Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1886-04-08

After the reading of the report, his Honor
commented upon that portion in relation TO
trivial causes being sent up by Trial Justices and
in condemning this conduct pursued by large
number Of these officers, said if the people could
have correct estimate Of the expenses to which
they are subjected by cases Of this character,
they would be astonished at the amount. He
said it is due to the people that the Legislature
correct this evil. OF other recommendations
made by the grand jury he said the necessary
orders would be properly made The grand
jury was then discharged.
The Trial of Bishop.
After the reading Of the grand jury's report,
the ofthe State VS.. Robert G. Bishop, charged
with the murder of Arthur n. Turner, Town
Marshal of Black s, an incorporated town in this
county, was commenced. Thedeed was charged
with having been committed OH the 23rd of No
vember last, between the hours of6and o'clock
in tile evening. With the accounts of the affair,
as published at the time, and the escape and sub
sequent arrest Of Bishop, our readers are famil-
lar He was arrested near Augusta, Ga, OH the
night of the 22nd Of last January, by detach-
ment of the Augusta police force, sent out to
meet an incoming train, on which the Chief had
been notified by telegraph that Bishop was pas
senger. On the following Monday evening"
Lieutenant Twiggs, of the Augusta forco, deliv-
cred him to the Sheriff of York county, since
which time he has been in Jail, no effort having
been made to obtain bail.
Bishop, who is a fine specimen of physical
manhood, and man of good address, appeared
in the courtroom with cleanly shaven face, OK.
cept his moustache, and was neatly attired. BY
direction of the Court, tfi5 prisoners dock was
placed convenient to his counsel, to the right of
whom, and near the prisoner, his father, Mr.
Martin Bishop, digniied and very respectable
looking citizen, was seated during the hearing OF
the testimony while the prisoners daughter, an
interesting little child of eleven years, occupied
a seat near her grandfather. Bishop is widow
er, his wife having been dead several years. His
bearing during the trial was easy and uncon-
strained, but entirely devoid of affected nom
chalance or assumed Indifference to the impor-
tance Of the proceedings in which he was the
prominent character.
Messrs Wilson & Wilson, Of the Yorkvlle bar,
and Mr.. J. c. Jeffries, of Gatfney City, were as
sociated with Mr.. Solicitor Mcdonald in repre-
senting the State, and the defence was conducted
by Mr.. I. G. McKssick, of Union, Mr.. j. II.
Rion, of Winnsboro, and Hart & Hart, of York
vile
The drawing of the jury was proceeded with in
i' Si''iiOiiSSo
w. d. Leslie, challenged; J. w. Anderson,
challenged; b. F. White, accepted; D. A. Fulton,
stood aside; ". i. Smarr, stood aside; NJ. II.
Jackson, stood aside A. Cody, challenged /;
David p. Owen, stood aside; J. c. Pursely, ac-
cepted; J. j. Shaw, stood aside; J. B. Wood,
stood aside; j. J. Gaulden, challenged; John
Knox, accepted J. #. Bigham, stood aside; W..
], Caveny, accepted J. L. Williamson, chal-
lap Niyans ctonH aside. j IL
Heath, challenged R. J. higgins, stood aside /;
John NJ. Hope. challenged; J. II. Campbell, ac-
cepted {; w. L. Evans, stood aside; j. B. Robin
son, challenged a. j. Goforth challenged !;
Bruce Hopper, colored, stood aside; S. +. Nc
Fadden stood aside; J.W. Brown, stood aside !;
John r. Barron, challenged; o. J. Gwin, stood
aside; f. S. Thompson, stood aside; Johnson
Moore, challenged Sam B. Carroll stood aside; /;
J. f. Leech, challenged; j. B. Pegram, challeng-
ed l.. d. Johnson, challenged. With the name
J.. d. Johnson the venire was exhausted, only
five Jurors having been obtained, when from
the names of those stood aside by the State
the following were drawn: Leroy S. Niv-
ems, accepted; Sam B. Carroll. accepted; o. D..
