The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1889-10-24
GONE TO A HIGHER BAR.
The Pitabie Death of John 7. Lyon In the
County Jail at Abbeviile.
rSnecial TO the News and Courier.

Especial to the News and Courier
ABBEvILLE, October l6.-The appll-
cation for writ of habeas corpus ia the
case of John T. Lyon, charged with the
killing of D. L. Mabry, which was to
have been made this morning, will
never be made. The accused has been
summoned before higher tribunal. At
/ O'Clock this morning John T. Lyon
died in a cell in the county Jail, sur
rounded by few friends and his de-
voted wife.
All the arrangements for the habeas
corpus had been made; the attidavits,
about fifteen in number, had been
signed; distinguished counsel had been
employed and nothing remained but to
make the effort to take the accused to
his home, where be might pass the few
remaining hours of life. A hush OF
sincere sympathy has come over The
large circle of friends andaequaintances
and the only comment that can he
heard, apart from the sorrowful re1nin-
iscences of the dead man and his deed,
is "What a tragic ent to the terrible
tradegyw This seems to be the pre-
vailing sentiment and is peculiar ex-
pressive of the community Ill which
John T. Lyon has lived and prospered
these sixtytwo years.
1t has been thought best to let the
entire matter end with the death of the
last actor in the tragic scene, and permit
the gaping wounds Of the family affilc-
ton to dry up. The attorneys for the
defence think this is the better line OF
action, and I have been requested not
to publish the affidavits, as they might
excite further i'll feeling.
Late yesterday afternoon, in company
with Messrs. William G. MCGOWAN,
Thomas P. Cothran and Isaac H. Ma
cauley, I visited the Jail and called
upon Mr.. Lyon. The purpose of the
visit was to obtain Mr.. Lyons signa-
ture to his affidavit. When be was
asked to sign the document he did 50
with great effort. He was held up in
bed by Mr.. MCGOWAN, and signed the
affidavit with pencil. When he had
done so he said in feeble tones: "Willie,
| want you TO get me out Of this place
1 know you will do your best" 1t was
a sad scene. The old man, whose sill
| yer hair and beard shone with a pecul,
lar brightness, seemed to wish for the
end. His prayers were pitiful, and the
surroundings all spoke of intense suf
fering.
The cell was made as comfortable as
possible by loving hands and bore signs
of efforts to do all that could be. done
for the dying man. His wife, hersel
a venerable Christian woman, SGT at his
bedside and administered to his wants
Just before we left the rays Of the set
ting sun glinted through the bars O
the window in the cell and fell acros:
| the emanciated form Of the accused anC
spread beautiful light over the entire
room.
The funeral services took place this
afternoon at Upper Long Cane Church
in the presence ola large assemblage o
relatives and friends. They were con
Quoted by the Rev. w. F. Pearson, as
sisted by The J. Lowry Wilson. The
remains were inferred in the fam
lily plot in the church yard. Speak
ing:of the cause of Mr.. Lyons death
DR.. Frank Harrison said to me that i
was due to general breaking down O
his constitution in consequence Of hi:
confinement in Jail. His regular habits
directly necessary to his existence, were
interrupted, and, together with the
close confinement, caused his death
Mr.. Lyon had been consumptive fol
many years, and was naturally of
frail constitution.
/