The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-10-28
Was Drunk on Day of Killing.

huONu ulu Y SIuSC uC SAulO " I"o
seen him every week. Sometimes he didn't have as
much whiskey as at other times.
THR STATE III REPLY.
The Family Physician Never Saw any
Symptoms of Epilepsy In the Stay
er.
Dr.. 7. J. MABEY, sworn:
have practiced medicine for ~forty-ave years. l
have been the family physician OF the prisoners ia'
ther for about fifteen years, and have. known John
treated him for epilepsy, and have never seen any in.
timation of the existence of any such disease in the
prisoner. Here the Doctor gave some account Of the
symptoms Of epilepsy, but which are omitted AS
son in an irrational condition--drunk l have never
seen him under the influence Of whisSey bt one
time | attended his wife at her mothers: II per-
sons faint o: give way. and after rubbing with cam
rhor, is restored. 1t might be simple fainting. Any
thing to interfere with the hearts action, exposure or
over-exertion, might bring on fsinting or petit NAL.
Cross Erunaination-I never saw q case OF petit
NAL with convulsiOns--pallor and Inconsistencies
common. Ferguson came to see me for treatment
on Saturday before the killing. He looked to me- like
o man who had been drinking some time.
An Absurd Proposition.
DE-. j. L. PKEssLY, sworn;
Has been 9 physician for t~hirty.fve years, said 1t
wss absurd to say that an epileptic could; pnder par
- OXism, invite n man to come and see him kill another,
TO buy cartridges, load his pistol, 20 to a store, wait
until the man come near him, and shoot him. In
cases where o man Is straining at o log, throws up his
hand, and says, "oh, my head" and con'd be restored
by the application OF water, the disease Is not epilep-
~.
What 1t Seems Impossible for an
Ep1leptic to Dc.
DE-. MABRY, recalled:
Solicitor-Doctor, would It be possible for q person
suffering from epilepsy to threaten to kill o particular
man, ask a friend to 60 with him to see him DO It,
ask fox cartridges, load a piston, put his pistol In bis
hin pocket. take 1t ont and put 1t in his ~oVercoat
pocket, walk to o convenient place, watch bis OPP
portunity, and shoot o man?
Witness-It doesn't seem to be possible for him to
do 40.
Cross Exanined-This might he done under the
influence Of alcphol-not under epilepsy.
Mere Automatic Action.
DE-. WIDEXAN, recalled
In response to same question Just asked OF Dr.
Mabry, he said: He could not: A man under cpl
lcptic mania might kill his wife or nearest friend, as
1t were, by an Involuntary acti0n-mere automatic
action.
Cases In Books.But not Under Know.
ledge of Physician.
DR.. L. T. HILL, recalled:
In reply to same question said: II don't think 50.
Such cases, however, are recOrucO ID tue meulCut
books. No such case ever came under my knowl
edge.
His Merchant Never Heard of his
Having Epileptic Fits UutiI the
Homicide.
JOINS F. MILLER, sworn:
am a merchan. have known Ferguson for eight or
ten years before the homicide. He traded at my
store. He was o close buyer and acted like any other
ordinary man. He attended to his own business. l
can't say whether he is hard drinker. have seen
him under the influence of liquor three or four times.
] never heard anything Of his having been subject to
epilepsy until this homicide occurred.
Cross 1amined-I saw him drunk In Summer OF
1884, and ut other times farther back. He looked lsl
man who had been drinking heavy.
Acsef Nicely .-- Discharged his Duty
faithfully.
W. T. MCDONALD, sworn:
Ihave known Ferguson for q number OF years as o
fellow citizen. He was in my employ once as clerk
in my store. He did very well-acted nicely and dis.
charged his business faithfully. l never heard Of his
having epilepsy until the homicide. He acted as
clerk for other parties in town. Can't aay that know
anything about his drinking. During his stay with
me l never heard Of his drinking but once. ln 1879
he got under the influence of liquor one time:
Cross EIamined-l didn't see much OF him last
year, 1854. Don't know whether he drank heavily.
Direct Resumed-I was on the streets a good
deal.
He Acted Like Any Other Man.
- II. II. HILL, sworn:
I have known Ferguson for seven or eight years.
He appeared to me like anc other man. l saw moth
ing strange about HIM. He conducted business like
other people. / sold him mostly whiskey. have
knew Of anything strange about hiu until the homi-
eide.
Cross Eramined-I know old John Robinson. l
never heard Of his being q lunatic until he was de-
Direct Resumed-John Robinson don't live In
town. He lived in the country. l knew nothing
about him.
No Difference Between him and 9th.
ers at School.
JAMES CHALMERS, sworn:
am In the furniture business; have knewn Fergu-
son for seven or eight years. l went Ito school with
him q year or two. | mover saw anything strange
ence in him and others. I first heard of his having
epilepsy about the time OF the homicide. Have seen
him tight. Can't tell time or place. Not very often.
Only saw him one day going home drunk. Saw hun
good deal last year, walking around town.
Cross EIanlined-l have often talked to him. lie
did not look last Fall more bloated and ford than
formerly.
A Man of Good Judgment.
ROBERT MoG. HILL, sworn:
knew Ferguson for three or four years before tn
homicide. I. regarded. him as q man of good judy
ment. He managed his business like any other per-
son. I have seen him ACKNOWLEDGMENT frequent
~. 4Ae UrSSL It!c i III Va uo osihS paw -"
last wiater-nfSer the shooting. l never saw him
drunk.
Cross Eraneined-f saw him last Fall at differ
ent times. Cart be positive that be looked Ike q
drinking man.
: when witness First Heard Of Prison
sS II er Having Epilepsy.
Lspsuassss sworn:
Tbaak AuoEn Ferguson 8 good while-six or seven
wears. b 6Ysf heard OF his having epilepsy until the
trial. Hssa meyer seen him drunk.
Nothing Strange About Him.
j. L. PEssN, sworn: ~
Have known Ferguson al my life; was intimately
associated with him; went to school with him at Due
West; never noticed anything strange about him
hayn't seen much Of him since. The first time 1
heard of his having apploplexy was at the trial:
Cross EIamtned-Ssw him drunk at Due west
I don't know why he left Due West. He stayed u1.
til the session closed; went home did not 20 oacE
was not with him at Adger College.
Never Saw Anything to Lead me 10
Believe Inc was Insane.
8. G. THOMSON, sworn: ~
have knoxn Ferguson for fifteen years: Heve.
saw ANYTHING In his conduct to lead me to believe tha'
no was insane. First time l ever heard OF his havink
.,iI.nsy ,vos Mt the frat trial, lie was o man, tna'