Gwin, challenged blythe State; j. w. Brown,
challenged; S. +. McFadden, accepted; Bruce
Hopper, colored, accepted; w. L. Evans, accept
ed R. J: higgins, challenget;J: y: Bigham,
accepted; J. b. Wood, accepted. This name
completed the panel Which was as follows: B. F..
White, J. G. Pursley, John Knox, WI. Caveny,
J. H. Campbell, Leroy S. Nivens, Sam B. Car
roll, S. +. McFadden, Bruce Hopper, colored !;
w. l.. Evans, J. r.. Bigham, J. B. Wood. The
Jurors retired and nominated for foreman Il. f.
White, who was appointed to that position by
the Court.
Testimony for the STATE.
DIRECT EXAMINATION CONDUCTED BY THE So
LICITOR; CROSS EX ANIMATION BY MIR. RlON.
The State opened with the introduction OF "A.
G. Smith, who being sworn, testified:
I live at Blacks, in York county. | knew
Arthur n. Turner. He is dead. He died on the
24th of November, 1885, He was shot on the 23rd
Of November; was shot by MIR. Blshop, tne ae7
Bishop. He had been drinking WHISKY anu
threatened to whip out the town council or nave
his money back-a fine of s. which the intend
ant had previously assessed against MN 1oi
to Turner on the subject, and told Turner to get
his id council together, that he wanted JUS
tice. Turner asked me to assist hlm IN Settihg
ND witnesses for the rehearing OF the case before
the council. The council sustained the intend
ant in fining Bishop S. He then pulled out his
pistol and swore he would not pay the tlne
Turner was the town marshal. Bishop told
Turner he would not be arrested by any pooy.
Intendant Black summoned me to assist turner
in arresting Bishop. went up to Bishop and
asked him to be quiet. He said he would not be
arrested. About that time he and and MIR. Goss
started down the street. After going SnGrt Se,r
distance, Turner came up towards us ana blSh-
op said to Turner, "Why have you got that pls-
tol?" Bishop then showed me away and shot
Turner When Bishop spoke to Turner, Turn
er turned sideways to Bishop, and Turner was
standing still when he was shot. HIS hands
were hanging down when Bishop spoke to MIN
1 oh hnt1f
after Bishop spoke to Turner when Bishop fired
Bishop then started to run and seemed to strike
at Cioss Bishops conduct had been boisterous
Turner had been town marshal since June, 1882
Bishop was in Blacks in August. saw MN at
Gaffney City about the 1st Of October, and he
then said he was coming over to Blacks to shoot
Ar Turner for having shot at his mare. Inc
killing occurred in York county.
Cross-examined-Bish mare was shot at
on the first Sunday of August last. The con-
versation with Bishop at Gatiney City was about
the first Of October. ] do not know OF my own
knowledge that Turner shot at Bishops mare.
The shooting Of Turner occurred about dusk,
near Simmons e. Jackins' store, near the rall,
road no other building was near. Turner ilred
once. After the shooting some one handed me
Turner's pistol 1t was "A calibre. shot twice
at Bishop All the shooting was ms follows: !:
Bishop shot once; Turner once ana L t"lce-
four shots in all. / do not know or any one
else shooting Turner had asked Bishop time
or two to keep quiet, and Bishop told him to go
away from him or he would kill him. When he
fired at Turner he asked, ,'"Why are you coming
here with that pistol?' },
Redirect Bishops pistol was 3Scalibre. Blsh-
op fired first and Turner fired only once. The
shooting occurred ten or fifteen steps from the
corner Of the building. Bishop had been on the
other angle and turned the corner. Bishop
throwed me back and pushed Goss down and
the first man that came to him. The shooting
occurred about an hour after the re-hearing of
the case by the town council. In the meantime
Bishop was cursng and abusing the town