Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-11-21
Wednesday, November 2l, 1900.
Ter Indulgence on


that account.
Messrs. ]. w. Carr and r. B. Lowry
were recalled to testify as to the affec-
nature Of Mr.. John s. Bratton's
family relations. Both testified that he
was kind and indulgent. and spent all
Of his leisure time at home with his
wife and children. This testimony was
objected to by the solicitor as irrele-
vant.]
Mr.. John 8. Bratton was the next
witness sworn. His face showed un-
evidence of a great deal of
mental suffering. He bore himself
calmly, however, and in answer to
questions, gave his testimony with de-
lIperate directness. The examination
was conducted by w. w. Lewis,
Esq, and covered minutely almost ev-
cry circumstance that was connected
with the killing. His story, in answer
to questions, was as follows:
am 4S years Of age. was married
in October, 1887, to Miss Fanny Crock
ct. Four children have been born to
us. Two are dead and two little girls
are still living.
subsequently, of what property did you
become possessed?
(Solicitor objected on the ground Of
irrelevancy. Mr.. Lewis explained that
he wished to show what disposition
Mr.. Bratton had made Of his property
In order to prove his remarkable affec-
ton for his family. The court stated
that the fact Of affection had been
proved by the highest possible evil
dence, and that 1t was unnecessary to
consume time with details. Mr.. Lewis:
we do not wish to be understood as
contending with the court; but with all
due respect, we observe that surely the
court would not cut US off from this
testimony in order to save time" The
Court: mot at all. In a matter so
grave as this, time is of no moment;
but we must be governed by establish
ed rules. Otherwise there would be no
means Of confining the testimony to
the matters at issue. You have al
ready established the affection Of the
defendant for his family by q much
higher degree Of proof than could be
furnished by more detailed recital of
special circumstances" Mr.. Lewis:
But we are afraid the State may at
tempt to attack the defe dant's affec-
ton for his family" Mr Henry: "I
will guarantee you that the state State
will not attempt to reply to any testi-
mony that has been brought out on
this subject" Mr.. Lewis: ."I dislike
to state in the presence Of the jury the
fact we wish to prove; but, your hon,
or, we want to show that at the time
Of his marriage, or subsequently there
to, this man became possessed Of yalu-
able property, and that on account Of
his great affection for that woman he
gave her everything In the world that
he had" The Court: II decline to adj
NIT the testimony" Mr.. Lewis: Then
we request that our exception be
noted."] Turning to the witness Mr..
Lewis asked:
Mr.. Bratton state to the jury, II you
can the degree Of affection you had
for your wife and children.
A. / would die for them.
@. Mr.. Bratton, did you ever know
one H. A. Brown?
A. Yes.
At this point the examination d.
gressed to the state Of witnesses health.
witness stated that his health was
poor; that he was not physically
strong. Then he testified that he had
first known II. A. Brown at the board
ing house Of his mother-in-law, Mrs.
Crockett; that he Lad met him there
frequently and that his wife had met
him frequently also. Afterward, H. A.
I5rown had boarded with witness. Wit
ness was here shown a plat of his house,
and he described locations, etc. He
was accustomed to occupy. front
room, and his wife occupied another
room in the back part Of the house,
with one window opening on a piazza
and another opening on the yard.
Near the window, opening on the yard,
there was swing for the amusement
Of the children. In the room he occupied
there were two beds, a small one in
which he was sleeping that night, and
a large one in which one of the little
girls was sleeping. He was not feeling
well that night and went to bed early.
Between and 10 o'clock, Mrs. Bratton
came into the room, and spent some
time looking about. She was occupied
mostly about the large bed in which
the little girl was sleeping, and I
thought she was arranging the cover
ing and mattresses to make the child
more comfortable. After q little, Mrs.
Bratton went out of the room. She had
had some teeth extracted that day and
1t occurring to me that possibly she
was uncomfortable and in need of
something that I might be able to do
for her, got up and went to her room
door. heard whispering converse
tion going on inside, and recognized
one Of the voices as being that Of q
man. was astounded, and at loss
what to do. I tried the door, and
found 1t fastened. Then I went back
to my room in search Of my pistol. I
kept it usually between the mattresses
at the head of the large bed in which
my little girl was sleeping. It had been
removed. rushed back to my wife's
room and tried the door again. It was
still fastened, and I asked my wife
why in the hell she did not open 1t.
There was no reply. went around to
the side window. The man was climb
ing out Of 1t. grabbed him. He
caught me by the arm and also choked
me. Then he got me tangled in the
swing with the rope around my neck.
I saw that was powerless in his hands
and I hollered for Will Moore. I hol-
Tered several times, until he got. me of
the ground. About that time Will
loose. Then Mr.. Lowry and several
others came up. I kept hitting him
with my fist. could get nothing else
to hit him with but small rock, and
hit him with that until they pulled
me off. I asked for pistol with which
to shoot him or knife with which to
cut his throat; but Mr.. Williams told
me that must not do that. After that
went into the house to dress, as had
on nothing but my night clothes. My
feet had been considerably cut on some
glass out in the yard and were bleeding.
saw nothing Of my wife until after
they pulled Brown off Of me. After
got on my clothes I searched for
but could not find one. then
went out and asked Tod Lowry where
Brown was, and he told me that he
had gone.
n What 1,-oS fbo otfitudo ~ 1,n,,r
wife at this time?"
She did not pretend to notice me at
me no assistance.
@. Did or did not your wife profess
to know who the party was?
[Objection by the solicitor. Mr.. Lewis:
May it please your honor, the attitude
and conduct Of the wife at this time Is
the very essence Of the whole thing. It
was this more than anything else that
could influence the mind Of the mani
The court overruled the, objection.
Che rroFocco1 mt fn Grou, siyho ~