Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1906-07-25

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"No, he has been mean to me- -
was the quick reply.
Solicitor Hammer took Henry be-
tween his legs, pulled off his hat and
patted him on The shoulders, saying:
"Boy, we're not going to hurt YOU.
Nobody wants TO harm you. Now YOU
must tell us all YOU know
"Nease Gillespie beats me. He's
my grandpa. He whipped Inc last
Friday. Pa (meaning Nease) and
John met Henry Lee and Jack at the
branch, this side Of Mr.. likes. Fri
day night. That's what pa and John
said when they came back. Pa said
that lie didn't care what they did
with him after 4lc had done what he
wanted TO do. Nav, old Fannie, ask
ed paw where he was going and he
said It's none of your business, but
YOU III know when 1 come back She
said no more. Paw and john came
back before day. | was in bed with
nav.
"When paw aaud JOHN came in
they set down by the fire and NAV
asked paw where he had been and
he said: give been down to old Ike
Lyerlv's. T went down there and kill
ed them. l told You / was going to
kill them, aud 80, by God, / did,
"It skeercd NAV nearly to death
when paw said that. John didn't say
nothing. Jack and paw done il. Paw
said that Jacks wife held the lamp.
All met at the branch. Paw took his
axe with him. ] saw him get it. He
washed it off at the branch but there
was some blood left Oh The pole. He
and John said they washed it. We
saw the axe the next morning and
there was speck Of blood on it. Paw
said he killed Mr.. Ike and Miss Gus
sic (Mrs. Lyerly) and Jack killed
John and Alice.
''Maw never asked no more, for
she was skeered.
"Jack used Mr.. 1ke's axe. He
and Mr.. Ike fell out about horse.
Paw aud John said they set the bed
ahre.
"Before day paw put his old over
alls with Johns, in bed tick Of
straw and burned them. He burned
his shirts, too. We saw them burn
ing them. They burned them be-
cause they had blood OIL them. Blood
was all over the shirts and the over
alls.
..I left home early that morning
and fold Mr.. Mann Walton that paw
had killed MI. Ike and Miss Gussic."
edo You know where you would
so it you were TO tell story, Hen
ry?" asked Solicitor Hammer.
eyes, sir, to the bad place." ans
wercd Henry.
"NVho made youq"
"The Lord" was the ready re-
ply.
"Paw said they threw the lamp in
the bricr patch. 1 saw church
lamp al Jacks house the day ma and
me went down tllere.''
The boy started when Mr.. Ham
mer called to some one in loud voice:
and said: "They are not going TO
hurt me are thcy7'
EIe was assured by number Of his
country acquaintance that lie would
be all right if he told the truth.
"I saw the lamp on the mantel
piece. Paw said that they threw it
in brier thicket.'
This little negro tells most in
ieresline story. His words are full
Of meaning and the State must rely
largely OIL what lie says to convict
The negroes who are now imprisoned
in the Charlotte Jail. Henry is dis
possed 10 Tell too much bui his story
talies. in the main. with The one he
told The day after The murder at The
coroner's inquest. He is smart and
very brioht. If his story is true
Nease Gillespie. John Henry. George
Erwin and Jack and his wife will
hang. No. half-grown boy ever had
more responsibility resting upon him.
II is a question of life or death.
The testimony of The negro women
contradicied that Of The boy. num-
Der nf witnesses are still III reserve
for The State.