The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1904-03-25
THE UNwRITTEN Law.
Spain Kelley Aceaitted at BIshopville
for killing w. F.. Creeoh.


for killing w. F.. Creech.
The trial OF Spain Kelley for the
killing o: w. f. Oreech commenced at
Bishopville last Friday and ended one
o'clock Sunday morning by the ac-
quittal of Kelley. The killing, it
will be remembered took place last Fall
near Bishopville in the most tragic
manner. Spain and Creech up to the
night before the killing had been good
friends, both being young men and
associates. 1t will be recalled that
Kelley hunted Creech and when he
found him on the high road he pur-
sued him and shot him to death in
the coolest and most heartleSS man.
ner. Mr.. August K0hn in his report
OF the case for The News and Courier
says there was no intentional clouding
Of the issue, no plea Of self-defence
and no justification save the one idea
that Creech had seduced Miss Maud
Kelley. Young Kelley said on oath
without reservation that he went out
to find Creech; first to undertake to
make him right the wrong he had
done his sister, and, if he declined to
do so, he was going to kill him. 1t
was with him marriage or a funeral,
plain and simple. The cry of King
to his friend. Lookout, Creech."
was what, he said, broke the tension
and made him shoot.
Spain Kelley stated plainly that he
was behind Creech when he opened
fire OF. him, and that there was not a
word, exchanged between them. lie
thought Creech turned slightly in his
defence, but he simply stood pat, as
the politicians says, upon the posi-
tion that he, as the eldest son OF a
family Of eleven children, had under
taken to vindcate the honor of the
family and avenge the wrong done his
eldest sister. Why did'he pursue for
miles the wounded Creech? Spain
Kelley urged that he did not wish the
Seducer Of his sister to escape, but
that he did not know that he had
wounded him in his first shots, and
that when King interfered at the
final meeting place he did not know
what he was doing, that he was ex-
cited and worried and that he fired
the two final loads from his gun in a
moment OF eXciGmenU. Wh2t was
intimated Friday transpired Saturday
The young woman in the case, Miss
Maud Kelley, told her story as best
she could. 1t was 4 sad story, and
perhaps there may be those who will
urge that it ought not to be printed
But it is a chapter Of real life that
tells Others convincingly of the pit
falls of life and the terrible conse-
quenceS of such errors.
Miss Maud Kelley is no ordinary
woman. l take her to he of more
than average education; her family is
OF the best. Her father for years was
in the General Assembly. He is
proSpering and her relatives are in
positions Of honor. Her form is rather
slender, but her attraction is in her
eyes and clear complexion.
The eyes of Miss Maud Kelley are
dark brown and large, shaded with
heavy black eyebrows. and altogether
the outline Of her face is that of an
attractive young woman, except that
her chin is rather large. Her hair is
deep black. She came into Court
accompanied by her father, mother
and two aunts. AS the party took
their seats Spain Kelley crossed over
to his mother and kissed her, and then
he kissed the sister who was to 90
Unrough the ordeal of the law and
subsequently he greeted his two aunts
Miss Kelley, whatever may be her
strength, collapsed at the sight Of the
witness stand. She sobbed and cried
as If hysterical for long while, but
later in the day she calmed herself.
| When asked to take the stand she
seemed deaf to the calls. On the
stand she answered as simply and as
briefly as she could, never raising her
head fully, but beseechingly casting
her deep brown eyes about as if to say
How much more Of this must
'bear?" She told briefly that Creech
was the father Of her Still born child,
and yet she seemd to have loved and
trusted Creech until the very last.
From the evidence the trouble began
months before She finally told her
family, for her father testified that
the child was born in July, two
months after the tragedy. Never
before have heard such straight
statement as that of Spain Kelley
He willingly assumed the full rcspon-
sibility for what appears to be terribly
cold -blooded killing, without equivoca-
tion he Shouldered all possible burden
for the manner Of the shooting and
unrelenting pursuit of the already
wounded Creech. And with him it
was plain that he went forth from
the family council to kill. There were
whispcrings Of sensations, but if there
were the breath OF truth in them the
case stands absolutely upon the re-
cord. That Spain Kelley first heard
of his sisters trouble the day before
the tragedy l am convinced, absolute
ly SO. That he loved his sister is also
evident, as it is that he, with his
fathers approval, undertook to deal
with Crcech. The evidence showed
that Creech was great favorite in
l3ishopville, that he was introduced
into the Kelley family hy Spain
Kelley, and that Creech was the only
man who had ever had any improper
intercourse with Miss Maud Kelley.
SPAIN KELLEY's STATEMENT.
Here is the statement Of Spain Kel.
ley, the defendant in the case. He
appeared fairly sclf-rcliant and CONT
dent. He answered the inquiries
quickly and with precision. There