The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-02-17
THE FERGUSON TRIAL. :
The News and COurier's Report of
the Evidence.
Furnished By their Local ReDo7ter.

Furnished By their Local Reporter.
Mr.. Riley, the marshall, testified to arrest
ing Ferguson Immediately after the shooting
that Ferguson wanted to know ii he could
not give bail and if Mr.. Brooks, FersuSOn's
father-in-law, would not do for bail. The
prisoner was then taken before trial justice
and a few minutes afterwards, hearing that
Benedict was dead, Ferguson was taken to
Hettie Belton and Lucy Sanders, two color
ed women, then testified to seeing Ferguson
shoot Benedict, they at the time trading with
Benedict for the purchase of shoes.
Daniel Jordan, a ven erable old maa, teSti.
fed to hearing an alteration between Fergu-
son and Benedict on the Saturday before the
homicide; Ferguson was pretty drunk ut the
time.
Mr.. J. S. Hammond, the intcndant. testified
to Ferguson asking him If he could not get
out on bond instead OF going to the guard.
house, as he wanted to attend a wedding that
day; Ferguson was pretty drunk; did not
know at that time that Benedict was killed.
My business said Mr.. hammond, "was
weighing cotton on the public square," and
although he saw the defendant often, that he
never saw him drunk before the day OF the
homicide.
Sam Milford, white, testified to hearing Fer.
guson, 3 short while before the shooting, tell
Stark Martin 10 come on down there II he
wanted to see him (Fergnson) kill ID Jew;
Ferguson was drunF at that time, but quiet.
Mr.. kalisky testified that the defendant on
the day of the shooting came into his store
and wanted to buy some cartridges. He had
none, and Ferguson then remarked that he
had enough anyhow, to kill a man. He was
drunk hut not at all boiSterous had seen him
drunk, but only drunk once before. Here the
State closed.
The Rev. John r. Riley, the first witness for
the defence, testified that Ferguson toarded
with him while student at AdSer College,
and that one day in the recitation room he
noticed that the defendant was very pale and
looked as If he was about to fall over / ask
ed some member OF the class to take him out.
II lfI ,nl tame IL Il
get no answer. He was similarly affected At
another time while at the breakfa table.
The defendant frequently complained of
pains in the head. l regarded him an aver
age student. never made any report OF the
matter TO his father at the time If he drank
any at that time. did not know it. He APP
peared dazed but his eyes were not set when
he had that spell in the classroom.
Martha Whaton, the nurse Of the defendant,
next testified that he had spells when a child,
and always looked pale and complained OF
his head, and his hands appeared TO bc stiff.
They would rub him with camphor when he
would be restored.
A. ]. Ferguson, the defendants father, was
the next witness, and also testified to the
while hauling logs in the woods, one Of these
spells came on John and he staggered and
fell down. This lasted foran hour and Il half,
or probably a little longer Never saw him
have another attack until after John w;ls
married, WREN one of these spells came on in
July while he was wOrEirg in the bottom
land. This spell also lasted about the same
length Of time rs the other iaintlng spell
Again, in June or July, 1884. while John was
hoeing cotton. he had another one or these
spells. In February 1884, John received some
cuts in the back, and since then he has AL
ways appeared TO be melancholy and to have
II "shy disposition" while before he was the
reverse. Johu had also been drinking heav-
lily for several months before the shooting of
Benedict. One Of his sisters died from a sim
liar complaint, and one OF his younger BROTH
ers had a like attack about eight years ago.
This last about his brother is new lesti-
mouy. Several other Witnesses including
the mother and brothers of the prisoner, CO.
roborated the testimony OF A. j. Ferguson.
Several witnesses we're examined S to the
drinking of the prisoner and from their tes
timony he must have been o very constant
and heavy drinker.