beg them to save her from further annoyance
and distress, and he kindly did su while tue
people were there assembled.
SENATOR rALBERr's AFFIDAVIT.
W. J. Talbcrt. State Senator, being sworn,
says (; That dep0nent lives about fifteen miles
from Edgetild village. Tho deponcnt was at
his home and sent his son to the postOficc,
about two miles distant, for his pluil when
dcponcnt's son returned from the ~postofi, o on
2lst September last he informed dcpoucnt
that he had seen a number of citizens riding
along the road, but did not know where or fur
what purpose they were going. Deponent was
quite unwcll, but knowing that there was
great excitement prevailing in that communi-
ty on account. OF the recent murder OF w. II.
Hammond, and apprehending that, in consc-
quencc of the inaamcd condition OF the public
mind, something wrong might be done, and be.
lieving it to be his duty to discourage aud
prevent any lawlessness, deponent at once
rode in the direction in which the pcrsous had
been seen to ascertain the object Of the move
msnt.
Deponent went to the home of his neiglbor,
Pat II. Busy, and informed him of his pur-
pose. and reqesbed him to go with him, winch
he did. Dcp0nrnt and y. II. Busscy over-
when they overlook D. G.. Bussey, who was
riding, Pm. Bussev, Who was on \ mule.
rode with him. Depnnent went forward rap
idly and found a number of citizens near An
tiOck Church, and was informed that others
had ridden in the direction Of Edgetield.
large gathering. Deponent was informed
that the object was to take steps tn bring the
murderer OF Hammond to trial and punish
ment. When it vas ascertained that Il war
rant had bcen issued for the arrest Of o.. T..
Cuibreath, some Of tho citizens, as we'll as
the depOncnt, advised the crowd to dispprse
and 2" home and allow tho law to take it's
course. No objection was made, but the
crowd seemed satisfied and began to get their
horses, and persons began to leave.
When deponent saw p: H.. Russer. D. c..
Bussey, W. l.. Mcdaniel and others mounted,
| he Asked them II tIav V,.,pa rouAv fn mn t,o,po