The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1897-03-17
THE MURPHY CASE.
AN AUGUSTA LAWYER WORKING ON

AN HUOUS 2 LAW 7 SH WORNlNN YIN
Claims to Havs Secured additional E.i-
dence Which VIII Clear the accused.
But Fails to Say What 1t Is.
CoLUNBIA, March 12.-Col. NJ. T.
Carroll, City Attorney of Augusta, is
in the city. He comes here, however,
net in his official capacity, but as q
citizen to do all in his power to pre-,
vent the execution of Dan Murphy, oil
whose innocence he is profoundly
confident. Col. Carroll has no per.
sonal interest in the condemned man,
further than that any human being
would have in saving man he be
lieves innocent, and his Gisinterested
efforts in behalf of Murphy will per,
haps have more inhue with toe
Governor than if he appealed to him
professionally Or on purely personal
grounds.
1t has been already stated in the
Register that Col. Carroll had become
interested in the case, but few people
know the reasons that actuated MIN in
spending time and money to save the
condemned man. 1t was the merest
accident, but it may turn out Provi.
dental one for Murphy.
The prisoner has a brother on the
Augusta police force named Dave
Murphy. Oae day very recently Col.
Carroll saw the policeman and one or
two others in conversation with Mr..
G. W. NJ. Williams, a former attor,
ney OF this place, on q street in Au'
gusta. He saw some papers pass be
tween Mr.. Williams and the police
man, and casually inquired from one
Of those present, after the meeting had
broken up, what it ali meaut. He was
informed that Policeman Murphy had
just paid Williams S35 for securing
All affidavit from a woman witness iu
the case named Barr that she had lied
and, further. that Williams had pre-.
sented the affidavit to the Governor.
Col. Carroll was not satisfied that
all was right and later in talking with
the policeman he found that the mon
ey had been paid. He then became
convinced that Dan Murphy was not
guilty and for his friendship for the
policeman resolved to help him all he
could in saving his brothers life.
He took the train for Orangebnrg,
consulted with Murphy's attorney,
and even visited the scene of the MUIR
der. The more he could learn the
more he was convinced that the wo-
man Bars testimony was false. He
visited her and found that she was a
common, drunken prostitute, but she
freely confessed to him that she had
been paid to lie by Detective" Hol-
land. Acting on this, he persuaded
the woman to come to Columbia last
week, paying ker expenses himself.
He arrived here at night, put the wo-
man in hotel and early the next
took her to the mansion to
see the Governor. There she reitera
ted her story about being paid to lie
and talked in sucn way that the
Governor is reported to have said that
it was impossible to believe her testi,
mony, 50 depraved and unconsciona-
ble was she.
Col. Carroll after this tried to get
the stenographic notes OF the trial, but
could find none, and was informed
that nobody interested in the matter
was able to pay for the transcrlbing
of the notes. He then wrote Stenog-
rapher Blackman of Charleston for a
copy, but found he was in New York.
When he returned to Charleston, Col.
Carroll renewed his demand for a
transcription of the notes, bat was in
formed by the stenographer that he
was busy with his court duties and 1t
would be physically impossible to
give him the testimony. Yesterday
SLenographer Blackman wired that he
would be only able to make extracts,
in view OF other duties, aud asking
what part he desired. Col. Carroll re-
piled that mans life was at stake
and he wanted it all, and, further.
more, under the circumstances, he
would ask the presiding judge to have
it copied and another stenographer
if necessary,as he had gone
into the case with q view of having
all the facts laid before the Governor.
These are the facts as the case now
stands. The testimony has never been
laid before the Governor, and until It
is and he mas had time to digest it, 1t
is not believed that he will allow Muir
ply to hang, even if ne has to give
him another respite.
Col. Carroll says that he found
many prominent citizens Of Orange.
burg who expressed the opinion that
was not the guilty man. He
says the track" evidence in the case
can absolutely be proven untenable
and in fact has given the whole case
the thorough study that good crlml-
nal lawyer always does, and from 1t
he has no doubt Of the prisoner cd
tire innocence Of all connection with
the murder.
Col. Carroll yesterday visited Muir
pAS Ill Ills SS11. SAS Las USSA SbSSNSJ
the prisoner is densely ignorant and
at first refused to have anything to
say at all satisfactory, as he did when
the Governor and the local newspaper
men visited him on various occasions.
Having, however, received letter
from his brother, telling OF Col. Car
rolls visit to Columbia, he soon grew
and told his story IN his
own way, reasserting his innocence OF
all connection with the crime. What
he said and what additional evidence
Col. Carroll has will be presented to
the Governor on his return. Until
then II is thought best not to say any
thing about it, but it is contendei that
the additional facts will prove conclu-
sive to the Governor.
Murphy expressed desire to see his
brother and Col. Carroll telegraphed
for him yesterday. He is expected to
arrive in the city today. Both will
remain here u atiI they can see Cover
nor E!lerOS who is eyoected to re-