The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-04-22

cTOWuS dSScIuulCu olou1o IL oohtS
tin boards and waited for the returns
which came in rapidly. 1t was a
close election. The following is the
total vote: For dispensary, ST.;
against dispensary, 822
and l did it because I'd been taking
cocaine. l done it all and I just ask
for mercy and dat you don't hang
me-"
He said Brack begged him not to
kill the woman, and il he had listen
ed to him. he would not be where he
is now.
Solicitor Zimmerman asked Ned to
explain the effects of cocaine and this
is what he gave:
when you snuff cocaine and put
it on your tongue it deadens the ton
gue-gives you more nerve than you
want-looks like it make you do any
thing. Its a king Of good feeling but
you'll do anything.
He said he had been "snufing"
cocaine for three or four years.
Ned declared that the story told by
Brack at Newberry was made up"
He said he told Brack to tell what he
did, "so's to keep the blame often
me-" He said his brother had always
been a good boy, whereas he (Ned)
had been in trouble often. He said
he told Brack that he would shield
him (Ned) on account of his bad
Recommendation" This makes the
fourth time he has been in Jail; serv-
ed on the changing for breaking in
a store: he and Young Bridges" rob-
bed the Sigh postofice and were sent
to Atlanta, and he was sent to the
chain gang once on account Of some
trouble he had with his wife.
He said Mrs. Ellison begged them
not to kill her, but he was scared and
did it anyhow.
Brack ToIand's Story.
Brack Toland testified that he had
been away from home but one time
before the day when Mrs. Ellison was
killed. He deniel having anything to
do with the killing Of Mrs. Ellison.
He said he told Sheriff Buford the
story at Newberry in the hope of
helping to shield his brother, that he
told what he did because his brother
told him to tell it.
He admitted telling Capt. Griffith
that he held Mrs. Ellison while his
rbother hit her in the head with the
axe. He said this was not the truth,
that he was not holding her when
Ned struck her. He begged Ned not
to kill her-told him that if he want
ed anything in the house to get it. He
was holding her with one hand and
pushing his brother away with the
other. Ned had hold of her with his
left hand and the x was in his
right hand. He turned her and his
brother loose and ran out of the door
when the first blow was struck. He
went outside the house and was com.
ing back up the steps when his broth
er came out. Ned locked the door
and threw the key in the yard. They
then left the house and went toward
New Brookland. Subsequent events
were detailed and his story as to these
was the same as told byNed.
He didn't seem to realize the gravi-
ty of his situation and evidently was
Iaboring under the impression that
the jury would be more lenient in
dealing with him than it would in
dealing with Ned. Vt. appeared that
he was after clearing himself regard
less of what the consequences were
as to Ned. There was nothing in
his name to give the impression
that the story told On the witness
stand was more truthful than that
which he had told Capt. Griffith and
Capt. Roberts, and few of the specta-
tosr believed tina t it was another
matched up" story. concocked for the
sole purpose of clearing his own
skirts of the ~dastardly crime.
Pleaded for Mercy.
After the jury brought in the ver-
dict of guilty the prisoners were told
to stand and receive the sentence of
the Court. Almost every mar in the
building rose to get a look at the ne
groes, but at the request of Sheriff
Corley they quickly resumed their
seats.
Asked if they had anything to say
why sentence of death should not be
pronounced, Ned said: II ask the
court to have mercy upon me and
please don't hang me. l am guilty,
but my brother is innocent"
When the question was put to
Brack he said: II ask for the mercy
of the court, but 1 am innocent; my
brother done it,"
Judge DeVore then read the SEN
tence Of the court: THAT the defend
ants, Ned and Brack Toland, be TAX
ell from whence they last came (peni-
tentiary) and there be kept in safe
confinement until Friday May 1,
1908, when they are to be taken to
the regular place of execution for
Lexington county, there to be hang
ed by their necks until they are dead,
between the hours Of 10 a. m. and 2
p. M