The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1906-05-23
|. D. Walkers CONVICTION.
The Prosecution Succeeded in Making
0ut a Surprisingly Strong Case.

Out a Surprisingly Strong Case.
On the day after the conviction of
Leavell ID. Walker of manslaughter in
the criminal court here last Tuesday
the correspondent of the Columbia
State sent the following story of the
trial to that newspaper:
"The conviction here yesterday of
l.. ID. Walker of manslaughter caused
very general surprise, and the case has
been much discussed to-day. Motion
for a new trial will be argued Friday.
Walker is represented by Ferguson &
Featherstone, while w. r. Richey as
sisted Solicitor Cooper in the prosecu-
ton. Walker appears to be very much
cast down to-day, and plainly shows
that he has suffered intense sorrow
since last night, when the verdict of
the jury was announced. The State
made out a surprisingly strong case in
view of the version of the affair at the
time John p. South was killed by
Walker and some of the testimony of
witnesses at the %coroner's inquest.
Messrs. Ferguson & Featherstone made
a hard fight for their client, and they
are preparing to continue it.
"L. ID. Walker is thirty-three years
old, and has a wife and four children,
the youngest, and infant, three months
old. He belongs to a good family of
the old Poplar Springs section of the
county, between Reedy and Saluda
rivers. UP to the time of the tragedy
last September, which may cost him
endless suffering, and perhaps a term
in the penitentiary, Walker lived on the
farm, a renter. Immediately after the
trouble he moved to one of the cotton
mills at Greenwood, where he has since
resided as a mill operative.
John p. South, whom Walker killed,
grew up in the same community with
the defendant. He was thirty-seven
years old, and unmarried. He was an
industrious farmer, and but for occa-
sional sprees he was a very good citi-
izen.
"The members of both families and
many interested friends and relatives
attended the trial yesterday, Mrs.
Walker appearing with her three
months-old baby in her arms.
"The State put up twelve witnesses,
the defense four, including the defend
ant himself and his wife, the only eye
witnesses to the tragedy of September
28th last year.
According to Walkers testimony, he
and South had not been on good terms
at n time, but they had adjusted
their matters, as he thought, and were
living %peaceablY in the same neighbor-
hood, not more than half a mile apart.
On day of killing South came to him in
the field, and after using very abusive
language South declared that he had
come to settle old differences. South
was armed with a grass hook. Believ-
ing his life in danger, Walker fled the
field, went to the house, secured his
gun and started back toward the field,
when he met South coming on after
him. In the second encounter South
repeated that he intended to square up
old scores, and said that one of them
had to die then and there. Still armed
with the old grass hook South advanced
upon the defendant when Walker fired,
killing South instantly. Defendant was
~corroborated by his wife in all that
took place in the final encounter.
ttn-1 II ys.Al
and Mr.. j. r. Elledge were the first
ones to reach the body, and they testi-
fled that no grass blade was about the
body, and it was brought out that the
old blade which Walker recognized as
being the one South had on the day of
the killing was found on a rock in
Reedy river, where the deceased had a
fish basket. South no doubt, carried
the hook with him that morning, when
he left his home to go to his own field
to cut grass. 1t was pretty clearly
shown that he went by where his
neighbor, Walker, was at work and
they probably had some words about a
small debt Walker owed South, al
though Walker denied that. South
went on to his fish basket, where he
left the grass hook, and was returning
toward his home when he was shot.
The shooting took place in the road al
most in front of Walkers house. South
may not have seen Walker before the
latter fired upon him. He was shot in
the right side, the charge passing clear
throu h his body.
walker claims that South had at
tempted to invade the sanctity of his
home, but this was not allowed to come
out in the trial"
Defenders of Columbia.