The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1900-12-12

shots very close together; was satisfied
In his mind that three pistol shots were
hred hrst, followed by gun. He i'm.
medlately got on his horse and rode In
the dir rection OF Johnsons house. On
arriving there :" l found crowd of peo.
pie and dead body; the BODY | learn.
ed was that of w. L. Bellinger. The
day before the homicide | went to Mr.
Johnson 3 house on hearing OF the diff,
hculty that he and the Bellingers had
and ! wanted to investigate the cause
told johnson that his life was In
danger, and on returning to my home
borrowed gun and Mr.. Sanders and
myself sent down for some cartridges,
which we got and reloaded with buck
shot, extracting the small shot which
the others. After which Sanders took
two of the shells and the gun and car.
ried them to Johnson"
Col. Counts repeated conversation
which he had with j. w. Stokes, saw.
Ing that he told Stokes he had tried to
settle the difficulty between the John
sons and Beilingers and had failed, and
now intended helping Johnson on. He
told johnson tina, his life was in dan.
ger, gave him gun and told him to
kill any one who came on his premises.
to protect himself and kill any one who
tres passed on him. He said he expect.
ed difficulty between Bellinger and
johnson while Bellinger was in the
postotfice. He admitted that he had
told his pastor TO kill any one who
trespassed.
Here Judge Watts stated that he did
not wish it understood by those pres
ent that the law justtie I'd person in
killing another for trespass.
Col. Counts explained how the pistol
which Brown got out Of the posto n ce,
came to be there, stating that it be-
longed to delivery clerk and that
Brown took 1t with his permission for
the protection OF himself.
tried several times to make peace
between Bellinger and johnson. | con.
slider the digging OF ditch in Joan.
sons yard by Bellinger during John.
ron's absence was the greatest insult
that could be thrust into mans teeth
When man has been imposed on as
has Mr. johnson Christian spirit goes
out the door, for man by nature is vim.
dictive."
Col. Counts was kept on the stand
several hours and was rigidly cross
examined by the attorney general
The examination at times would be
come very dramatic.
Joe Brown, the only eye witness tt
testify for the defense, said he WAS ,
member OF Mr. JOnns0n's church and ,
brother-in-law OF William II. Bellinger
the deceased. He married Bellinger'.
sister In Jnne, 1899, and Johpson per
iormeu the ceremony. On the morn
ing OF May Atm he drove over into BAN
berg from his farm and heard of th,
trouble the previous dav betwee,
johnson and Bellinger. He went !,
Johnson's house, told him he was sorr,
to hear OF the trouble; then took John
son In his buggy down town. The,
went to the postofiice. Johnson lef
MIN there. Later, witness drove b.
Johnson's house and stopped.
Mr.. Johnson came out with a GU
In his hand, and we saw Bellinge
coming across the campus. NV hors
became restive, moved up and the
back, exposing johnson to the mi
view OF Bellinger, who was coming u
at the time. Bellnger saw Johnso
and opened fire on him, shot twice an
then Johnson shot him. johnson an
Beillnger were within twenty five @
thirty feet OF each other. Bellinge
Tell immediately after being shot. ii
hred twice before and twice sfte
| "O'Aoou ohop' w nOL romGm be
saying: That's all right: YOU hay
killed him; go In the house"
The witness said he had warne
Johnson that his lie was In DANCE
told him that Willie Bellinger ha
made threats against his life.
Thomas Fielder, OF Denmark, testifie
that he was in Brokers hardwa
store In BAN berg when Bellinger can
In, got a pistol, loaded it and put it
his pocket. AS ha started away /
said to Brooker: "I'll shoot the dan
ned -. Witness heard Brook,
self" ~ 'oo
S. III. Sanders, merchant OF Flo
ence, told about having been In Bar
berg at the time Of the trouble; OF ha
Ing, at the suggestion OF Colonel Count
loaded shells with buck and duck sh
: and taken them with a gun to 4
parsonage. He thought It the duty
any patriotic citizen to offer a man tn
: protection. johnson had wife Ar
three children. He would have do,
the same for Bellinger under simil
circumstances. He was at the inaues
When someone called for the gun,
ielt Tor the psrsonage; moved the e,
from one room to another, 20 the sher