The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1897-04-22
THE EDGEFIELD TRAGEDY.
Thurmond Tells Under Oath Why He
Killed Harris.

Thurmond Tells Under Oath Why he
Killed Harris.
There is no case that is attracting
more attention Just now than that OF
the killing of Mr.. Will Harris by So
licitor Thurmond at Edgefeld: Below
is the full evidence as to the killing by
Solicitor Thurmond:
Personally came before me, j. VIM.
Thurmond, who, being first duly
sworn, SAYS that late in the afternoon
of the 24.h inst. 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,
as he and Mr.. Padgett had often done
before.
That on the way to the Office OF MIR.
Paogett he net Mr.. Willis Harris,
shook hands with him cordially, ex.
changed pleasant words with him and
passed on his way. not having the
faintest or most remote suspicion that
any trouble would arise. Leaving Mr..
Harris he went on to the Office OF MIR.
Padgett; finding Mr.. Padgett too much
engaged to 60 out, deponent went to
the postoffice to see if he had any mall.
] hereupon deponent left the post
Office with the view of returning to his
office.
In going back to ais Office he stopped
at the store of Mr.. Lynch and walked
in, withoutknowing that Mr.. Harris was
in the store, if indeed he was in the
store. 70. the deponent does not recall
whether Mr.. Harris was then in the
store or came in afterwards, but If de-
ponent haC known that Mr. Harris was
then in the store he would not have
hesitated to stop, for then or thereto
fore nothing had occurred to excite his
apprehension 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 be-
long to the - Tillmanlte party"
Deponent cannot recall all that was
said, but Mr.. Harris said further, "You
got on your belly and crawled like
- dog for Office, and pledged your
self to support Tillman and his party
under all circumstances, and, - you,
he will kick you out when you fail to do
it" Deponent replied quietly, "That's
false" Thereupon Mr.. Harris quickly
jerked out large knife and opened it.
Deponent stepped back. MIR. Harris
walked to where another drummer sat
and said, 81 have good knife and
Colts pistol in my pocket" and came
back towards the front door and out on
the pavement, where he had q short
talk with another drummer. MIR. Har-
ris came back into the store to barrel,
by, which deponent was. standing, and
fourished his knife in the face Of de-
ponent.
With the view of ending the talk, in
order that no difficulty or unpleasant
ness might arise, deponent walked out
of the store and went direct to his Of
fee.
In less than five minutes after depo-
nent reached his Office Mr.. Harris and
Capt. DuBose came down the sidewalk
which passes deponent's door, and Har-
ris said to the deponent: You evaded
the question up yonder." Deponent
asked, "What question ?" He answer
ed, "The question about the - Til
mantle party, and - you, you ran
away from there, so that L did not tell
you" Deponent said: "Will, what is
the matter with you ?" He said, ''You
acted the - scoundrel and sinking
dog to my father.
Simultaneous with these words, with
his knife in his hond, he sprang as if to
rush into the door and assault depo-
nent, and deponent knocked him
backwards from the door. Immedi-
ately, and quick as thought, Mr.. Har-
ris threw his right hand under his
coat and to his hip pocket, with the
purpose, as deponent did not doubt, Of
drawing his pistol and instantly depo-
nent fred. Mr.. Harris threw his hand
to his breast. There being no pistol in
his hand deponent fired no more.
Mr.. Harris movement of his right
hand to his hip pocket was distinct and
unmistakeable, and deponent did not
doubt that he would draw and fire in
stantly, hence deponent fired as quick
ly as possible.
Deponent did not doubt that he was
in imminent peril os his life and that
the promptest action on his part
was q necessity in order to save his own
life.
Deponent solemnly assures the Court
that he fired under unquestioning con-
viction that instant action was necessa-
~ for his protection.
(signed) j. WM. THURMoND.
March 26, 1897.
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