The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1898-06-28
- - : =, - 49, -
NEWBERRY MYSTERY.
Evidence on Which tho Accused Were
Held FOR Trial for Murder.
EreeunzZLs Ne7na

i
/ Held FOR TriaIfor Murder.
GreenuaAs News.
| NeWberry, s. c., June 24.-The
defendants charged with the murder
| of Lovet Williams, a negro woman at
Pomaria in 1895, were given pre-
limiDary hearing before Magistrate
is. S. Cunningham on yesterday.
Owing 10 the absence of Solicitor
Sease, Cole L, Blease appeared for the
State, while the defendants were rep
resented by Hunt & Hunt and j. Y.
Culbreath and Senator Ragsdale. of
Winnsboro, the latter for two Fair
fed men.
The warrant charge. w. T. Hatton,
Adam L. Aull, Albert F. Riser, Jim
Blair, Robert Blair, East !Fulmer and
| Wash Wicker with the murder Of one
Lovet Williams, at or near Pomarla,
in NeMberry county, in 1895.
Owing to the fact that this affair
has created great deal of interest
the magistrates small court room was
| crowded with people who seemed to
be eagerly. expecting some startling
disclosures to be made.
Mr.. Blease says that the reason he
examined 80 few of tho States wit
nesses was simply 70 bring out enough
evidence to make a probable case and
hold the defendants without making
known TO tho defense the character of
the evidence tho States side lad in its
| possession.
It may prove best for these defend
ants, i've of whom are prominent
white men, charged with such grave
offense that the case has been sent to
the sessions court. where they will
have full investigation, and if the
| evidence the Stale is holding back is
no stronger than that brought out at
the preliminary yesterday they will
have very little trouble in being Vindi-
cated and acquitted Of the crime
charged against them. At the be-
ginning there vas little tilt between
the lawyers on the question as to the
prisoners pleading to the warrant.
The attorneys for the defense insisted
there was 10 law to require them to
plead, and Mr.. B!ease said there would
be no hearing unless some answer was
SGT up 10 the warrant. After some
discussion Mr.. Ragsdale said the de-
PENDANTS wore not guilty; and this was
taken as sufficient Piles to the charge
and the case proceeded. The follow
! ing is "a exact transcript of the testi-
mony:
By Mr.. BIease: D. A. Livingston
| sworn, says: Lived on Sth January,
1895, q. l'omsria. Went over to Pros
perity on or about that date to have
work on teeth. Didn't do anything
much that day. Went with Hatton,
Aull, Riser toProsperity-W: T. Hat
ton, Adam Aul!, Albert Riser, the
| two Blairs (defendants), East Fulmer,
Wash Wicker. Went to KILLERS Office
and lad teeth fixed. They were hunt
| ing Williams woman, who had stolen
sea1a stuff from Mr.. Blair. had
seen her ut Pomaria day before dressed
| in silk. They found where she was
and went aud got her. Tied her and
carried her and put her in Buggy and
carried her to Pomaria. Saw her in
| buggy with Aull and Riser sitting on
her lap or she was on their lap. Went
to Pomaria with them. Treated her
as kind as could. Didn't mistreat her.
I'She asked to stop and got out OF the
| buggy and Wash Wicker followed and
sut 3 cedar switch and cut her over
tback. Aull, Hatton, Fulmer saw this
done. They had charge Of her but
let her step to one side. Didn't see
her at Pomar;a.
No eross-examlnation.
Redirect: This was in Newberry
| county, Stale of South Carolina. Have
never seen her since and would not
know her if would see her.
By Mr.. Blease:
l.. L. Bolick sworn, says: Live at
! Rielgeway, this State. Was constable
for trial Justice in 1895. Knew woman
named Lovet Williams. Never had
warrant in my hands. There was
warrant for her for breaking in Robt.
IBlalr's house. Warrant was placed in
R. r. Blair's hand, but not directed to
! him to serve. Dc not know OF my
| own knowledge what became Of war
rant. Mr.. Blair did not tell me he
served warrant, but said woman had
been arrested. Could not tell whether
she was ever brought before any trial
justise-not: while I was present. Ny
duty to be- about there when trials are
had, and if she was ever brought there
don't know it. Lovet Williams had
/; cooked for Mr.. Blair, but when house
Twas broken in Mr.. Blair was not at
home. Lovet Williams had been about
there about month or six weeks.
Never have seen her since.
xBy MIR. Rsgsdale: She was stran-
GER around Ridgeway. Had no peo-
plearoud there. Had only been there
month or si1 weeks. First place she
worked was at Robert Blair's.
| By Mr.. Bleass:
Polly Sigh sworn, says: Lived IN
January, '95, in Newberry county,
near Pomaria. Heard somc hollerlng
around my house 1895. Can't tell
what time of yeari it was. Heard some
one holler murder three times. Can't
tell whether man or womsn. Heard
shootipg-pistols-not far from creek.
Mr. W.T. Hatton came to my house
!; sfter shooting, called out Joe, my
husband, and asked if he saw any
woman pass. Joe said no. l live two
miles from Pomaria. MIR. Hatton
! came to Ny house about II O'Clock.
Hadn't long ate supper when I heard
noise, but when Mr.. Hatton came had
supper good smart while. From my
house shooting was up towards rail-
road. Cane on each side Of railroad
thick. Didn't see anybody else. In
1.-The evening saw buggy pass my house
with two men in it in road toward
I Sall nat nnhlin. mad Cnnldn'k tell