Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-11-14

ed it into massive chain. Nothing es-
capped him. He had studied every
circumstance and knew the case as
though he had been an eyewitness to
all that passed on that eventful night,
and even saw into the very hearts of
the accused. If there was pity in his
heart, he never showed it. He asked
that all three be convicted of murder
in the first degree. He could see moth
ing but the bright light which was
shining on the other side of the turbid
stream.
There was only one feature of the
case which he refused to put under
the light of his terrible analysis.
That was the remarkable story that
had been told by Mrs. Ellen Anderson.
This he treated with contempt.
1.-TWO bullets cast from the same
mould show the same marks, and by
the marks on the bullets, you may
identify the mould. Likewise with
these three statements. By their
marks they may be identified as hav-
ing come from the same mind. Gen.
tlemen, after having heard of that
10 o'clock conference, do you believe
it ?"
The 10 o'clock conference referred
to was development of last Tuesday.
On the cross-examination of Mrs. An
derson, after she had told her re-
markable story, the solicitor asked her
|if she had not, on the night before,
made certain admission in the pres
ence of Cox and Head, the two wit
nesses who had come from Georgia to
testify as to R. A. Anderson's yerac-
ity. Mrs. Anderson wanted to know
when. "Last night, at the Parish
hotel" answered the solicitor. The
witness denied that she had made the
admission, and to prove it, stated that
she was in Major Hart's office, and
Immediately it developed that up to
| 10 o'clock, the defendants and counsel
were engaged in a conference.
In conclusion, Mr.. Henry said:
"My friends will hand up the law
stating that it is better for ten guilty
men to escape, than that one innocent
man should be punished. The trouble
in this country is that the ten; yea,
the hundred, guilty men have already
escaped! Especially is this so if their
skins be white, and they have money
to spend as has been proven in this
case Reese has; and it is time for the
liuries of this country to commence
finding verdicts when they have the
facts. The innocent will always be
taken care of. 1t is common express
sion that white man cannot be con-
yicted, and the record shows that there
has been but one white man convicted
in the state since the war, except in
Spartauburg county. And though the
proof has shown that they have MUIR
dered their husbands and had other
men to do it, never has white woman
been convicted and hung. They have
handed up the law as to the effect of
your verdict upon society. 1t is not
verdicts of "guilty," but verdicts of
mot" guilty, which tend to disorganize
society.
"Gentlemen, the sense of justice in
the hearts of honest people has
caused them to forget and ignore, in
their righteous indignation, the forms
of law, and to administer justice with
out due process. 1t is justice that the
human heart loves above all forms OF
law. and these forms will be ignored
unless verdicts are according to the
facts and righteous.
"Now am done with this case. 1t
is for you. Remember that we are
making history. Remember that
your names are here upon record.
Remember that in the coming years,
when you shall have made failure OF
life, perhaps these records will be
searched, and if it be found that you
have not done your duty, they will be
held up against you for execration.
If, on the other hand, you are success
full in life, and you have done your
duty honestly, these records will be
held up to your credit. You, your
children, and their children, will re-
receive a blessing, or the opposite
according, as you have done your
duty. Now, if after what you have
heard-the cold facts-you are willing
to sit by the side of the widow of
Charles T. Williams, dip your hands in
his blood, and by so doing become
partners with these three people in his
murder, do so. His blood be upon you
and your children. My hands are
washed"
Following Mr.. Henry's speech,
Judge Watts proceeded to charge the
Jury. He laid down the law fully
and plainly, charging every one OF
the 25 or 80 requests that had been
made by the defendants counsel, and
also touching on other material points
Then the record was given TO the
Ijury, which retired at exactly IA min
utes past o'clock.
Just as the big clock in the court
house tower was striking 9 p. NJ, the
jury announced that it had agreed
upon q verdict. Within less than 10
minutes, judge, counsel, sheriff and
perhaps 100 people, had gathered in
the courtroom, and the clerk read the
verdict. IT. was "Guilty, with recon.