The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-03-21
Statement by Hon. Joshua w. Abhle!
Anderson Daily Mail, D..

Anderson Daily Mail.
Editor Daily Mail; AS there has
been 80 much said and printed In the
papers about the killing Of John Ma
rion Ashley that is absolutely false,
that I feel that I must ask for space
in your paper to correct some Of the
statements that have been made.
think I was about the first Ashley
that got to Honea Path after the kill
ing, and know that everything was
as quiet as I ever saw, considering
the circumstances. am sure that l
advised all the people that. I talked
with to let the law handle the case,
and at no time did I think there would
be any trouble, az every one seemed
to be willing to let the law take it's
course. Jim Bob Ashley, the son of
John Marion Ashley, said he was will
ing 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.
Invent to the magistrate and told
him I was ready to swear out q war
rant for White, and I wanted him ar
rested and confined, and he asked me
who he would get 10 arrest him, and I
told him if he would deputize me, I
would arrest him and no man would
get hurt.
Now, Mr.. Editor, when the boys
came in from the country knowing
the feeling of the people OF Honea
Path toward them, of course they
come armed, or q part of them did,
but there never was time when l
expected any trouble unless the peo-
pie of the town started 1t.
Now, I don't propose to discuss the
merits of the case, as think the news
papers have already tried the case
from one side and have settled the
suppose, to the satisfaction 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 az they have given to 1t al
ready, I think the people will have
Quitea q different idea about the mat
ter.
Some of the newspapers have refer.
red 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 the Ash
leys, knows that I cannot, nor any
other man can command or lead the
Ashleys, unless they lead the way
they want to go,and I don't say 1t
boastingly, but say 1t boldly, that
no man can he found that has ever
lived asneighbor to John Marion Ash
ley, or any other Ashley for that mat
ter, that will say that they are outlaws
or desperadoes.
There are other towns all over this
country that the Ashleys 60 to, and
they don't have any trouble with
them, and think the reason ia that
the police in other towns won't shoot
at people when they are driving out Of
town., And almost every piece that l
see In the newspapers, they bring In
John McGaha's name In connection
with every thing that happens about
Honea Path, and they always say that
he was the one that drove through the
town shooting right and left, when
the truth of the matter Is, as the rec
ord of the trial will prove, that John
McGaha did not shoot at all, and had
nothing to shoot with, and why they
still persist in printing that don't un-
unless they don't want to tell
the truth.
Very respectfully, :; |
Joshua w. Ashley.
March Is, 1905.