The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-03-23
TWICE A WEEK. $1. 80 A WEAR
JOSH ASHLEY ON "
HONEA PATH AFFAIRS


Joshua w. Ashley, member Of the
legislature and we'll known through
out the state, has in the Anderson
Mail statement as to the Honea
Path affair in which his brother was
killed. His statement will be read
with interest:
Editor Daily Mail: AS there has
been so much said and printed in tho
pnpers about the killing of John Mar
ion Ashley that is absolutely false,
That feel that I must ask for space
in your paper to correct some of the
statements that have been made.
| think [ was about the first Ash
Icy that got to Honea Path after the
killing, and I know that everything
was rs quiet rs I ever saw, considering
the circumstances. I am sure that 7
advised all the people that I talked
with to let the law handle the case,
and at no time did l think there would
be any trouble, as every one seemed
to be willing to let the law take it's
course. Jim Bob Ashley, tho son Of
John Marion Ashley, said he was will
ing for the law to take its course, but
was not willing for Policeman White
to get away, and said he wanted
White arrested and sent to Jail.
| went to the magistrate and told
him was ready to swear out war;
rant for White, and I wanted him ar
rested and confined, and he asked me
who he would get to arrest him, and
[ told him if he would deputize me,
would arrest him and no man would
get hurt.
Now, Mr.. Editor, when the boys
camel II from the country knowing
the feeling Of the people of Honea
Path toward thom, of course they
came armed or part of them did, but
there never was time when I ex-
pected any trouble unless the people
OF the town started it.
Now, | don't propose to discuss the
merits of the case, as think the
newspapers have already tried the
case from one side and have settled
the matter, | suppose, to the satisfac-
tion of the defendant, but the state
proposes to try its case before a jury
of twelve men, and if the newspapers
will give as much space to the trial
before the courts as they have given
to it already, l think the people viii
have quite n different idea about the
matter.
Some of the newspapers have re-
ferrcd tQ 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
any of the Ashlcys, knows that can
not, nor any other man, can command
or lead the Ashleys, unless they lead
The way they want to go, and don It
say it boastingly, but say it boldly,
that no man can be found that has
ever lived Il ncighbor to John Marion
Ashley, or any other Ashley for that
matter, that will say that they are
outlaws or desperadocs.
There are other towns all over this
country that the Ashlcys go to, and
they don't have any trouble with
them, and I think tho reason is that
the police in other towns won't shoot
at people when they are driving out
of town. And almost every piece that
| see i'll the newspapers, they bring
in John McGaha s name in connection
with everything 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 record Of the trial will prove,
that John McGaha did not shoot at
all, and had nothing to shoot with,
and why they persist in printing that
[ don't understand, unless they don't
want to tell the truth. ......
Very respectfully,
-. Joshua w. Ashley,
March Is, 1906.