The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1897-04-21
The Acquittal Of Col. Jack Anderson

Several lawyers were relating early
experiences one day last week and one
of the stories ran along in this way:
"In my early career | became con-
nected with murder case out West.
This was many years ago, and the
scene of the story was border town,
where ingenuity made up for lack Of
legal knowledge. Nearly every man
in the place carried gun, and shoot
iugs were quite frequent. A sort Of
moral wave happened along one day,
and the Prosecuting Attorney an.
nounced that the next killing would
result in hanging. The people said
he was right and the Sheriff gave it
out that he had the rope ready. This
was the condition of the atmosphere
when one summer afternoon.. the news
went around that Colonel Jack Ander-
son had shot and killed Major Will
liams. Jack Anderson, it seems, was
at the bar of the Nugget saloon drink
ing with friends when Major Williams
and several others entered. The
Colonel and Major were political rivals
and bad blood existed between them.
The two parties stood in front of the
bar, some distance apart. The Major
ordered whiskey straight, and, after
drinking it, picked up the glass Of
water accompanying the. liquor. Look,
ing at it for moment, he turned and
stepped toward Colonel Jack Ander-
son. AS the latter was about to leave
the bar, Major Williams dashed the
water in his face. Anderson whipped
out his revolver and shot the Major
through the heart. Public opinion
condemned the shooting for this rea-
son-that while the Majors act de-
served rebuke, it in no way placed the
Colonel's life in danger, and so the
plea of elf-defence would not stand.
Anderson's friends engaged me to-
defend him at the trial, and I'll admit
that it looked to me like hopeless
case. However, when the trial came
up I had outlined defence that pre-
sented the only chance Of victory.
The jury was selected, and as well as
I could judge was against my client.
The defense summoned no witnesses,
and the case closed with the cold fact
being impressed on the jury that a
life had been taken on trivial provo
cation. Captain Bill Thompson was
the Prosecuting Attorney, and in his
speech to the jury he emphasized the
necessity of putting stop to the
reckless use of firearms as illustrated
in this case. His speech was good
one and, if anything besides the evi-
dence was needed to convict my client,
the address of Bill Thompson would
have done it. During the trial I had
taken but little action, and every
friend Of Anderson 8 was of the opin-
ion that mistake had been made in
securing me for the defense. You
will be surprised, however, when |
tell you that after fve-minutes talk
to the jury they returned verdict of
acquittal. How did they reach that
conclusion e?
This way: When Bill Thompson
concluded his address to the jury, I
took the floor. Now, I knew Bill was
quick tempered and carried gun. I
also knew he would shoot as quick as
a flash if his anger was reused. So,
facing the jury, outlined the evil
dence, bringing out the fact that An
derson had in no way provokeda quar-
rel. While talking / walked to the
water cooler, and, filling the glass with
water, gradually approached Bill
Thompson chair. Holding the glass
in my right hand I raised my left and
then launched into a fiery speech,
stating that my client was being made
victim of the moral spasm then pre-
valent. I had been so quiet during
the progress of the trial that this sud-
den outburst startled Judge, jury law
yers and spectators. Everybody was
attention. AS I became more and
more bitter in my remarks | could see
Thompson moving uneasily in his
chair. His face was pale and he
showed every evidence Of anger. |
had worked myself up to climax of
abuse heaped on Thompson and then
to top it off dashed the glass of water
full in his face. Excitement Well,
I should say there was. AS the water
struck Bills face he sprang to his
feet, and in the twinkling of an eye
had his gun out. His arm was held
by friends, however, and thus my life
was saved. For the next five minutes
the Sheriff had all he could do to keep
peace in the room. Then l was
brought before the Judge for con-
tempt. My scheme had worked to
perfection, and I was as cool as a man
could be under the circumstances. l
asked the Judge for permission to ex-
plain my conduct, and, this being
granted, I made my explanation vir-
tually plea for my client.
"Your Honor" I said ; ''no one in
this room has more respect for your
self nor a higher regard for Captain
Thompson than I have. Yet it will
surprise you both to learn that tor
weeks I have practiccd and studied to
make perfect my conduct of to-day.
For weeks I rehearsed the part you
saw me play. Why There was
life at stake. My client was on trial
for killing man who simply threw
water in his face. On this plain
statement of fact he would be con-
victed. The jury was not present at
the time of the killing, and would be
governed by the evidence. l had but
one recourse, and that was to show so
simple an act as that committed by
Major Williams would rouse in any
man the most violent anger. And l
venture to say that were it not for the
hand of friend, who restained Cap
tain Thompson | would have paid the
penalty"
.''Yo GU would, by - said Bill.
"Now, your Honor, and gentlemen
of the jury, l leave the case of my
client in your hands.
Five minutes later Jack Anderson
was a free man.--lac, IN the st.
Louis Republic.
.Lo r;ntor ne 1902 r M