The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-03-06

she said, not allowing her to bring out
the cause Of the difficulty, doing all
in their power to confuse and con-
found her. Through it all she was
calm and composed and told as
straight story as was ever heard
in the court room. With all his sar-
casm Col. Johnstone could do moth
ing with her. She was subjected to a
rigid and severe cross-examination,
and after finding that she could not
be turned from her story the defence
let the cause Of the afray come out.
She testified to the fact that after
she retired she heard knock on her
door, but did not answer it. The per
son then went out on the veranda and
tried to get in the window. Failing
in this he came back and threw him
self against the door, and then climb
ed up and looked in the transom. She
recognized George Hasty. She then
called Mr.. Bennett, and when she did
so Hasty left. Mr.. Bennett, who was
musical composer and engaged to-
marry her, sat in her room writing
music till 4 o'clock IN the morning,
when he went to his own room and got
comforter and lay across her bed
till 7 'clock. Next morning she was
annoyed by Hasty again. This was
while Mr.. Bennett was out. She de-
scribed in graphic manner how the
shooting occurred. Hasty invited
Mr.. Bennett from the dining room.
They went out. Mr.. Davidson was
told that Hasty was the same man
who had annoyed Miss Bishop the
afternoon before. After Hasty and
Mr.. Bennett had gone out, Mr.. Davi-
son followed. She told Of the conver-
sation between the men, and OF Mr.
Dawson raising his hand to strike
Hasty At the same time Hasty fred
two shots in quick succession. Mr.:
Dawson then grappled with Hasty,
pushing the hand with the
against the wall. Hasty jerked loose
from him. andsshat Mr, Bennett.
Col. Jehnstone, at this this point no:
tilted the ladies In the audience that
they stayed they might expect to, hear
something that they would not Eey.
to hear. After most Of the ladies left
Col. Johnstone tried to make the wit
mes admit that she had been too init
mate with the deceased, trying to be-
smirch her character. She stood the
ordeal as few women could stand it.
She was a match for Col. Johnstone.
Every word she uttered carried con-
viction that she was telling the truth.
Col. Johnstone endeavored to prove
from her that either she or Miss Bish-
op had ridden through the streets Of
Gastonia astride. Fortunately she
and Mr.. Bennett had taken kodak
or picture Of the party outriding in
Gastonia, and the picture was identl-
fed. ..... =
| At the opening. Of court the de-
fence asked to put one Of the witness
es, one Strickland, Of Gastonia, on the
stand, as he had just left the bedside
Of sick child. The defence wanted
to prove the conduct Of Misses Sher-
idan and Bishop by this witness, who
is an agent for some real estate man.
The questions were asked him, but
the court would not allow him to an
swer one of them.
Miss May Bishop, one Of the inno-
cent causes of the tragedy, and one
of the eye witnesses of the shooting,
was next called by the state. She
made an excellent witness.
Col. Johnstone did not use the same
tactics on her as he did on Miss
Sheridan, refraining from asking her
about her conduct. Miss Bishop testi-
fed to the shooting. At the time that
Hasty and Mr.. Bennett left the room
she, was sitting at the dining table.
She tried to get Mr.. Dawson not to
60 out in the hall, but he went any
way. She got up and started to the
door. Just as she got there she heard
two shots in quick succession and saw
Mr.. Dawson grapple with Hasty,
taking hold of his right hand and
forcing it and the pistol against the
wall. While Dawson had hold Of
him he jerked loose and shot Mr.. Ben
nett. Her testimony was identical
II l. l.. 81