The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1902-04-11

NVS hiIieu WAS tdiKlng JO bOlnS WNtu
Cummings came up. left to wait on
III NJ. W&s listening but did not hear
'hu w"'ds "a ,tated by Mr.. Cummings.
The, "alkod way and met Gus Sander
a.".u; T. ,tI fi"t away from me
THOMAS G"ING, THE DEFENDANT.
BY Sandcrs-Born and reared on p,
Ridge, Union county until six wears of
age. Went to Pacolet. Father been
dead six years. Went to school first.
Worked at Pacolot Mills. Worked
there seven OF eight years. From there
to Union. First under Sparks, then
Landrum, them Thomas, then Splawn.
First worked eight or ten months. Was
working for Splawn. Wanted to go to
school Gave him notice. Asked me
TO work on to twelve and he would give
Carolina. Then went to Columbia to
work. Tren came to Union Worked
uLder Splawn three months. Quit and
went to Pacolet Worked three weeks.
Came back and worked under half
uncle, Jake Going, few days. Get
notice of my discharge Went to din
uer. Then went to Mr.. Mabry's.
Knocked around till about three o'clock.
Went to see Mr.. Splawn to get my time
signed. Jake told me to go Splawn
or Hicks. Gave me time paper at IL
O'Clock l asked Mr.. Hicks to sign it.
He said it was all night, take it to the
office. | did not go to the office at once,
Went up street first Mr. Cummings is
mistaken. | was talking about getting
my work back He said Tom | would
90 to Mr.. Hicks l said | thought l
ought to go 10 the man who had me- dis
charged l said nothing about fixing
or getting even with Mr.. Splawn nor
did not curse. | went out of the store,
went to Mr. Shaw's desk. | asked if he
knew where Mr. Splawn was. Did not
say | wanted him to sign my time, they
are mistaken about that had already
got my time went up and found Mr..
Spawn at his desk He was reading
paper at his desk 1 said good evening
Mr.. spawn He said nothing, but
threw his paper down and called to
Frank 10 get the brush AS he did so
he had an open knife in his right hand
and some tobacco. AS the negro turned
10 gel the brush Splawn raked at me
with the knife aud thew up my left
hand, his arm hit mine. He then reached
for his hip pocket and l pulled out my
pistol and began firing as rapidly as |
could without taking any aim at all. |
shot because l thought he was going to
get his pistol aud shoot me. had no
idea of any difficulty when l went to
Splawn's Office. l wanted to get work
in Union because was engaged to get
married to young lady here. / got my
pistol out Of my trunk. L was going to
move it and did not want the pistol to
stay III ii.
Cross Ex. Splawn had his back toward
me He had on no coat He cut at me
and knocked off the lick. Splawn did
not sly word to me. Owned my pistol
two or three years. Bought pistol after
cane TO Union. Think kept it loaded
boarded at brothers in Columbia.
brought my trunk from Columbia when
moved. l don't know whether 1
brought pistol from there in my pocket
or in my trunk Don't know where
Splawn was when fired the last shat.
Don't known whether | hit him first
shot or not.
Walter Sanders recalled-Splawn used
his right hand.
J. a Going-Splawn was right
handed He could use his left hand
also. Heard him say he could write as
good with one hand as the other.
F. NJ. O'Shields Was working in the
mill shop when shooting occurred.
went up there about five minutes after
the shooting. / found a knife on the
floor Spiaun had not been taken out
OF the tower. Has torn knife up. Taken
a blade out of it to put in another handle
about three or four months ago.
heard about the knife during the last
trial but said nothing about it. Picked
up the knife aud put it in my pocket and
told no one until some months ago, since
the trial.
This was all brought out under hot
fire of cross examination of the Solicitor
Case closed at 4:30 D. m.
Mr.. J. G.. Wallace opened for the
State. He was followed by Mr.. V. e.
DePass for the defense. Mr.. w. w.
Dixon then spoke on the side of the
State, and court adjourned until Satur-
day morning when Mr.. Sanders made
his speech for the defendant and Mr.
Sease, Solicitor. made the closing argu-
ment iOr the State. All the speeches
were master efforts and reflected credit
upon the speakers
The Judges charge lasted fOrty-fve
minutes and was very explicit regarding
the Lazy of Self-defenSe, murder and
manslaughtrr. The jury took the case
a. l2:4j and the great crowd with sigh
OF relief flied ont Of the court room,
around which many hung, speculating
rs 10 The verdict of tie jury
at 2:3O the jury WAS allowed by the
Judge to g. out with The deputy sheriff
TO get dinner. They returned and at 3:45
they S'nt for the Judge and returned to
tie e ,urt room.
great rash was Immediately made
for seats ard again the court room was
filed Every one listened with breath