Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1897-04-14
THE OTHER SIDE.
Affidavit Made by j. VIM. Thur
mond, Esq.

The story of Solicitor ]. VIM.
Thurmond, who recently killed
Will Harris, at Edgefield, has
never been given. At the recent
hearing of the motion for bail an
affidavit from Mr.. Thurmond was
read as follows:
personally came before me, ].
VIM. Thurmond, who being first
duly sworn says, that late in the
afternoon of the Oath instant he
left his Office for the purpose of
going to the office of Mr.. Padgett,
with the view Of spending the rest
of the evening at target shooting
i as he apd Mr.. Padgett had often
done before.
"That on his way 10 the office
of Mr.. Padgett, he met Mr.. VIII
Harris, shook hands with him
cordially, exchanged pleasant
words with him and passed on his
way, not having the faintest or
most remote suspicion that any
truble would arise. Leaving Mr..
Harris he went op to the office of
Mr.. Padgett, finding Mr.. Padgett,
too much engaged to get out de-
ponent went to postofice with the
view to returning to his office.
SIN going back to his Office. he
stopped at the store of Mr. Lynch
and walked in without knowing
that Mr.. Harris was in tho store,
if indeed he was in the store, for
the deponent does not recall whet-
her Mr.. Harris was then in the
store or came in afterwards. but if
deponent had known that Mr..
Harris was then in the store he
would not have hesitated TO stop,
for then or therefore nothing had
occurred to excite his apprehen-
sion that anything unpleasant
would arise.
"When Mr. Harris came into the
store-if he was not then in the
store-he addressed deponent and
said you belong to the d. I'LL
mantle party.
"Deponent cannot recall all That
was said, but Mr. Harris said furth-
er, you got on your belly and
crawled, like d dog for office
and pledged yourself to support
Tillman and his party under all
circumstances, and d-you he will
kick you out when you fail to do
"Deponent replied quietly
"That is false Thereupon MI
Harris quickly jerked out large
knife and opened it. Deponent
t stepped back. Mr. Harris walked
to where another drummer sat and
said: L have a d good knife and
a Colts pistol in my pocket and
came back towards the front door
and out on The pavement, where be
had short talk with another
, drummer. Mr. Harris came back
into the store to barrel by which
deponent was standing, and -four.
sded his kuife in the face of de.
B@nent.
with the view of ending the
Tx, in order that no difficulty OF
lnpleasantness might arise, do.
fonent walked out of the store and
went direct to his Office.
III Iess 5nau h75 minutes atJer
leponent reached, his ofice,. Mr.
.is and Capt DuBose came
ey down the sidewalk which
80 deponent's door, and said
to the deponent: You evaded the
question up yonder.' Deponent
asked: what question: He ans
wered, The question about the d.
Tillmanite party, and d-you,
you ran away from there, 30 that
I did not tell you what l think of
you Deponent said: will, what
is the matter with you?' He said {:
you acted the d-scroundrel and
sinking dog to my father.
simultaneous with these words,
with his knife in his hand, he
sprang as if to rush into the door
and assault deponent. and de-
ponent kicked him backwards from
the door. Immediately and quick
as thought Mr.. Harris threw his
right hand under his coat, and to
his hip pocket, and instantly
deponent fired. Mr.. Harris threw
his right hand to his breast, there
being no pistol in his hand
deponent fired no more.
"Mr. Harris's movement of his
right hand to hip pocket was
distinct and unmistakable, and
deponent did not doubt that he
would draw and fire instantly,
hence deponent fired as quickly 8
possible.
"Deponent did not doubt that
he was in imminent peril of his
life and that the promptest action
upon his part was a necessity, in
order to save his own life.
"Deponet solemnly assures the
court that he fired under inquest
ioning conviction that instant
action was necessary for hIa own
protection
(Slgned) j. VIM. THuRMoND.
March 26th, 1897.