Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1885-07-02

| COnStaDleS costs III Lne respective cases
ed. We regard this as an important omission In
making up the full record of a case, and we rec
ommend that the various trial justices coming
within this exception be required to make the
proper entries on their dockets OF all items OF
Sheritfs and constables' costs in each and every
case recorded
The condition of the public roads is question
| of public concern, and one, which under the
present system of working the public highways,
will never be satisfactorily solved. Our intor-
nation is that the public highways OF YORK
county are generally in bad condition, and we
can only recommend that the proper authori-
ties rigidly enforce the law for the proper work
ing and repairing of the public roads during the
leisure season of farming operations
We specially present that John Miskelly, col
ored, has been guilty on at least one OCCASION OF
carrying concealed deadly weapons, displaying
the same in n threatening manner in the streeIs
of the town Of Glover, in this county, on the
22nd day of May, 1885 witnesses to prove which
are DR.. ]. r. Latimer and Mid Hambright, COL
ored.
Also, that Andy Hersh alias Stonewal Jack
son, colored, is guilty Of carrying concealed
weapons, witness to prove which IS Wllllam
B. Falls
With these statements we close our report,
making due acknowledgements for the courte-
sizes and assistance in the discharge OF our duties
so cheerfully rendered by your Honor and the
Solicitor. All Of which is respectfully submit
ted. R. r. HIGGINS, Foreman.
After the trial Of the Glover case the following
were disposed of during the remainder OF the
term:
State vs.. VIM. Thornburg; retailing spirituous
liquors. Continued by the State.
State VS.. Rufus Rattaree, colored; burglary
and larceny. Continued.
State vs.. Sam Good and Quay Tigler, colored :;
accessories before the fact of the murder of Ell
lison Sanders, in October last. Nolle prosequi
entered. This is the murder for which Colum-
bus Crawford was hanged in the Jail in York on
the 10th of April last.
: State VS.. w. D. Parks; assault with intent to
kill. Prosecutor, A. w. Osborne Continued,
in consequence of sickness of prosecutor.
State vs.. w. D. Parks; selling intoxicating
liquor without license. Mistrial. Hart u
Hart for defence.
Another similar case against the same defend
ant was continued.
State vs. David Long, bgamy. Continued by
defendant.
State VS.. J. R. Button; carrying concealed
weapon. Prosecutor, L. P. Lugand. MOI. pros.
as to the first count Verdict, guilty as to the
second count. The court imposed fine of S44
or four months in the penitentiary. From the
verdict defence appealed. Wilson & Wilson for
defence
State VS.. Quitman Byers; assault with intent
to kill, and carrying concealed weapons. Pros
fendant.
State VS.. John Chambers and Edward Cham
bers, colored; carrying concealed weapons.
Prosecutor, Edward Byars. Verdict, not guilty.
Mr.. Chambers for defence.
State VS.. Daniel Darwin, colored; carrying
f concealed weapons. Verdict, guilty.
State VS.. Andrew Neely, colored carrying
concealed weapons. Verdict, guilty.
| State VS.. Samuel Walker, colored; carrying
concealed weapons. Verdict, guilty.
The three last-named cases grew out of the
Mt. Zion camp meeting riot on the 18th ultimo
The first case called on Thursday was that Of
, the State VS.. Robert X. Gordon, charged with
the murder of Andrew Cureton, colored, at Rock
Hill on the night of the 26th of December, 1880
The murdered man was discovered on the night
, of the occurrence at the livery stable where he
was employed, Gordon lying by the side OF
the dead body, asleep. He was arrested ano
placed in the guard house at Rock Hill but made
his escape the same night, and never was arrest,
ed, his whereabouts being unknown to the off.
GERS Of the law. On the morning of the 22nd in
stant he came to Yorkville and surrendered him
self to the sheriff. stating that he desired to stand
his trial. He was locked up, and on Thursday
the case was reached The following jury was
empaneled: J. A. Erwin, foreman; j. B. Lynn
W.
Sherrer, J. A. Shurley, J. X. Carothers, S. s.
Farris J. NJ. Barnett, J. P. Epps, J. c. Patrick
, Wilson dE Wilson and ]. c. Witherspoon for
the defence. The commission Of the crime by
the defendant was not denied, and all the testi-
mony taken before the coroner's inquest as to
the facts of the killing was admitted, as though
the witnesses, all but one of whom is now dead,
were present to testify in person. The surylV-
ing witness, VIM. Adkins, who testified at the
inquest, was introduced, and swore that in De-
cember, 1880, he was employed in BaXter's llv-
cry stable, Rock Hill. On the night of the 26tn,
when he returned to the stable from supper, de-
fendant had R. S. Harrel down and was astride
of him. The defendant and Harrell both had
hold of defendants pistol. The deceased pulled
defendant off of Harrell. Defendant told Har-
rell to turn his pistol loose and then said to de-
; ceased: &C d-n you, am going to kill you,
having his knife in his hand. The deceased
; grabbed him, and stepping back, said: "Mr.
Gordon, you have cut me- Defendant then
said "Do you sec my knifein in my hand ?" De-
ceased asked me to 90 for doctor and went.
I don't recollect that saw defendant before on
that day. When returned from going for the
doctor, the defendant was lying at the head OF
the deceased, and when got up to them the de-
fendant said: II am shot" Defendant was put
in the cuard-house He was drinking on that
night. knew of no disagreement between the
parties.
On cross examination, witness testified that
deceased told Gordon he was his friend, and that
he was trying to prevent the fuss between him
and Harrell. When witness returned with the
doctor Cureton was dead.
The State here rested without introducing fur
ther oral testimony The record of the coro-
ners inuuest was substantially the same as the
above testimony.
The defence relied upon the mental atfiction
of the defendant at the time Of the commission
of the deed, entering the plea Of epileptic mania,
and introduced Drs. J. r. BrattOn and }. w.
Fewell, as medical experts, who testified as to
the peculiar effects of the disease upon sub
iect the fits inducing great arrangement of the
| nervous system and during the paroNysm or
Immediately thereafter the afflicted person be-
ing unconscious of his acts. When aroused
| from the lethargic state after the paroxysm the
person Just previously affected cannot remem-
| Der what has just previously occurred. Such
persons are dangerous to themselves and to per-
sons around.
DR.. Fewel coincided with the statements of
DR.. Bratton, and in addition he testified to the
atfiiction of the defendant whom he had known
for twcnty-six years, and had seen him when
having epileptic fits. Had tried to quiet him
when he was almost maniacal, and had endeav-
ored to put him under the influence of chloro-
form. On one two occasions, when called
to treat him he was afraid to enter the room, as
he regarded him dangerous.
d. A. Gordon, father of the defendant, testified
as to his attliction.
w. T.. Erwin and Capt. Allen Jones testified
as to the strange behavior Of defendant as mem