The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1905-05-12
A NOTED TRIAL.
The Alleged Lynchers of Eutawville
Will Face the Jury.

Will Face the Jury.
A Short History of the Case, That
Will be Read With Interest
by our Re aders.
The alleged Eutawville lyuchers
will be put on trial today, and the
trial will last several days, as there are
a good many witnesses to be examined.
This case has excited considerable
comment all over the State, and a re-
view of it no doubt would be read
with interest at this time. The So
called lynching was the assassination
OF Keitt Bookhardt by parties un-
known the 7th day of last July. The
negro had been put in jail on the tri-
vial charge Of having exchanged epi-
thets with Henry Edwards. That
night the negro was taken from the
fiimsy structure used for keeping
prisoners, and his body was found two
days later In Santee river, having
floated and brought to the top heavy
crate bar, which had been tied around
his body.
The body gave evidence OF inhuman
treatment at the hands Of fiends. The
ears had been cut Off and there we've
other marks OF violence to show in
what manner the murderers had tried
to degrade the body of their victim.
Gov. Hayward S attention was directed
to the crime by letter from Mr.. J.
ID. Virgins, magistrate at Eutawville,
who denounced the murder and begged
Gov. Hayward to take some action.
Accordingly Gov. Hayward requested
Solicitor Hildebrand to 90 to Eutaw-
Vile for the inquest. The Pinkerton
| Detective agency was also communi-
Gated with and Inspector Demaio was
put on the case. The Investigation
resulted In the arrest, after three
months, OF several white men of that
section.
These men were kept in custody at
the penitentiary until the 18th of De-
cember, when preliminary hearing
was held at ST. George. Dorchester
county, Magistrate A. e. Mccoy
presiding. The preliminary was held
at ST. George because that point Is
on the railroad and was as accessible
Eutawville and more accessible than as
Monks Corner. With one exception
the prisoners were remanded TO jail
to await trial. 'Piney" Martin was
released, as he had been arrested on
warrant, intended for Penny"
Martin. The others indicated are:
| Henry O. Edwards, who confessed and
Is being used as the prosecution wit
ness: r1a(s .1lSSzg'zssens, the constable in
ii:sshds9 cust6d uine neg fo was on bhei
night of the lynching; j. Fl. Palmer,
policeman at Eutawville; Benny Mar
tin, Andrew Martin and Adger But.
ler. The latter was released, as moth
Ing could BE- proved against him.
Toe crime was supposed to have oc-
Cured in Berkeley county, and the
accused were taken to the Berkeley
county seat, Monck's Corner, where
they had bsen lying in jail since
last December until brought to Or
angeburg last week. But wien the
case was called for trial at Monck's
Corner in January Solicitor Hide
brand sprang surprise. He had had
the territory surveyed, and while IT. is
true that Eutawville is In Berkeley
county, still the place at which the
murder it alleged TO have been com
mitted Is In Orangeburg county. The
case was thus transferred to this cOun-
ty In which there was not SO much
personal feeling and interest. 1t is
probable that The defendants at
torney Will make motion to take
the case back to Berkeley county.
Henry Edwards, who turned States
evidence, and who will be one Of the
principal witnesses against the ac.
cused, was kept in the Penitentiary
at Columbia since his arrest until last
week, when he was brought to Oran-
gtburg under guard. 1t seems that
the authorities were afraid he would
be treated with violence IL sent to
the Berkeley Jail and imprisoned with
the men he had turned States evil
dence against. He admits his con-
nection with the terrible affair,
but claims that the above named de-
fendents were the principle actors In
the bloody drama. Edwards is quite
q young man, and is from an exc client
family. 1t will bo left for the jury
charged with the duty OF passing on
the case to say what credence there
Is to be put in the evidence given by
Edwards. The case will bs a hard
fought one, as there are able LAWYERS
on both sides. The defendants have
lawyers from the Berkeley, Dorchester
aud Orangeburg bars to conduct their
case, and they will be most ably de-
Tended. Solicitor IIildebrand Will rep.
resent the State. He is an aule and
very successful oilicial, and will have
no stone unturned to convict the ac
cused OF the crime he believes them
guilty Of. If the defendants are guilty
we hope it will be made so plain that
no one can doubt it, and ii they are
innocenJ we hope they will have a
speedy acquittal. Times and Demo.
crat.
Saves a Train.
But for the presence OF mind and