The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1903-04-10
the life of the prisoner depended, was

the life of the prisoner depended, was
begun.
On request of Mr.. Schumpert the wit
nesses for the State and the defense we're
separated and excluded from the court
room
The first witness for the State was the
! lady upon whom 1t is alleged the assault
was committed.
MISS EMMA BOWERS.
Sworn, she said. Live in Newberry
County, near Little Mountain. On 10TH
day of Fe nruary was at the house of
sister. in-lar, Mrs Ella Counts. Live
with my brother, DR.. Jacob Bowers In
the house with us lives my mother, aged
about 70. am about 80. Have been
living with my brother all my life. On
the 10th February left home to visit Mrs
Ella Counts some time after sun up.
Mother went with me there. 1t is about
mile. Around the wagon road is q little
further. That day walked through path =
way. Went to help sister quilt and to
spend day. Left in the evening about
hour by sun, with two Of my sisters
children, Oscar going OH 9 and Ebert
going on 7. Went with me OH way back
half way or over. Dismissed them when
near enough to see out to the opening
Had gone piece of way home before that
always, or if they did not 60, their mother
went with me. Their mother did not 60
that day because her husband was not
there. Reached home about sundown.
Found mother alone. DR.. and Mrs Bow
ers we're gone off. Returned before day
next morning. Had not visited sister
t,, aGc
Strother. He worked for my brother.
Saw him only when he would come to
the house to get his horse. On February
10Th did not see George Strother until
was coming home. Nobody was with me.
1t was at the top of hill just at the edge
of the woods. Was little piece from
him when first saw him. Fence runs
parallel with road and after children left
me stopped at fence to tie my shoe.
When first saw Strother he was coming
to meet me, little piece off When first
saw him he was III the road, about
twenty-five or thirty yards distance. The
turned back had gone about rs yards be-
fore saw Strother. When met him he
asked me if had any money to loan him.
Replied had none. He said, hold on,
been wanting to see you l told him [
had to get home and hurried OH. AS
got on top of hill noticed him coming.
Had frightened me and when saw him
coming I broke and ran and hollered and
he caught me in All open field about one
fourth mile from home Between that
and home there was little slip of pines.
was at edge of pines from the house.
The ground home was little hilly. When
lie caught me he grasped my neck, threw
me down and choked me. Said if
Il i1,,,t cl, hO1 he ont
dam throat. Pulled out his knife and
opened it, He accomplished his purpose
l promised wouldn't tell because was
afraid lie would kill ME. (Thc harrow
ing details we're brought out Did not
at any time consent. and resisted His
knife frightened ME and l promised not
to tell for fear that he would kill me.
First told this to my brother next morn
ing. Did not tell my mother same night
because she was cd and was afraid it
would frighten her Showed scars OH left
side of my neck made by Strother's
hand, to my brother. Scars stayed there
for over a week and were seen by w. p.
Counts and Pat GLAND. Never saw de-
fendant at ,er this till Monday The wit
ness identified Strother Path in which
assault was made runs through land be-
longing to myself, brother and sister
Cross examination by Mr.. Schumpert: {:
Have known Strother last year. Came
to my brothers. Christmas a year ago.
Was there till first of This year, wien he
moved to w. p. Counts. While with
my brother, his house could be seen from
our house. Saw him nearly every day.
Was not often about field where he was
working. Have COW which I milk nv.
self Ny COW pasture and the nearest
field which Strothcr worked were on op-
poste sides of the house. When saw
George that evening was about half way
home Did not send childlen back, they
went of their own accord. 1t was about
a quarter Of mile to home from where
he caught me, and there was patch of
pines between. When we met did not
stop when he asked for money When
looked back after passing he was stand
ing still. Questioned as to what took
place at the meeting. Miss Bowers gave
| the same answers aG given to the Solici-
| tor. Don't know what became of
Strothe1 after left him until Ilooke ed back
after got OH the other side of the branch
| thirty yards behind. I was frightened
| and broke and ran and holloered. When
he first came up he caught me by the
| neck with both hands as if to choke me.
| He held me until promised not to hol-
ler any longer That was before the deed
| was done. I did not holler after prom
ised- not to The promise was made be
fore Afterwards I promised wouldn't
tell it. Nobody saw us together. Ask ed
if Mr.. George Counts came up just after
wards Miss Bowers emphatically replied
no Don't know where Strother went
| Had on sun bonnet, which dropped to
the ground. Saw mother as soon as l
got home but didn't tell her. Brother
| got home next morning Sister-in-law
Mrs. Bowers, came hone same afternoon
Told brother next morning. Didn't
swear out warrant against Strother Don't
know who swore out the warrant Asked
if she knew where George Strother was
that afternoon. Miss Bowers said
| Strother's wife had told her that she was
going to take dinner to her husband il
the woods. Asked what brought about
the conversation with Strother's wife
witness replied 'nothing" Had never
been over to the woods where Strothei
was splitting rails Asked if her brother
in. law, George A. Counts, didn't catcl
her and Strother and whip and abuse he
about it, replied, mo, sir " "Isn't tina
how those marks got on your neckH
mo sir " "After the children left you
didn't you go over to where you coult