The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1904-09-01
ATTEMPTED TO use POISON
Deaton Tried to Escape the Penalty OF
His Crime But is Now in the State

Prison.
Columbia State of Sunday: w. E.
Deaton is now within the walls of the
penitentiary and, with his arrival,
there ends very peculiar case. 1t is
the story of wife unfaithful to her
husband. The woman, however, testi-
fed on the witness stand that she, and
not her husband, had fired the shot.
The jury did not credit this statement
and Deaton was sent to prison for
life.
This is not the end of the story. Be-
fore Deaton was sent to the peniten-
tiary his wife attempted to send him
poison concealed in some clothing.
j. L. Patterson, the man who was
killed, lived in Fort Mill and was a
barber. He was a well known and
somewhat popular character. About
Is years ago w. E. Deaton came to
Fort Mill from North Carolina and
after few years residence in the
York town he married a Miss Mary
Faulkner. In 1892 Mrs. Deaton and Pat
terson were working together in a cot
ton mill and at that time a friendship
sprung up between them which resulted
III an intimacy of an unfortunate ma
ture. Deaton was very much troubled
over this but became reconciled to his
wife, after they had agreed to go to
North Carolina to live. They remained
in Huntersville, N. c., from 1892 until
about the first part Of the present year,
when they moved back to Fort Mill.
Patterson's shop was near the Deaton
home and it is supposed that the inti-
macy Of the two was resumed. Mrs.
Deaton testified at the trial that on
the night Of the crime-May 8, 1904
Patterson came to the door Of her
house. She opened the door, not know
ing who it was, and Patterson seized
her and dragged her into the yard.
When her husband returned from his
work she told him what had happened.
He went with his wife to the home Of
Patterson ito have a settlement" as
he expressed It.
Patterson had closed his barber shop
and was going toward his home, about
| q Aoll u1llC uloC0ASC. 40 AS hCoi GU thO
corner OF his fence he was struck in
the hip by load of buckshot, from the
effects Of which he died some little
while afterwards. Such was the state
ment that he made before his death.
On the night Of the killing, accord
ing to Mrs. Deaton's evidence, Deaton
went out with his gun. She followed
and they came upon Patterson. Deaton
demanded that the latter let his wife
alone. Patterson drew his pistol, and
she, having got possession Of. the gun,
fire the fatal shot. Patterson firing
his pistol almost at the same time.
Deaton said that on going home that
night he found his wife crying and
walking the room. She mare a state
me1t in regard to Patterson. Deponent
then grabbed the gun and started out,
his wife following. He came up with
Patterson and demanded that he let his
wife alone. Patterson drew his pistol.
Deaton pushed his wife aside and said
don't shoot her. He heard two shots
right together. AS parties were coming
up, he left for home, thinking they
might shoot him.
The jury evidently did not believe
II the testimony of Deaton and his wife,
and verdict Of guilty with recommen-
dation to mercy was rendered.
Even after Deaton had been convict
cd and sentenced to life Imprisonment
he endeavored to cheat the State Of the
penalty. The Yorkville Enquirer con-
tains an interesting account of plan
which Mrs. Deaton had devised to free
her husband from the prison stripes.
1t says:
"One day last week there came let
ter for Deaton from his wife in Fort
Mill, and Deputy Sandifer read it over
carefully. In it he found a reference
about like this: 4 am going to send
it to you; but would not, had you
not promised that you would not use
it until then, and had l not promised
you. l don't want to send it. | am
afraid. Now remember your promise
not to use it until everything else fails.
II will be stitched in the hem OF your
pants
"Mrs. Deaton came over to Yorkville
Friday bringing her children and
bundle for her husband. Deputy San
differ gave her to understand that the
bundle would have to be left outside
until he could examine it. She pro-
tested that she had several articles
that she needed for the children, and
made excuses intended to keep the
bundle in her possession until she
could see her husband. Mr.. Sandifer
then told her to take out such articles
as were intended for her husband and
leave them outside; that he would at
tend to the delivery later.
after Mrs. Deaton had had an inter-
view with her husband in the presence
OF Mr.. Sandifer, the deputy proceeded
to make a careful examination OF all
the articles In the bundle, especially
the pants. in the hem Of which ne
found small paper package filled with
white powder. He afterward showed
the powder to several physicians;
but none of them were able to tell GER
tainly what it is. Mr.. Sandifer, how
ever, is very we'll satisfied that the
powder Is a deadly poison, and that 1t
was the purpose Of Deaton to use 1t
either before he started for the penl-
/ x-.x;ar,, -, offor ho NAV have decided