The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-05-16
THE BAMBBRG KILLING.
Bail Granted to Rev. W. E.
Johnson.
THE AMOUNT IS $1,000.
Affidaviss Which Differ Very Much--Rev
Mr.. Johnson's Testimony.

COLUMBIA, May 1.-THE killing OF
Court Stenographer Bellinger by the
Rev. w. E. Johnson, at Bamberg,
came up here this morning. Coun-
sci for the Rev. Mr.. Johnson made
application for bail, which was to-
day granted by Associate Justice
Pope. The motion for bail was made
and argued by Messrs. D.S. Hender-
son and Robert Aldrich for the de-
fendant, snd Mr.. H. L. O'Bannon
appeared for the State.
The hearing was had quite early
this morning.
It was ordered that all the original
papers be filed with the clerk OF
Court, and they were sent away this
morning and were consequently not
available. All of the afhdavits for
the defence that were obtainable are
given.
For the State there are twenty-one
afidavits. They cannot all be given
and are somewhat Identical as to
detail, and so the more important are
given.
The afidavits that are given recite
in a way chapter of the unfortunate
killing and open up to some extent
the versions of the affray, about
which the testimony appears to be
decidedly conflicting.
THE REV. MR.. JoHNsoN,s STATE
MENT.
Fhe defendant in the case makes
detailed statement and here is what
he says:
State of South Carolina, Bamberg
County-The State vs.. VIM. =.
Johnson. In the General Sessions.
Before me personally appeared
William E. Johnson, who, being duly
sworn, deposes and says: That ne
is 3e years old, and has been ordaln-
ed minister of the Baptist Church
for eleven years past, and for the past
three years has been in charge of the
Banaberg Baptist Church, at Bam-
berg, in the said State. That the pas
toral residence, or parsonage in which
defendant resides with his family,
which consists of his wife and four
children, is situated upon the same
block of the town with that of Mr.
John r. Bellinger, Immediately ad-
joining each other and separated only
by dividing fence. That deponent
moved to his said residence in Oc-
tober or November, 1898, and up to
the month of June, 1899, the erelations
between the two families We're peace
able. That in the month of June,
1899. deponent was called on profes-
sionally TO perform the marriage
ceremony between EMr. Joseph +.
Brown and Miss Jennie Bellinger,
the daughter Of the said Mr.. John
r. Bellinger, both Of whom appear
ed to be, and deponent is Informed
were. of lawful age; i. e., above the
age OF 81 years. That after this mar
riage, which it seems did not. meet
the approval of Mr.. John R. Bellin-
ger and his family, they became ex-
tremely hostile to deponent, often
abusing him to his face and in the
hearing of his wife and children in
the most extreme manner, and show
ing this hostility towards him by
many of those irritating, unneigh-
borly ways which are so easy to do
and so hard to bear. Deponent bore
it all with that fortitude and resigna-
ton which his calling required.
That the manner in which he was
treated by this family became
matter of public notoriety, and he
was assured by many that he ought
to take steps to have it stopped, as
it was lessenins his influence for the
good Of the community. That about
six weeks ago young man OF the
town of Bamberg. in sympathy with
the Bellingers' without the slightest
cause. rudeiy accosted deponent in
one OF the public streets, called him
a liar and struck him in the face,
forcing iin 20 defend himself.
PAINTING THE DIVISION FENCE.
That about two weeks ago q color
ed painter by the name of Walker,
who was painting Mr.. Bellinger's
house and fence, came to deponent 5
house and asked leave 10 come into
deponent's yard to paint the division
fence between the two lots. Depon-
ent consented, provided he would
paint the bottom board Of the fence
as we'll as the balance. This he
nromised to do, but did not do; de-