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

V VHMDHh IL, LOW
cross-examination, Mr.. Guyton said
that Mrs. Anderson had fallen out
with him about something or other
but afterward, they became friendly
again.
Mr.. J. F. Whisonant was put up to
testify as to the ownership of the
house that was being occupied by Mrs
Anderson. The testimony was ruled
out as incompetent.
1t was now time for adjournment,
and the court took a recess until Sat.
urday morning at $50 o'clock.
ROBERT A.. ANDERSON.
It was not until Saturday morning
that the first real sensation developed.
Up to this time there had come out
but little testimony that had not al
ready been published. Certain facts
had been corroborated by witnesses, OF
which the general public had no pre-
vious knowledge I; but that was all.
The state had not been able to satisfac-
torily prove motive on the part of
the accused, for the murder. There
had been introduced in the evidence
a great pile of letters which there was
reason to believe would throw consid-
erable light on the whole matter but
the handwriting in these letters had
not been identified so positively that
they might not have easily been de-
MED admission. In the opinion of a
majority of the spectators, it looked as
though the presumption might be
very great, there still remained to be
produced great deal in the nature OF
positive proof before the state could
fairly be said to have made out its
case.
Everybody believed there was still
something important to come out but
there seemed to be no suspicion as to
what it was. So when the court room
doors were opened on Saturday morn
ing, there was an immediate rush
for seats. Within less than two min
utes, the entire auditorium was pack
ed and jammed with interested spec
tators, and upon the arrival of his
honor, shortly afterward, the proceed
ings were commenced.
"Robert A. Anderson" called the
solicitor.
Here was the expected sensation.
Robert A. Anderson was the husband
of the accused woman. There had
been in circulation story to the effect
that he was the murderer of Williams.
The understanding was that he was a
fugitive from justice. Mrs. Anderson
had said, at the inquest, that when she
wrote the notes, she thought she was
writing to her husband. In the pub
lie mind this man was an unbearable,
british sot, whose only idea of happi-
ness was to ill himself with liquor.
But this was not the man who answer
ed the call of the solicitor. Instead,
there stepped up to be sworn, a man
who appeared to be all that was just
the opposite of what had been de-
scribed. About 5 feet 6 inches in
height, he looked as if he would weigh
perhaps 16O pounds. He was dressed
in a neatly fitting suit of black with a
cutaway coat. His hair was brushed
straight back from a broad, intellec-
tual forehead, and prominent nose,
wide mouth, thin lips and piercing
black eyes were 80 combined as to in
stantly stamp him as man of expe-
rience in the ways of the world, bright
intelligence and strong determination.
But he did not appear to be alto
gether at ease. He showed just a
little sign of nervousness. The law
yers began squabbling as to the compe.
tency Of his testimony. Colonel YOU
mans quoted some law, and then, in
the language of Bulwer, said that if
husbands were allowed to testify
against their wives and vice versa,
society would become the riot of hell.
While the argument was going on,
the witness stood still, silently looking
on. Small beads of perspiration broke
out on his forehead and the veins of
his neck and face enlarged to distinct
ly visible cords. What was going on
in the mans mind nobody but himself
knows; but in view of subsequent
developments it is not unreasonable to
infer that it was a mighty conflict
between wrongs that had burned into
his soul, and the recollection of a
once fond love, a few sparks of which
were still Pickering in his heart. Be.
yond question, the mans feelings were
intense.
After waiting patiently for the law
yers to get through with their wrang-
ling, Judge Watts ruled that the tes-
timony of the witness was competent.
In effect, his honor said: understand
that you are not compelled to testify
against your wife, and as to whether
or not you do it, is matter for you to
determine. You may refuse to answer
any question that you may not care to
answer. If were in your place, no
matter how this woman may have
wronged me, I would not testify
against her; but that is matter that
is entirely for you. You will be your
own judge, except that shall not per,
nit you to testify as to any communi-
cations, or as to facts that took place
between you and her when you were
living together as man and wife,"
In answer to questions by the solici-
tor, Mr.. Anderson stated that on the
9th of February last, he was in Avaca'
liente, Arizona. He first went to Ari.
zona in November, 1894, and during
the past two years had been in Mexi.
CO, New Mexico, California and several
other states. He had resided in the
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