The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1904-03-23
THE UNWRITTEN LAW. :
Spain Kelley Acquitted at Bishopville
for Killing w. F.. Creech.

Killing VI w. 7. SIoeSii WI "
Bishopville last Friday and ended one
o'clock Sunday morning by the &C
ouittaI 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. It will be recalled that
Kelley hunted Creech and when ne
found him on the high road he pur-
sued him and shot him to death IN
the coolest and nest heartleSs man
ner. Mr.. August Kohn in his report
of the case for The News and Courier
says there was no Intentional cloudlng
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 be went out
to find Creech; first to undertake TO
make him right the wrong be hao
done his sister, and, if be declined 10
do so, be was going to kill him. 1t
was with him marriage or funeral.
plain and simple. The cry of King
to his friend. Lookout, Creech..'
was what, be said, broke the tension
and made him shoot.
Spain Kelley stated plainly that he
was behind Creech when he opened
fire on him, and that there was not a
word, exchanged between them. he
thought Creech turned slightly in his
buggy, but made no claim OF self
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 vindicate 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 be did not know that be mad
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 tired
the two final loads from his gun IN a
moment Of eXcitment. What was
intimated Friday transpired Saturday.
The young woman in the case, Miss
Maud Kelley, told her story as best
she could. 1t was a sad story, aud
perhaps there may be those who will
urge that it ought not to be printed,
But it is chapter Of real life that
tells others convincingly Of the pit
falls Of life and the terrible conse
ouences Of such errors.
Miss Maud Kelley is no ordinary
woman. I take her to be OF more
than average education: her family il
of the best. Her father for years was
in the General Assembly. He i:
prospering and her relatives are ir
5 positions Of honor. Her form is rather
slender, but her attraction is in bel
eyes and clear complexion.
The eyes of Miss Maud Kelley are
dark brown and large, shaded will
heavy black eyebrows, and altogethe'
2 the outline of her face is that OF al
attractive young woman, except tha'
2 her chin is rather large. Her hair il
I deep black. She came into Cour
4 accompanied by her father, mothe
!. and two aunts. AS the party tool
their seats Spain Kelley crossed owe
to bis mother and kissed her, and ther
be kissed the sister who was to g
o through the ordeal Of the law ant
subsequently he greeted his two aunts
Miss Kelley, whatever may be he
strength, collapsed at the sight OF th
witness stand. She sobbed and criet
as if hysterical for long while, bu
! later in the day she calmed herself
t When asked to take the stand Sn
: seemed deaf to the calls. On tn
e stand she answered as simply and a.
E briefly as she could, never raising be
4 head fully, but beseechingly casting
! her deep brown eyes about as If to say
E I" How much more Of this must
bear22" She told briefly that Creecl
! was the father of her still-born child
S and yet she seemd to have loved ant
| trusted Creech until the very last
: From the evidence the trouble begal
!, months before she finally told he1
: family, for her father testified tha
: the child was born in July, tWt
E months after the tragedy. Neve
e before have I heard such a straigh
e statement as that Of Spain Kelley
S He willingly assumed the full respon
! sibility for what appears to be terribl,
!. cold-blooded killing, without equivoca
!. tion be shouldered all possible burdel
( for the manner of the shooting ant
: unrelenting pursuit Of the alread
s wounded Creech. Aud with him il
: was plain that be went forth iron
S the family council to kill. There wer
2 whisperings of sensations, but if ther
r we're the breath of truth in them to-
5 case stands absolutely upon the re-
cord. That Spain Kelley first heart
> Of his sisters trouble the day befor
5 the tragedy am convinced, absolute
D ly so. That he loved his sister is als'
e evident, as it is that be, with hi:
: fathers approval, undertook to dea
q with Creech. The evidence showed
Y that Creech was great faVorite il
r Bishopville, that he was introduced
into the Kelley family by Spain
: Kelley, and that Creech was the onl,
! man who had ever had any imprope
! intercourse with Miss Maud Kelley.
SPAIN KELLEY's STATEMENT.
Here is the statement Of Spain Kel
ley, the defendant in the case. III
= appeared fairly self-reliant and conf
dent. He answered the inquirie
quickly and with precision. Their
was every evidence Of truthfulness
and an almost brutal frankness abou
his statements. He showed no feel
ing on the stand, but at other time
' seemed very much affected at the hap