Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-11-21
THE BlsATTON TRIAL.

Ihe report Oh the court proceedings, .,
in the last issue Of THE ENQUIRER, in
cluded developments in the trial OF
Paul and John s. Bratton, charged with
the murder Of H. A. Brown, up to 1.45
p. m, Friday, the hour of adjournment
for recess. At that time Policeman ].
H. B. Jenkins, of Rock Hill, was still
on the stand, and the State had several
more witnesses to examine. These
were ]. F. Wingate, Pride Ratteree, E.
A. Holler, G. B. Sandifer, John Crosby,
and Will Caldwell. With the examina-
ton Of the last named witness, the
State rested with it's case and 1t
was standing as follows:
H. A. Brown was mortally wounded
in his bed, in the home Of Mr.. P. A.
Neal, in Rock Hill, on the morning OF
September II, by a white stranger
whose identity was at the time un-
known. It was not certain how the
stranger was dressed, whether he was
clean shaven or wore a moustache,
though such evidence as there was on
the subject indicated that he not only
wore a moustache; but had on his face
several days growth Of beard. The
testimony also showed that Messrs.
John S. and Paul r. Bratton had left
Yorkville on the night of the 18th of
September in a surry, driven by VIII
CALDWELL that they finally arrived at
the house Of P. A. Neal, that John s.
Bratton knocked at the door and af-
ter two or three conferences with the
party who answered the knock, disap-
peared in the house: t]:at two pistol
shots were heard shortly afterWard;
that within a few minutes John S.
Bratton came out Of the door and said
to Will Caldwell, II shot him-dont
tell" that the party then returned to
Yorkville.
The solicitor had announced, Friday
morning, that Mrs. Fannie E. Bratton
had been arrested, and that he was ex-
pecting her to arrive on the north
bound train. This witness did not ar
rive during the morning or next day.
There were various rumors as to her
whereabouts; but as to the real reason
why she did not put in her appearance,
there were no positive developments.
One of the rumors, however, had II,
that because Of a certain lawsuit Mrs.
Bratton is seeking to institute against
her husband, the attorney thought
best to keep her out Of the presentrase.
Anyhow, Mrs. Fannie E. Bratton did
not appear on the witness stand.
The first witness called by the de-
fense. was Mr.. r. B. Lowry, OF YORK
VILE, whose home Is just across the
street from the home Of Mr.. John >.
Bratton. Mr.. Wilson commenced his
examination with reference to occur
rences at the home Of Mr.. John ..
Bratton on the night of the l2th OF
September The solicitor objected on
the ground Of irrelevancy. He helo
that whatever may have occurred on
that night was a separate and d1stlnct
transaction, having nothing Whatever
to do with the circumstances or the
killing. The court seemed inclined to
side with the solicitor. Then followed
long, fierce, legal tilt between the
solicitor on one side, and Judge WITH
erspoon and Mr. Wilson on the otner.
The defense intimated very strongly
that unless this testimony was admit
ted, it's case would fall to the ground
so far as this case was concerned, and
there would be no recourse except to
the supreme court The defense prom
ised to connect the developments at the
home of Mr.. John S. Bratton directly
with the killing, and Judge Klugh n
nally decided to admit the testimony
with the understanding that in the
event it's relevancy was not shown, II
would be stricken out. The solicitor
his approval Of the propo-