Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1906-07-25
THE LAW HAS ITS CLUTCHES ON THE LYER[Y MUROERERS
Solicitor Hammer and Other

Solicitor Hammer was IN Sails
bury on Friday and began an ex'
animation of the witness for the
State in the Lyerly case. Hon
Theo. F. Kluttz and T. G. Linn
were also present, they having
been retained by the Lyerlys tc
assist the solicitor IN the prosecu-
tion of the prisoners charged with
the crime. There were q number
Of witnesses examined, but the
most important testimony came
from the two sisters, Mary and
Addie Lyerly, and Henry Mayhem,
the grandson of Nease Gillespie.
The stories told by these are sub
stantially as follows:
The first witness examined this
morning was Sheriff Julian. He
said hfsaw Dillingham; who said
he knew nothing of the tragedy.
Heard a man go by his house
about II O'Clock. Said he (Dil-
lingham) passed Lyerly's house
that morning about L o'clock but
didn't stop, Asked him if he
went up to the gate and he said
no. Said he remainedin the big
road and didn't go up where the
white men were. When Ed. Bar
Der went over to Dillingham; s
house they had to threaten to tear
the door down before they would
admit him. They said that when
Fannie (the negro woman) went
up to Mr.. Lyerly's next morning
she was excited and when Mr.. File
asked her if she had anything to
do with the murder she replied III
the negative but said her husband
did. At the .Lyerly home saw
Isaac Lyerly Oh the floor near the
bed and his son right behind him.
Mrs. Lyerly was lying on her bed
with one foot and part Of the limb
outside of the bed. Mr.. Lyerly's
head seemed to be mashed to
pieces and the little boys head
appeared to be beaten into Jelly.
It looked like an axe had gone
into the side of the face and head. :.
The little boys legs were burned
into crisp and it was the most
horrible sight [ ever saw. Mrs.
Lyerly's head was cut Some ma
terial had been thrown on the
little boy and bureau drawer
over it to nold it down. A lamp
was there with burner off and the
lamp empty, sitting on floor.
Miss Mary Lyerly stated that
she was sleeping up stairs with
her sister Addie. The latter had
awakened her and told her the
house was on fire and that their
father and mother were both dead,
Addie had pulled them off the
bed, and witness took her father
and laid him back further in the
rooEl so she could take the beds
out. She threw water on the beds
and threw the burning articles
out of the house. Laid her hand
on her mother and found she was
cold. She was on the bed with
her feet out, and covered all over
with blood. The room was filled
with smoke. She theu took her
little sister Alice out in the yard.
Witness, jamie and Addie then
went over Fillmore Cooks, carry
ing Alice. When witness first
came down stairs the front door
was open, but the other one was
shut. The witness continued: 81
saw John and Alice cutting wood
late the evening before. [ told
Mr.. Cook that mamma and papa
went to bed the evening before as
soon as they finished supper.
Addie and myself went to bed
about 8 O'Clock. When I woke up
the smoke was all over the house,
[ was nearly strangled by the
smoke. The lamp was of porce-
lain, it would hold over a pint.
and was filled on Saturday. It
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