The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1897-09-16
The Trial of Ed Purvis-

A recent issue of the Fayette-
Vile. N. c., Gazette contained re
port of the trial of Edga Purvis,
who killed Mr.. NJ j Blackwell some
weeks ago. AS Mr.. Blackwell had
many relatives and friends in this
county we reproduce the article
.from the Gazette.
& aAt 7.30 O'Clock this morning the
Jury in the trial of Edgar Purvis,
for the killing of NJ ] Blackwell,
the Atlantic Coast Line fiagman, on
the night Of August 10, brought IN
3 verdictef murder in the first de-
gree, without any recommends
tions. The trial Of this case COM
nenced yesterday morning in the
Superior Court of Harnett county
Ut Ellington, before Judge o. H.
Alien. Solicitor Pou and Mr. u NJ
Rose were the attorneys for the
prosecution, and Mr.. w + Murchl'
SON and Mr.. Clifford appeared for
the defendant by the appointment
ofthe court, the prisoner having
engaged no counsel. By II O'clock
the jury was chosen and both sides
announced their satisfaction with
the twelve men.
erhe prosecutions evidence was
almost Identical with that already
spublIshed in the Observer. with
several new and damaging witt
neeses. or the latter, two men, Ed
4 'rolhsrtie and jim Wright confined
jh prison here with Purvis, tesl-
ned to statements made to them by
sPurvss, in which he confessed the
shOOtiug.v A number of the crew OF
the train on which the murder was
committed testified that they rec
0gnixed Purvis rs being the man
who had the alteration with the
a&xman by his voice. They swore
,.fhst they had heard him speak sew
9fel times since his arrest.
. The fatal bullet was produced
by Dr.. China and proved to be OF
the same ealibre as those used in
Furviy pistol, producer by deputy
sheriff Autry.
I'D Lomax, the eyewitness ofthe
murder was the star witness for
3ike prosecution, and described the
shooting and fight Of himself and
Furvis Ia detail. The State intro
duced testimony to show that Pur-
Wis had ample time to mediate on
the killing and that it was virtually
aii assassination. OF the great
number of witnesses the State in
troduced the defence was not able
.t0shake the testimony of the most
fnsignfficant.
The evidence was convincing
nnd conclusive. The defence put
no witnesses on the stand, and tine
defendant did not testify on his
own behalf.
sThe speeches by the attorneys
on both sides were brief, but able,
hut could hardly have had much
effect one way or the other on the
jury, (Which is said to have been
) very Intelligent one,) as the evil
dencewas overwhelmingly. against
the prisoner. The Judges charge
was mainly taken up with explain
ing the, difference between murder
in the first drgree, murder in the
second degree and mansiaughter,
and what would constitute each. it
was about sundown when he finish
ed and the jury retirad.
1When the verdict was announ-
ced by the foreman the morning
the prisoner showed little emotion
and seemed prepared for the severe
aThe crime for which Purvis is
now under sentence of death was
the coldblocded and unprovoked
killing of Mr.. NJ j Blackwell, of
ForrestOn, s G, a fagman on the
Atlantic Coast Line railroad, onthe
of August 10 near Dunn,
In Harnett county. The flight and
capture are oftoo recent occurrence
tOneed recital of the details"