The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-11-04
Acquitted! ]!
j, ry Finds Those Charged
With the Broxton Bridge
Horror Not Guilty.
PRISONERS DISCHARGED.
Special to the State.

Special to The State.
AIKEN. Oct. 2e.-As balf-past 10
o'clock tonight the jury returned
verdict Of rot guilty in the Broxton
Bridge case aud. on motion of counsel
for the defence, the prisoners were dis
charged The prosecution entered q
mol pros 10 the remaioing case. in
which HERS aud Stanley were the de-
PENDANTS.
The evidence 10 the Beoxton Bridge
murder case was all in when court took
recess for dinner, the testimony for
the defence covering a surprisingly
short range. For the convenience of
the reader / will briefly review from
memory the evidence presented by both
aides. as it appears to have an import
ant bearing on the case, With some Of
tha teatnres which are supposed to be
considered by jury:
By white witness and q half dozen
negroes the State proved that Dr.. Ack-
erman was at Malcomb Woods store,
near Broxson Bridge, on the fatal Mon
day night: by several negroes that be
left there in company with three other
men in buggies. going towards Broxton
Bridge; BY Sandy Caupbell,shat while
he vas walking on the road With Isbam
Kearse, the deceased, they were both
seized and tied by party of men in
which some of the defendants we're ideo.
titled; II half dozen negroes that they
saw HERS bitcbiug up his buggy in bis
yard while three or four men in buggies
we're at his gate; by j. j. Folk, that a
party of men brought IshaE Kearse to
bis house for him to identify that be
did SO and wen. with them, on foot, for
two miles. hunting Hannah Walker. re.
turned for bis horse and continued with
them. but did1et recogoizeany Of them
except perhaps the voice Of young
Hers Folks we'll -to-do- farmer, oyer
so years ofeage. aud relative of Two
of the 5efendants.0 By Ben Seymour.
that Hannah Walker was taken from
bis house BY Folk aud Ackerman, while
others waited in the road; by Sandy
Campbell, that Rosa Kearse was taken
from his house by Dr. Ackermsn aud
others; probably half dozeo other De.
groes gave testimony telling about see.
ing fsham and Rosa Kearse aud Hannsh
Walker in the possession ola party Of
men, in which they recognized Acker-
man. Stanley aud HERS; by Rosa
Kesrse the State presented direct evil
deace of the whipping to death of
Isham Kesrse by the six men 10 ques-
tios whom she swore she recognized;
by physicians aud coroner as to the fud.
ing of the bodies and the cause of death
BY beating
The defence has contradic.ed Rosa
Kearse by several witnesses, who swore
she told them soou after being put 10
Jail for safekeeping, that she did not
know who whipped her. it being too dark
for her to see The alleged fact that
these win esses, or most Of them, were
friends of the defendants, and that the
night in question was, according to evil
derce. bright moonlight night, and
that there was fire at the place of
whipping. would ordinarily be consider.
ed in this connection The defence
has also proved by number ofrespecta-
BILE witnesses that Sandy Campbellis 40.
worthy of belief. These witnesses testi-
6ed to being interested in the case and to
having contributed towards the defence
The defence proved the character of the
defendants for peace and osder by prob
ably some Of the most substantial men
10 Baruwell county. Some Of them,
however, after sestifying to Braut's
good reputation 10 that regard. admit
ted haviog heard Of his being in shoot
ing scrape aud fight at the church.
All of them were interested in the case,
being friendly to the accused and had
contributed money to conduct the de-
fence.
Cutting away all the petty issues
that have occupied so much time. there
is TIE case as it has been presented to
nv mind The defendants again re-
NAMED off the stand; again no attempt
vas made to prove alibis.
Bullion to the amount of 81, ,00o,-