The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-03-23
JOSH ASHLEY ON
HONEA PATH AFFAIRS

AON LA I al IL IA = 61A4sS
Joshua ". Ashley. member Of the
! legislature and we'll known through
out the state, has in the Anderson
! Mail a statement as to the Honea
, Path affair in which his brother was
killed. His statement will be read
with interest:
Editor Daily Mail: AS there has
been so much said and printed in the
papers about the killing Of John Mar
ion Ashley that is absolutely false,
that | feel that [ must ask for space
in your paper to correct some of the
statements that have been made.
I think I was about the first Ash
ley that got to Honea Path after the
killing, and I know that everything
was as quiet as I ever saw, considering
the circumstances. | am sure that l
advised all the people that talked
with to let the law handle the case,
and at no time did I think there would
be any trouble, as every one seemed
to be willing to let the law take its
course. Jim Bob Ashley, the son Of
John Marion Ashley, said he was will
inc for the law to take it's course, but
was not willing for Policeman White
to Get away, and said he wanted
White arrested and sent to Jail.
t went to the magistrate and told
him | was ready to swear out war
rant for White, and I wanted him ar
rested and confined, and he asked me
who he would get to arrest him, and
I told him If he would deputize me, l
would arrest him and no man would
| get hurt.
Now, Mr.. Editor, when the boys
camel II from the country knowing
I the feeling of the people Of Honea
Path toward them, Of course they
came armed or part Of them did, but
there never was a time when [ es-
peeted any trouble unless the people
of the town started it.
Now, don't propose to discuss the
merits of the case, as | think the
newspapers have already tried the
case from one side and have settled
the matter, | suppose, to the satlsfac-
tion Of the defendant, but the state
proposes to try its case before jury
of twelve men, and if the newspapers
will give as much space to the trial
before the courts as they have given
to it already, I think the people Will
have quite a different idea about the
matter.
Some of the newspapers have re-
ferred to the Ashleys as ''outlaws
and speak of them as being organized
into clans, and called me the leader
Of the clan, and say that John Marion
Ashley was my lieutenant. Every
man in South Carolina that knows
any Of the Ashleys, knows that l can
not. nor any other man, can command
or lead the Ashleys, unless they lead
the way they want to go, and don
say it bcastingly, but | say 1t boldly
that no man can be found that has
ever lived a neiehbor to John Marion
Ashley, or any other Ashley for that
matter, that will say that they are
outlaws or desperadoes.
There are other towns all over thl:
country that the Ashleys go to, ant
thev don't have any trouble witt
them, and I think the reason is tha
the police in other towns won't shoo1
! at PEOPLE when they are driving ou'
Of tcwn. And almost every piece thai
7 see in the newspapers, they brinG
in John McGaha s name in connection
with everything that happens about
Honea Path, and they always sa,
that, he was the one that drove
, through the town shooting right anc
left, when the truth Of the matter IS
as the record Of the trial will prove
that John McGaha did not shoot a
, all. and had nothing to shoot with
and why they persist in printing tha
I don't understand, unless they dom
e want to tell the truth.
= Very respectfully,
Joshua w Ashley,
March Is, 1906.