Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1895-11-13
CIRCUIT COURT.

The case of the State VS.. Logan Gibson,
charged with the murder of Rufus T..
Hardin, at Blacksburg, on the 10th OF Au-
gust, was called on Thursday afternoon /;
but was not taken up until Friday
morning.
There was great difficulty in securing q
jury. When the jurors were put on their
voir dire it was found that quite a num-
ber had expressed an opinion, others were
challenged peremptorily and for cause,and
it was necessary to summon new venire.
The panel was not completed until Friday
afternoon. 1t was composed as follows:
w. S. Garrison, NJ. II. Jackson, r. S.
Terrence, H. b. Ashe, j. j. Faris, W. n.
ThomaSson, II. A Caldwell, r. w. Smith,
J. r. Howe, Isaac Wright, colored, j. w.
Mcfarland, J. R. Williams.
Solicitor Henry appeared for the State.
He was assisted by Mr.. n. w. Hardin.
Major Jas. +. Hart represented the de-
fendant. He was assisted by Mr.. Thos.
+. Mellow.
The killing occurred at the electric light
house short distance from the residence
of Mr.. Gibson, and occupied as sleeping
room by a Negro in Mr.. Gibson's employ.
The case of the State was that Hardin
had left home on the night of the kill
ing and told his wife that he was going
to the Air Line depot. Before returning
home, he went to see the Negro about
some whisky that the Negro had agreed
to get for him. Mrs. Gibson had come
out to the electric light house for some
purpose of her own accord. Gibson came
up and seeing the two together, fired at
Hardin as he was standing OIL the steps
and wounded him severely. Hardin was
unarined and tried to get out of the way
He ran off short distance and fell. Glib
son followed with drawn knife and stab
bed him in the back. Though realizing
that he WAS mortally wounded, Hardin
denied any criminal relation with Mrs.
Gibson, and said to Iibson, IF you shot
me for that, you will have To shoot 20
Others
The defense had it that Gibson, who
works ut night, had gone to his work as
usual. Shortly after going to work, the
Negro who lived in the electric light
house, brought him some news that
"brokc him all up" AS soon as he could
arrange to do SO, he got substitute to
take his place, and went home. When he
got to the electric light house, from the
reflection of Il switch light on the railroad
track, he saw his wife and Hardin inside.
He fired at them. The bullet took effect
i'm the mamtclpicce. lie went around to
the door. Hardin was coming out. The
two men grappled. Gibson fired shot
into IIardin's abdomen at such close
range as to burn his clothes. The rerol-
yer was now useless and drawing his knife,
| Gibson stabbed Hardin several times in
the back.
There was Il great deal of testimony
that might have made Il still uglicr case
ON both sides but the contcnding attor-
news managed to keep it from coming
out. Both the State and the defense were
represented with unqucstioncd ability,
and if any mistakes were made nobody
detected them.
The speech of Solicitor Henry to the
Jury was in some respects remarkable.
He maintained that public sentiment
everywhere excused Il killing of this
kind but the state made such killing
murder, and the oathS of the jurors and
the majesty of the law demanded such Il
verdict. bring in verdict of MURDER"
said Mr.. Henry, land / promise that not
hair of his head shall be harmed. His