The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1905-10-11
Five hours only were consumed

more evidence to offer, and it was also
surprise when they did not offer as
witness J. A. Gillis, the father Of j.
E., who was along with his son at the
time of the shooting, The State then
put one witness in reply and the evil
dence in this case, Which has become
noted one in this county, was closed.
Five arguments will be heard tomor-
row and the case given to the jury
for final judgment.
On the reconvening of the court this
morning Mr.. Ancrum Boykin, the
pricipal eye witness for the State, was
still on the stand. At the conclusion
of his testimony two witnesses testi-
fed that they heard only two shots
at the time he was shot were put in
evidence.
The State at this point rested it's
case and ]. E. Gillis, the defendant,
was sworn. He testified that on the
25th of February fire hadj gotten in
the woods of Mrs. Halle, on whose
premises Mr.. McRae Whitaker lived;
that he was helping to put same out
and Whitaker walked up and asked
him how the fire had gotten out. The
witness said he replied. Il do not
know; my father is having new
ground cleared and it might have got
out from there, but don't know.
Whitaker turned and walked off to-
wards his home "I did not have any
idea he was coming back" said the
witness. MET him as was going from
the fire. He hollered at me, ellis, is
the fire out?' I said, No sir He said,
Where are you going? Amt you 60
ing to fight any more. said, NO, I
am going to dinner, I am tired He
said, You are HI of Cd fellow
to put fire in woods and won't fight
it out I said, We did not put it out.
He said, You did do it, And he
further said he had no use for me.
He was an overbearing man and I
tried to keep out Of his way.
On the morning of the 9Th Of April
I left home about 10 o'clock with my
father and came to Camden, driving
one Of his mules to a buggy. In Cam
den went to a barber shop to get a
shave and haircut. Whitaker walked
in and to avoid him I walked out, and
father and I started home. About
six miles from town we stopped at a
spring get a drink Of water. I had
no idea Of seeing Whitaker any more
that day. He drove up while we were
getting water and he said to my faith
er, You are blockading the road
Father told him that he thought there
was plenty of room for him to pass
cut he would drive further out, and
he did so. He said to me, Ed ellis
this is the first day I have seen you
since you put the fire in my woods, ;
1 said, 4 did not put the fire in your
woods He said, I have been in
formed you did and I'll be G. d
if I don't believe you did said, NO,
I didrt do it and I think you owe me
an apology for the way you treated
me at the fire in the woods He said,
What in the hi did i do to you?'
I said, You cursed me and threatened
to kill me- He said, I don't carry
a pistol I saw his pistol right then
sticking out Of his pocket, and I said,
You have a pistol in your pocket
now He said, Yes, carry one on all
occasion like this My father said to
him: Ed did not put the fire out III
your woods, I sent him there, told him
to get hands and put it out Mr.. Whit
aker then said, I have been misin-
formed I reckon, owe you an apollo
gy and will take back what I said. I
said, All right, am done with it, the
matter is settled with me- He said,
IF 1 have been misinformed am also
done with it.
1--WE finally went ON and Whitaker
got out Of sight. We got to Boykin
station and went to the postoffice and
Mrs. Reese handed me our mail and
we started for home. Heard some
body call. Ed ellis, Cd d-n it,
hold up, we are going to settle this
d-n fuss right now 1t surprised me.
looked back and saw Whitaker and
Ancrum Boykin coming rapidly. Whit
aker had a pistol in his hand. He
said, I will battle it out now. it has
got to be settled I still remained in
the buggy Ancrum said, Ed ellis,
G-n d-n you, get down, this
thing has got to be settled now
Whitaker said, Yes, Cd d-n it, we
are going to settle it. jumped out
of the buggy and said, Gentlemen,
this matter has been settled as far as I
am concerned Ancrum said, NO,