The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-11-20

lllcu the allegation, and in q state
ment made to a Chronicle represent
tative III the Barnwcll jail said he
was surprised when confronted with
such charge.
The case vase presented to the
grand jury on Monday Of this week,
and Mr.. Prather absolutely exoncrat-
cd, the grand jury promptly finding
no bill on the evidence submitted to
them.
Mr.. Prather has in his possession d
letter written by Mrs. Rountree to
Solicitor Davis, asking that he drop
the case, as the charge was untrue,
but, in view of the attention it had
attracted, and in justice to Mr.. Pra~
ther he declined to do so, summoned
Mr.. and Mrs. Rountree to court and
presented the case to the grand jury.
The letter in Mr.. Prather's posses
sion is as follows:
Dmbarton, S. c., Nov. s, 1906.
Mr.. james Davis, Solicitor.
Dear Sir:-Will you please cancel
the indictment against Mr.. w. w.
Prather for criminal assault, as he is
not guilty Of trying TO assault me;
he only aroused my fears by his ac-
tons. Yours truly,
Mrs. Quitman Rountrec.
Following Mr.. Prather' arrest the
negro hackman who was driving Mr..
Prather through the country when he
stopped at the Romtrcc home, made
a statement, which he later failed to
substantiate, and, Mr.. Prathcr says,
later admitted was made under pres
sure. He subsequently made an affi-
davit, Mr.. Prather says, which was
submitted to the grand jury in con-
ncction with the letter from Mrs.
Rounircc. The affidavit which is all
SO III Mr.. Prathcr's possession, is as
follows:
The State of South Carolina
County Of Barnwcll.-Before me per-
sonally appeared Hayward Barnwell,
who after first being duly sworn, de-
poses and says, that he was with Mr..
w. w. Prathcr on the afternoon it is
alleged the said prather assaulted
Mrs. Rountrcc That when Mr. Pra-
thcr and myself got to the house
where Mrs. Rountrec was, he asked
for drink Of water; that the said
Mrs, rRoWtrce said, come in and get
it; that Mr.. Prather and Mrs. Roun-
tree talked a few minutes and at this
time Mr. Prather told deponent to
drive back and get a package he had
left; that dcponent drove back and
in about five minutes returned, that
when deponcnt returned he saw Mr..
Prathcr and Mrs. Rountrcc standing
in the door of the house talking TO-
@cther, that deponent told the said
Mr.. Prathcr to come on, he was ready
to 90; that the said Mr.. Prathcr told
the Said Mrs. Rountrcc told Mr.. Pra-
the said Mrs. Roumtrec told Mrs. Pra-
thcr good-byc; that dcponcnt does
not know whether these parties shook
hands in telling; one another "ood-byr
or not: that Mr.. Prathcr continued
to talk 10 Mrs. Rounlrcc until he
%ot into the buggy and after he start ,
cd to drive off that the said Mrs.
Rountrcc continued TO talk TO Mr..
Praihcr all the while; that they talk
cd perfectly Friendly; that the said
Mr.. Prathcr and Mrs. Rountrcc were
both laughing while they were talk
ing and both seemed to be in the best
of humor. That the only thing Mr..
Prathcr told dcponcnt after we left
We house Of Mrs. Rountrcc was "that
she was a good looking woman.'
That dcponcnt was surprised when
he heard that the said Mrs. Rountrcc
claimed that the said Mr. 'Prathcr
had criminally assaulted her on this
occasion as she seemed to be enjoy
in" his company.
(Signcd) Hayward Barnwcll.
. Sworn to before NE this, the 2llh
October, 1906.
(Signcd) w. Gilmore SimmS.
Clerk Of Court.